What Is a Childcare Desert in North Carolina?
What Is a Childcare Desert in North Carolina?
For many families, finding childcare is not simply a matter of choosing between several convenient options. In some communities, families struggle to find an available, affordable, and appropriate childcare program at all. These communities are often described as childcare deserts. Understanding what a childcare desert means, and how it affects children, parents, and communities, is an important part of understanding the broader childcare crisis in North Carolina. At CareRestores Foundation, we believe every child deserves an opportunity to learn, grow, belong, and thrive. That includes access to safe, nurturing, high quality, and inclusive childcare.
What Is a Childcare Desert?
A childcare desert is an area where there are not enough licensed childcare spaces to meet the needs of families. One commonly used definition describes a childcare desert as a census tract with at least 50 children under age five that either has no childcare provider, or has more than three children for every licensed childcare slot. Earlier research examining Wake County childcare used a similar three to one ratio when identifying the county as a childcare desert.
A childcare desert does not necessarily mean a community has no childcare centers. A community may have multiple providers and still experience a shortage if the number of children needing care significantly exceeds the number of available spaces. Licensed capacity also does not always equal available capacity: a program may be licensed to serve a certain number of children but operate below that capacity because of staffing shortages or other challenges.
Is North Carolina a Childcare Desert?
North Carolina faces significant challenges with childcare supply and access. The North Carolina Department of Commerce reported that North Carolina is classified as a childcare desert for infant and toddler care, with approximately five families competing for each licensed infant or toddler slot. Licensed programs serving infants and toddlers have capacity for only about 18.7% of children in that age group statewide.
This shortage has consequences for families. When parents cannot find appropriate childcare, they may have to reduce their work hours, miss work, turn down employment opportunities, or leave the workforce. North Carolina's childcare challenges therefore affect more than individual families. They also affect employers, communities, and the state's economy. Why Is Childcare Access Important?
High quality childcare provides children with much more than supervision. Early childhood programs create opportunities for children to develop language and communication skills, build social and emotional skills, learn through play and exploration, build relationships with caring adults, develop independence and confidence, and prepare for kindergarten and future learning.
At the same time, dependable childcare gives parents the opportunity to work, attend school, pursue training, and support their families. This is why childcare is both a family issue and a community issue.
The Childcare Challenge in Wake County
Wake County is one of the communities where childcare access deserves continued attention. Earlier research identified Wake County as a childcare desert and highlighted the importance of strengthening the local childcare system, particularly for families in lower income communities. Today, Wake County has an established network of early education programs and services. Wake County Smart Start, for example, works with community partners to support early education and provides programs and services for children and families with significant needs. However, the existence of childcare providers does not automatically mean every family has access to care that meets its needs. Families may still encounter barriers related to cost, availability, location, transportation, operating hours, infant and toddler availability, developmental needs, disability related needs, and family circumstances.
Why Inclusive Childcare Matters
For some families, finding childcare is only the beginning. Families of children with disabilities need programs that can provide an environment where their children can participate, learn, develop relationships, and receive appropriate support. This is where inclusive childcare becomes especially important.
Inclusive childcare creates opportunities for children with and without disabilities to learn and play together in supportive environments, helping children develop social skills, communication skills, independence, confidence, friendships, early learning skills, and a sense of belonging. Inclusion also benefits families by creating environments where children can participate without being unnecessarily separated from their peers. At CareRestores Foundation, we believe children should not have to choose between childcare and an environment that recognizes and supports their individual needs.
Childcare Access and Families Experiencing Economic Hardship
Affordability is another major part of the childcare conversation. A childcare space may exist in a community, but that does not necessarily mean it is financially accessible to every family. Families experiencing poverty or financial hardship may face difficult choices when childcare costs compete with housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and other essential expenses. Expanding access to quality childcare must include affordability as well as availability, so that children from different economic backgrounds have opportunities to participate in high quality early learning and youth development experiences.
North Carolina's Childcare Supply Is Also Connected to the Workforce
Another challenge is the early childhood workforce. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, staffing shortages and turnover can prevent licensed childcare providers from serving children up to their full licensed capacity. In other words, increasing the number of childcare facilities alone will not solve the problem. North Carolina also needs a strong early childhood workforce, one where childcare professionals have the preparation, support, compensation, and working conditions needed to maintain stable staffing and provide consistent care for children.
What Can Communities Do About Childcare Deserts?
There is no single solution to the childcare shortage. Communities can work toward solutions that:
expand the supply of quality childcare spaces
support and strengthen the early childhood workforce
increase access to affordable childcare
develop more inclusive childcare programs
support children with disabilities and developmental needs
connect families with community resources
build partnerships among nonprofits, schools, businesses, government agencies, and community organizations
invest in programs that support children's academic, developmental, social emotional, and family needs
Child Care Aware of America reported that North Carolina had 4,215 licensed childcare centers and 1,110 licensed family childcare homes in 2024. These numbers demonstrate the size of the state's childcare system while also emphasizing why capacity, availability, quality, and accessibility all matter when evaluating childcare access.
CareRestores Foundation's Vision for Inclusive Childcare
Our long term vision is to establish an inclusive early learning, childcare, and after school center in Wake County: a community based environment where children can receive high quality early learning, academic enrichment, developmental and social emotional support, behavioral support, youth leadership opportunities, mentoring, family support, and access to essential resources.
Our vision includes children with disabilities and children from low income and underserved families. We believe inclusive childcare should not simply provide a place for children to spend the day. It should provide a place where children are known, valued, supported, and included.
Building a Future Where Every Child Can Thrive
The conversation about a childcare desert in North Carolina is ultimately about more than the number of available childcare spaces. It is about whether families can access care that is available, affordable, high quality, and inclusive. It is about whether children with disabilities have opportunities to participate alongside their peers, and whether parents can pursue employment and education while knowing their children are safe and supported. CareRestores Foundation is committed to being part of that solution, through inclusive education, youth development, family support, and our long term vision for an inclusive early learning and after school center in Wake County.
Restoring Hope. Empowering Children. Strengthening Families.
Comments