6 March 14 - 20, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Do You Know Where Your Children Can Go? North Texas childcare deserts create more struggles for working parents. BY ALICIA CLAYTOR I n North Texas, the ability of working parents to access high-quality, afford- able childcare has grown more prob- lematic in recent years, resulting in an increase of “child care deserts.” According to the Texas Workforce Com- mission, a child care desert is an area in which the number of children under the age of 6 with working parents is at least three times greater than the capacity of licensed child care providers in that area. Texas struggles to provide accessible child care, according to data collected by the Center for American Progress (CAP), with approxi- mately 48% of Texans living in areas desig- nated as child care deserts. Kelsey Erickson Streufert, a member of the Employers for Childcare Task Force, said that immediate action is required to confront the challenges faced by parents and caregivers in child care deserts. “Every community in Texas is facing a child care shortage that is hurting working families and our economy. Access and af- fordability are key challenges,” said Streufert, who also is the chief public affairs officer at the Texas Restaurant Association. “Many child care providers are struggling to hire and retain enough teachers, directly limiting the number of children they can serve.” Children at Risk, a Texas nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of chil- dren, has mapped out where the child care deserts in Texas are, and North Texas isn’t immune. The 75220 ZIP code in North- west Dallas above Bachman Lake has only eight childcare seats per 100 working par- ents; the ZIP code 75254, which covers parts of Addison, Farmers Branch and a bit of Dallas, has only seven seats for every 100 working parents. North Texas ZIP codes with less severe, but still notable, child care desert conditions include 75057 in Lewisville with a 9:100 ra- tio; the 75050 ZIP code in Grand Prairie with a 23:100 ratio; and 75240 in Farmers Branch with a 30:100 ratio. Advocates say these barriers not only hinder parents’ ability to participate in the workforce but also work to perpetuate eco- nomic disparities within communities. CAP found that “child care supply is especially low among certain populations, with 55% of Hispanic/Latino families, 63% of rural fami- lies and 62% of low-income families living in areas without enough licensed child care providers.” Rena Frost, owner of Mac’s on Main in Grapevine and Mac’s Bar & Grill in Arling- ton, felt the effect of living in a child care desert as a working mother when she origi- nally moved to Arlington many years ago. “I was shocked that there wasn’t readily available child care … that would be open on the hours that my schedule needed and that was affordable,” Frost said. “I had to scram- ble to find someone that could look after my 12-year-old child, especially during nights, weekends and holidays. I relied heavily on my co-workers until I could make arrange- ments and lived as close as possible to my restaurant so that I could rush home if I wasn’t able to find someone.” Now as a restaurant owner, Frost sees firsthand the toll that arranging high-quality child care can take on her employees, partic- ularly women striving for leadership roles. She said that the scarcity of resources and expertise for employers to navigate the child care system is a significant challenge, espe- cially in industries operating beyond normal business hours. That’s why Frost serves on the Employers for Childcare Task Force (E4C), an alliance of business leaders advo- cating for policy reforms to expand access to affordable, high-quality child care. She said that joining the E4C is a crucial step toward effecting change. By lending their collective voices to the cause, these business leaders can urge policymakers to prioritize child care as an economic imperative. “There’s absolutely a financial cost to families who cannot access affordable, high- quality child care,” Streufert said. But that’s not where the possible costs end. Streufert also explained that access to high-quality early learning is typically asso- ciated with higher high-school graduation rates as well as lower rates of behavioral is- sues later in life. As a result, it’s reasonable to suggest that families lacking access to child care services face repercussions, in- cluding compromised academic perfor- mance. There is hope that things could improve through the task force, Streufert said. The problem of child care deserts has been ad- dressed in other states, which could provide a sort of template for Texas. “One of our partners is the U.S. Chamber of Com- merce Foundation, and they’ve shared several ex- amples from other states including Kentucky, which matches certain employer investments in child care, and Colorado, which created a state child care office.” Streufert said. “We will also study inno- vative ideas that individ- ual employers have implemented and systemic reforms we can make to the child care industry itself to expand access to affordable, high-quality child care for working families.” ▼ CITY HALL WHAT’S THE HURRY? DID DALLAS RUSH THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER? BY JACOB VAUGHN D eputy City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has been chosen as a temporary replacement for outgoing City Manager T.C. Broadnax, but not every- one is thrilled with how she was chosen for the position. A majority of the City Council voted to appoint Tolbert to the role during a special called meeting two weeks ago. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson wasn’t there for the meeting, but he and two other council members ex- | UNFAIR PARK | Tanaphong Toochinda/Unsplash Several ZIP codes in North Texas are lacking adequate, affordable childcare options for working parents. Nathan Hunsinger Deputy City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has worked for the city off and on for nearly three decades. >> p8
