Many child care providers are struggling to make ends meet, but they can’t pass costs onto families, knowing parents simply can’t afford more. That raises the question: who really pays for child care, and how does the money flow through the system?

In Episode 2 of Child Care Matters: Built to Break, host Jamee Herbert, CEO of BridgeCare, follows the money through our early education system, from the complex mix of local, state, and federal funding streams to hopeful innovations being piloted.

You’ll hear why the market rate for child care doesn’t actually reflect what quality care costs, and how that gap creates a dynamic that is unaffordable for families and unsustainable for providers. 

This isn’t just a confusing funding model, it’s one that keeps forcing parents and providers to absorb the cost of a system that isn’t sustainable. And if nothing changes, more programs will close, leaving families with even fewer options.

In this episode: 

Simon Workman — Co-founder & Principal, Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies

Erica Phillips  - Executive Director of The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) 

Benu Chhabra - CEO of Benu’s Preschool 

Child Care Matters: Built to Break examines America’s early childhood system from the perspectives of parents, providers, and experts, one piece of the puzzle at a time. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s navigating child care right now, and follow the show so you don’t miss the next chapter of the series. For more information go to getbridgecare.com.