Care Economy

As the Wage and Hour Division observes National Home Care and Hospice Month and National Family Caregivers Month, we’re reaffirming our commitment to protecting healthcare workers’ rights year-round.

Child care is an essential need for parents in the workforce: People can’t work if they don’t have the security that their families are being cared for. Due to generations of underinvestment in the care economy, many families faced difficulties accessing and affording child care even prior to the pandemic.

Emily Lambert is an early childhood educator/caregiver at the On Purpose Academy Mentoring and Learning Center in Dayton, Ohio. We asked Emily to share her experience as a caregiver and her perspective on what investments are needed to support caregivers.  

Chloe Morgan is a single mother of four boys, two of whom have special needs from Dayton, Ohio. We asked her to share why she believes affordable child care is essential.

Kim Jarvis is the founder, owner and executive director of On Purpose Academy and Mentoring Center in Dayton, Ohio. We asked Kim how affordable child care can support families.

Jessica Derby, child care program manager at Patagonia, shares her thoughts on the importance of child care and what kinds of investments we need to support America's families.

Care is a universal need, not a luxury, and should be accessible and affordable – but too many families face barriers when they need it.