Opinion
4A
Saturday, August 29, 2020
Our View
Oregon must work on child care issues
ow is the time to start
thinking of creative
ways to solve our
child care crisis as we rebuild
our economy that has been so
damaged by the COVID-19
pandemic.
The lack of child care
in rural Oregon has been a
problem for decades. We live
in a “child care desert.” And
COVID-19 is making the
problem worse. Much worse.
It’s not just a problem for
the parents of young children.
It’s a problem for all of us.
It’s a problem for child care
providers who aren’t able to
earn enough to support their
own families.
It’s a problem for young
children, who don’t have the
opportunity to socialize and
learn with other children and
caregivers in safe, loving and
educational environments.
It’s a problem for working
parents, who increasingly
have to juggle work and child
care, especially if they have
an infant, toddler or pre-
schooler needing constant
supervision.
It’s a problem for busi-
ness owners and institutions
who employ working parents,
especially if a parent’s work
hours coincide with online
school hours.
It’s a problem for K-12
N
want to see Oregon’s Early
Learning Division helping to
facilitate quality child care
options for working parents at
the local level.
Rather than just making
and enforcing child care reg-
ulations, we want to see this
state agency actively sup-
porting the creation of new
child care options.
This could mean helping a
group of parents form a coop-
erative, taking turns caring
for each other’s children.
It could mean supporting
businesses that want to hire a
child care provider to care for
employees’ children on-site.
It could mean letting a city
parks and recreation program
set up child care in an other-
wise unused recreation center.
It could mean allowing a
Staff photo by Dick Mason
community college to use
Children attend day care in May 2020 at Central Elementary School in La Grande. While certain day care
unused classroom space for
providers can operate during the COVID-19 crisis, child care is a pressing issue in Oregon.
infant and toddler care —
teachers, whose students may care, parents who would ordi- 5. Fewer children ready for
with early childhood educa-
kindergarten.
not have an adult around to
narily be working will drop
tion students providing some
It’s well documented that
make sure they get online at
out of the workforce.
of the care under the supervi-
children who aren’t ready for
the appropriate time each day.
More families dependent
sion of experienced providers.
kindergarten are likely to fall
It’s a problem for colleges
on food stamps and public
We can’t revive our
behind as the years go by.
and universities. If students
assistance. More children
economy without the avail-
with young children don’t
living in poverty. More adults They are far more likely to
ability of quality, affordable
have child care options, they
drop out of high school and
unable to get the education,
child care. And we have to be
are likely to drop out or post-
live in poverty as adults.
training or work they need to
willing to pay child care pro-
In the year ahead,
fulfill their dreams.
pone their higher education.
viders more for the crucial job
assuming we get COVID-19
Fewer children getting
Ultimately, it’s a problem
they do — helping nurture
under control and our
enriching preschool experi-
for our economy and society
and teach the children who
economy starts to reopen, we are our future.
as a whole. Without child
ences between birth and age
Contact your public officials
U.S. PRESIDENT
GOVERNOR
Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court Street
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
REPRESENTATIVES
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Greg Barreto, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-38
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
SENATOR
Greg Walden
185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
La Grande office: 541-624-2400
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-423
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
Write to us
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