Their choices impact our children, who will ultimately impact our future. Nationally, some 17 million families scramble to find care for nearly 24 million school-aged children. Government estimates predict that by 2002, the number of care programs in place will meet as little as 25 percent of the demand. Seventy-five percent of our children will end up as latchkey kids spending large blocks of their time alone without any adult supervision. This translates to more than 6.1 million primary school children who spend an average of 14 hours per week in these arrangements.
Employers can make a difference.
For companies without centers, aligning with existing community-based programs is the answer. They can buy slots or make corporate donations to programs that enhance care quality or increase the availability of slots for employees. Another way for companies to raise awareness and quality is to get involved in training care providers. Companies can partner with area colleges or other training institutions to provide for early-care education. Concerned citizens can also help.