This secondary data and analysis research project will examine key issues related to the accessibility of center-based child care for underserved groups, with findings broken down by demographics, including race, ethnicity, and income level. Using existing secondary data, the study will seek to understand the effects of child care subsidy policy changes on access to high-quality child care over time and identify policy barriers, additional research needs, and ways to address disparities at the state and national levels. The overarching goal of the work will be to improve access to quality child care for families in need.

The research questions will be answered through an examination of secondary data available. The objective is to understand whether the increasing importance of center-based care and the associated decline of family and home-based care have had a differential impact on subgroups. The project will address whether the expanding prevalence of and policy preference for center-based care over other provider types places an unequal burden on racial and ethnic minority groups (e.g., Black and Hispanic populations) and those in poverty. The findings will inform ongoing child care subsidy policy decisions and contribute to the broader literature about the effects of changes instituted under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014 (S. 1086, 2014). (author abstract)