Two-thirds of Vermont’s young children spend at least part of the work week in out-of-home-care. But finding good child care is a never-ending struggle for many working families. And paying for it is a dilemma for most. Workers are often reluctant to talk with their employers about their child care problems, but their struggles affect productivity and Vermont’s ability to retain good workers and keep young families in the state.
Melissa Riegel-Garret is a child care advocate. Mary Powell is the president of Green Mountain Power and the co-chair of Governor Douglas’s Building Bright Futures Council. They spoke with VPR’s Jane Lindholm about the challenges of providing affordable, high quality day care.