business backgrounder | child care
Child Care Key to Economic Recovery
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated old problems and
created new ones for working parents and their employers.
Andrew Lenderman
The pandemic has added even more urgency to the challenge of bolstering Washington’s
fragile child care system, and AWB is leading a conversation on finding new solutions.
From flexible schedules to lobbying for resources, employers can help.
At A Glance
Schools are closed, and so
are some providers. Many
grandparents are now unable to
help due to risk of exposure to
COVID-19. Employers can take
simple steps today to help:
Train supervisors to support
employees with young children
Allow employees who can
work from home to do so
Contribute to flexible spending
accounts for child care
Provide financial support to
employees with children, or
to child care programs
First Lady Trudi Inslee (holding a photo of a new grandchild) joined an AWB webinar in July to talk
about child care along with AWB Government Affairs Director Amy Anderson (bottom left), Deeann
Burtch Puffert, executive director of Child Care Aware Washington, and Ross Hunter, secretary of the
state Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Encourage elected officials to
prioritize funding for child care
to boost economic recovery
Child Care Aware of Washington
Family Center, a free child care
referral line: 800.446.1114
The lack of child care has emerged as a major
stumbling block for America’s economic recovery.
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated old
problems and created new ones for working parents
and their employers.
First, the schools are closed, and it’s unclear what
a school day will look like in the fall. This means
working parents can add teacher, principal and
coach to their daily duties. Many summer camps are
closed, too.
Finding high-quality, affordable child care was
tough before the pandemic. Now it’s even harder.
“Employers have a
profound impact on the
quality of life of their
employees. Simple
things can make a huge
difference for a family.”
— Deeann Burtch Puffert,
executive director of Child Care
Aware of Washington
32 association of washington business