>> RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, WE HAVE A WAL-MART.

WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT HAVE COME UP TO US AND SAID WHY SHOULD I STAY HERE IF WAL-MART IS OFFERING ME $17 AN HOUR AND YOU'RE ONLY OFFERING $12?

SO HOW DO WE COMPETE WITH THAT?

MICHELLE: VERNA AND HER SISTER OWN OVER THE RAINBOW LEARNING CENTER IN JOHNSTON AND PROVIDENCE.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE GREAT TEAMS AT THEIR TWO LOCATIONS.

BUT THEY NEED MORE EMPLOYEES.

SIX TO BE EXACT.

A LACK OF HELP FORCED THEM TO CLOSE THEIR BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

FINDING WORKERS THEY SAY HASN'T BEEN EASY.

>> I LOVE MY YARD.

BUT MOWING GRASS IS MIGHTY HARD.

MICHELLE: CHILDCARE EDUCATORS IN RHODE ISLAND EARN ON AVERAGE $12 AN HOUR.

MANY ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES ARE LEAVING TO WORK AT BIG NAME RETAILERS THAT ARE OFFERING MORE MONEY, HIGHER -- HIRING BONUS AND BENEFITS.

>> HEALTH INSURANCE, 401-K, LONGER VACATIONS.

WE ARE UNABLE TO OFFER THOSE THINGS.

RUNNING A BUSINESS, IT'S TOUGH.

AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE COSTS THAT GO INTO A CHILDCARE CENTER.

WE HAVE A VERY HIGH OPERATIONAL COST TO KEEP A CHILDCARE CENTER RUNNING.

IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THE WAGES THAT THE TEACHERS ARE GETTING.

IT'S ALSO ELECTRICITY, GAS, RENT, AND ALL THAT.

IT'S EXTREMELY HIGH.

AND JUST INSURANCE TO KEEP THIS PLACE OPEN, IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

>> WHAT KIND OF FOOD IS THIS?

MICHELLE: AMANDA VEGA HAS WORKED WITH CHILDREN AT OVER THE RAINBOW FOR NINE YEARS.

SHE EARNS $1375 -- $13.75 AN HOUR AND CONSIDERED GETTING A BETTER PAYING JOB BUT CHOSE TO STAY FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE STAFF.

>> I WISH IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MONEY CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING.

AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS ABLE TO DO.

MICHELLE: BUT FINDING PEOPLE LIKE VEGA HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS SAY RHODE ISLAND'S CHILDCARE INDUSTRY IS IN A STATE OF CRISIS.

>> WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD OR FIND QUALITY CHILDCARE.

WE HAVE MASS EXODUS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS FROM THE FIELD.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS WITH VERY LONG WAITING LISTS.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO OPEN CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T STAFF THEM.

IT'S LIKE JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY A CRISIS.

MICHELLE: LISA HILDEBRAND IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

SHE WORKS CLOSELY WITH LEANNE BARRETT, A SENIOR POLICY ANALYST AT RHODE ISLAND KIDS COUNT.

THEY ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES.

WE SPEND WAY MORE PER CHILD ON K-12 EDUCATION THAN WE DO ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

AND A LOT OF IT IS -- COMES OUT OF PARENTS' POCKETS.

MICHELLE: THE UNITED STATES SPENDS LESS MONEY ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THAN MOST WEALTHY NATIONS.

INSTEAD, PARENTS MOSTLY FOOT THE BILL OF PRIVATE TUITION.

A RECENT REPORT BY THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT CURRENTLY, THE AVERAGE FAMILY WITH AT LEAST ONE CHILD UNDER AGE 5 WOULD NEED TO DEVOTE ABOUT 13% OF FAMILY INCOME TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE.

A NUMBER THAT IS UNAFFORDABLE FOR MOST FAMILIES.

>> WE'RE GOING TO GO BYE-BYE.

WE'RE GOING TO DAYCARE.

YOU LOVE DAYCARE.

MICHELLE: INCLUDING THE FAMILY OF FELICIA POWERS.

SHE'S A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO CHILDREN.

SHE SAYS SHE DEPENDS ON GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR CHILDCARE FOR HER 2-YEAR-OLD SON JACOB.

>> IF I DIDN'T HAVE A SUBSIDY I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WORK.

I WOULDN'T -- I HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM BUT NOT ANYBODY THAT CAN CERTAINLY WATCH HIM ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS.

SO IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING.

MICHELLE: POWERS IS STARTING A NEW JOB SOON BUT SAYS SHE WON'T BE MAKING MORE MONEY.

IF SHE DID, SHE SAYS SHE WOULD RISK LOSING HER CHILDCARE SUBSIDY.

>> LOVE YOU.

I CAN'T GET A JOB MAKING $18 AN HOUR BECAUSE I WON'T HAVE CHILDCARE SERVICES.

SO IT'S SCARY.

LIKE THERE'S A CUTOFF LINE.

SO IT'S LIKE HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

IF I MAKE $18 AN HOUR, I'LL HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR DAYCARE.

AND IT WOULD BE LIKE I'M MAKING $13 AN HOUR ALL OVER AGAIN.

OR EVEN LESS.

IT IS FRUSTRATING.

YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T GET AHEAD.

YOU CAN'T -- IT'S -- YOU'RE LIKE STUCK.

THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.

YOU'RE STUCK.

MICHELLE: BOTH HILDEBRAND AND BARRETT WANT RHODE ISLAND LEADERS TO USE SOME FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO INCREASE THE FAMILY INCOME LIMIT FOR CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ELIGIBILITY EXPANDED SO THAT MORE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES CAN GET HELP RECEIVING CHILDCARE.

SO CURRENTLY, A FAMILY OF THREE CAN MAKE ABOUT $40,000 A YEAR OR LESS.

AND RECEIVE HELP PAYING FOR CHILDCARE.

AND THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST GO UP TO $50,000.

MICHELLE: PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO OVERHAUL THE CHILDCARE SYSTEM.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN 7% OF THEIR INCOME ON HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE.

BUT MANY DO.

ACCORDING TO THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL COST OF INFANT CARE IN RHODE ISLAND IS $13,696.

THAT'S MORE THAN 1,100 PER MONTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO PLAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

>> EILEEN FINNEGAN QUICKLY REALIZED HOW PRICEY CHILDCARE FOR HER DAUGHTER HOLLY WAS GOING TO BE WHEN SHE BEGAN LOOKING AT DAYCARES.

>> I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT.

I HAD FRIENDS WHO HAD KIDS IN CHILDCARE.

SO I HAD SOME IDEA.

MY HUSBAND DID NOT KNOW.

HE WAS VERY SURPRISED.

I DON'T THINK HE REALLY BELIEVED ME UNTIL WE STARTED LOOKING AT PLACES AND SAW THE NUMBERS.

BUT YEAH.

IT'S A LOT.

MICHELLE: FINNEGAN SAYS IT WASN'T EASY TO FIND CHILDCARE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SHE COULDN'T FIND PART-TIME CARE SO SHE IS PAYING THE FULL-TIME PRICE TO HAVE HER DAUGHTER IN DAYCARE A FEW DAYS A WEEK.

>> SO WE ARE PAYING FULL-TIME FOR PART-TIME CARE.

WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THE REST MICHELLE: MARY SAYS IT ALL COMES BACK TO A STAFFING CRISIS.

SHE'S THE CHILDCARE DIRECTOR AT BENOIT BROWN CHILDREN CENTER IN WUNSAKET.

>> WE REFER TO IT AS A HAMSTER WHEEL, SPINNING SUSPECT HOPING THE DOOR WILL OPEN AND THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

MICHELLE: THIS ROOM WAS ONCE TO TAKE CARE OF EIGHT INFANTS BUT IT'S BEEN EMPTY FOR OVER A YEAR.

COTO CAN'T FIND THE TWO TEACHERS SHE NEEDS TO REOPEN IT.

DOWN THE HALL, A TODDLER CLASSROOM IS OPERATING AT HALF CAPACITY BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, SHE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH EMPLOYEES.

-- ENOUGH EMPLOYEES.

>> WE'RE ALL IN THE FIELD AND WE'RE ALL SORT OF VYING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE.

AND WE FIND THERE ARE A LOT OF JOB HOPPERS OR PERHAPS APPLY, THEY DON'T SHOW.

THEY'LL COME IN.

AND WE INVITE THEM BACK FOR A WORKING INTERVIEW AND THEN THEY DON'T SHOW AGAIN.

MICHELLE: MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES WITH TODDLERS AND INFANTS ARE ON THE WAITING LIST AT BENOIT BROWN CHILDREN CENTER.

SHE SAID SHE HAD ONE MOM OF AN INFANT WHO WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TRY TO GET HER CHILD ENROLLED THERE.

>> BEFORE I KNEW IT, IN MY EMAIL, IN CAME HER RESUME.

SHE WENT ON INDEED.

APPLIED.

AND I CALLED HER BACK.

AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT I REALLY NEED A FULL-TIME STAFF.

AND SHE SAID, WELL, I CAN ONLY WORK PART-TIME UNTIL MY CHILD IS IN CARE FULL-TIME.

MICHELLE: DO YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THE REASON I HAVEN'T GONE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE IS BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND CHILDCARE?

>> YES.

ALL THE TIME.

MICHELLE: AND THE NUMBERS BEAR THAT OUT.

A POLL CONDUCTED BY N.P.R., THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, AND THE HARVARD T.H.

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOUND ONE IN THREE FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN REPORT SERIOUS PROBLEMS GETTING CHILDCARE WHEN ADULTS NEED TO WORK.

>> WE ALWAYS SAY THAT WE'RE THE WORKFORCE THAT SUPPORTS THE WORKFORCE.

AND IF THAT -- IF FOLKS IN RHODE ISLAND WHO ARE WORKING CAN'T FIND SAFE, AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK.

MICHELLE: A CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPS MORE FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5 THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN LIFE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MANY REASONS EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVOCATES SAY INVESTING IN HIGH QUALITY CARE IS ESSENTIAL.

>> WE'RE KIND OF IN THIS -- AGAIN, THIS MOMENT IN TIME WHERE FOLKS ARE FINALLY KIND OF REALIZING THAT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED FOR SO LONG.

THAT -- THAT IT NEEDS REPAIR.

IT NEEDS A LOT OF MONEY PUT INTO IT.

AND A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND REALLY GREAT PEOPLE TO TRY AND FIX WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER.

IT DOES FEEL A LITTLE BIT HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LISTEN.

MICHELLE: BUT FOR FAMILIES WAITING FOR CHILDCARE AND FOR THOSE RUNNING DAYCARE CENTERS, NEEDED CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM MAY BE TOO LATE.

>> DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, OUR COSTS HAVE INCREASED DUE TO THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, GLOVES, MASKS, CLEANING COMPANIES THAT USED TO ONLY COME ONCE A WEEK NOW HAVE TO COME DAILY.

SO EVERYTHING HAS BECOME MORE OF A COST.

SO ANYTHING THAT WAS PROFITABLE IS GOING RIGHT BACK INTO THE BUSINESS.

MICHELLE: SO FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT TURNING A PROFIT RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT.

MICHELLE: HOW MUCH LONGER CAN YOU AFFORD TO STAY IN BUSINESS?

>> WE -- MICHELLE: HARD TO SAY.

>> HARD TO SAY.

WE GO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

AND WE RELY ON OUR LOANS.

WE RELY ON THE GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE AND AS YOU SAID, WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THOSE.

BUT ONCE THOSE ARE DONE, WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT -- WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEXT?