Rural Illinois hit hardest by childcare crisis
(Public News Service/Illinois News Connection) -- A new analysis shows that nearly half of young children in the U.S. live in childcare deserts. That number is even higher in Illinois, where the majority of counties lack adequate licensed providers for children under age five. In 2023, licensed providers could serve only about 31 percent of Illinois children in that same age range. The Center for American Progress says the problem is particularly dire in smaller communities, creating a stark urban-rural […]
