STATE LEADERS, FAMILIES RALLY FOR INCREASED CHILDCARE FUNDING

05.18.2024 - TYLER PETERS, NBC 15 NEWS, MADISON

State leaders and childcare advocacy organizations spent Saturday outside the State Capitol rallying for more funding for Wisconsin childcare services.

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - State leaders and childcare advocacy organizations spent Saturday outside the State Capitol rallying for more funding for Wisconsin childcare services.

Katy Dicks, a mother of two kids, was among several people who spoke. The Sun Prairie mom feels it’s been an ongoing struggle to afford childcare for her two children.

“The costs are unaffordable for a lot of families,” Dicks said. “We’re fighting for affordable child care.”

Dicks’ children are five and nine years old. Dicks said she’s been paying for child care since 2014.

“Care is inching up towards $1,500 a month,” Dicks said.

Dicks added that the cost of childcare takes up nearly 25% of her family’s monthly income. Dicks works a full-time job and owns a small business with her husband, but the cost of care almost had Dicks reconsider her career plans.

“It’s incredibly difficult because you have to weigh, ‘Should I continue working, or should I maybe take a break from my career?’” Dicks said. “But I didn’t want to take a break.”

Rallying for expanded access and improved affordability for child care in Wisconsin, Dicks hopes state legislators hear her voice and others.

“We need them to understand what parents are up against,” Dicks said. “The costs are incredibly high.”

State Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), a former childcare provider herself, called for other lawmakers to take action.

“We here at the state legislature need to be involved,” Rep. Subeck said. “Our counterparts at the federal level in Congress need to be involved because this isn’t a problem that’s going to fix itself.”

Some of the same state leaders and organizers at Saturday’s rally also observed “Day without Child Care” on May 13.