Childcare access and affordability present challenges for working parents [Video]

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Today in Newport News, leaders gathered to bring struggles surrounding childcare to light. 

Childcare is Everybody’s Business aimed to highlight the challenges parents face when pursuing careers clashes with a lack of childcare.

The discussion focused on finding solutions to improve access to affordable childcare and pushing for policy changes at the state and local levels.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, childcare is only affordable if a family spends no more than 7% of their income. If it costs more than that, it’s considered too expensive.

Diana Umstead, the executive director of the nonprofit First Spark, said businesses, employers and policy leaders can work together to address this issue.

“Ever since the pandemic, we know that working parents — 69% of them …