Help single Black mothers with child care crisis by providing resources, support, education, and advocacy.

The childcare crisis is a huge issue that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Studies have shown that 36% of Black mothers have experienced financial stress due to childcare costs, while a further 36% have been forced to leave a job or the workforce entirely because of childcare issues. That's not even mentioning the $122 billion annual loss due to parents missing work since 2020, as well as businesses losing out on $12.7 billion each year.

Single Black mothers are especially affected by the childcare crisis; they are the largest sector of the 15 million single-family homes in the US that need childcare, with 58% of them headed by single Black moms. Moreover, many of these women work in hourly positions outside of the home, with limited access to company-sponsored childcare benefits. With childcare responsibilities also making mothers more likely to leave their jobs, it's no surprise that 52% of mothers are contemplating exiting the workforce, and 33% have scaled back or left their jobs since 2020. To make matters worse, the median-income Black family with two young children spends 56% of their income on childcare, while 13.1% of Black parents either quit or are likely to quit due to childcare issues.

Carleen Haylett, CEO of EnrichedHQ, has stated that it is impossible to sugarcoat the childcare crisis any longer, and that employers must acknowledge the reality that childcare extends beyond kindergarten. She suggests building a support community, such as non-profit organizations or state/district programs offered directly through schools, and for companies, using unused offices or workspaces as after-school homework centers. Furthermore, Haylett encourages Black single moms to be self-resourceful and partner with organizations that offer free after school programs, such as Girls Inc. or PCs for People. Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of strong communication and awareness programs for employees, as well as a culture of flexibility, to ensure the success of childcare programs.

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