[Child care in the United States].

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Median Family Income for in the Past 12 Months for Families with Children Under Age 18, 2015 ACS 1 Year Estimates, Table B19125, B19126; Age by Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months, 2015 ACS 1 Year Estimates, Table B17024; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Characteristics of Families in 2015 (April 2016), BLS Standard Occupational Code (SOC 399011, May 2015), Child Care Aware of America (2015 Child Care Costs), Harvard University Center on the Developing Child, Fernald, A., Marchman, V., and Weisleder, A., (2013). SES differences in language processing skill and vocabulary are evident at 18 months. Developmental Science, 16 (2), 234-248, Hart, B. & Risley, T.R. “The Early Catastrophe: The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3” (2003). QUALITY CHILD CARE MATTERS Throughout every state:  Families with infants and toddlers have a hard time finding child care.  Families needing nontraditional hour care or care for a child with special needs have a hard time as well.  Many communities have waiting lists for care.