ST. PAUL, Minn. – There's good news and bad in newly released data about the supply of good quality child care.

The bad news is 26 percent of Minnesotans live in so-called child care deserts, without sufficient care for the families who need it.

The good news is that Minnesota ranks better than most states.

Study co-author Rasheed Malik, an analyst with the Center for American Progress, says the data show slightly more than half of Americans don't have access to high quality, affordable child care where they live.

"Latino and Native American populations are much more likely to live in child care deserts,” he states. “And if you look at the lower income parts of rural America, those are actually the places that are most likely to show up as child care deserts."

The study says access to child care is much like infrastructure – essential to the economy, and worth more federal investment.

A similar study last year showed 75 percent of Minnesotans lived in a child care desert. But this year's study included licensed family providers, of which there are 10,000 in Minnesota.

The State Legislature has funded pilot programs that attempt to address the problem, especially in rural Minnesota.

Cisa Keller, senior vice president for early childhood quality development at nonprofit group Think Small, says foundations, businesses and academics are trying different strategies, including forgivable loans and leaning on employers.

"We don't have a one size fits all model, and shouldn't, that doesn't work well in Minnesota,” she states. “But you really need to get in at the local level, figure out what the needs are and what the opportunities are, and that everyone has a place in which to support that."

Keller says child care deserts are real, and gathering more data about them is helpful.

She agrees that child care ought to be affordable, accessible and devoted to preparing young children for success in school and life.

"Pretty much everybody is touched in some way, shape or form by child care,” Keller states. “We know that child care is an essential part of Minnesota's economy. And so, with the prevalence of child care deserts, we have parts of Minnesota that are not able to reach their full economic potential because of the lack of child care.”

The study found that in child care deserts, families are likely to face waiting lists, make unlicensed child care arrangements or decide not to have a parent work full-time.



Reach Malik at 202-481-8118; Keller at 651-641-0305. Report: https://childcaredeserts.org/.




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The last day of school for Texas kids is typically one of elation, but for children in rural areas with high poverty rates, it also can mean isolation, hunger and falling behind academically. The global nonprofit, Save the Children encourages parents to learn more about programs offered through its "Make Summer Fair" initiative.

Claudia Vargas, Texas director for Save the Children, said the 90-day break from the school routine can be hardest on kids who need the most help.

"Summer can mean no more access to books, regular meals, art supplies - and end of exercising and playing with other friends until the next school year comes," she said.

Families can learn more about programs offered in their area to help kids through SavetheChildren.org/MakeSummerFair.

Shane Garver, senior director of national field operations for U.S. Programs and Advocacy, said excitement about the school year's end can produce anxiety for children who live outside of cities.

"We know at Save the Children that while poverty affects millions of children across the U.S. - it's strongest grip is on the lives of children in rural communities, as rural child poverty is higher than urban areas in 40 states," Garver explained.

Vargas added in a state as large as Texas, there is a dramatic variability in "Summer Learning Loss" or SLL, but it is has been shown that kids can lose up to 34% of what they learned during the prior school year.

"Children in low-income families are affected by the summer slide. When you lose learning during the summer in ways that can affect them years into their education and in rural communities, the impact can be higher," Vargas said.

Vargas cites one study that showed 75% of students with a failing grade point average were food insecure, compared with 42% of students with a GPA equivalent to an "A".

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is brushing off calls to investigate the effect its social media platforms have on children's mental health.

Last week shareholders rejected a proposal to hire an independent law firm to evaluate the effectiveness of Meta's audit and risk oversight committee.

The resolution alleges the company regularly breaks pledges to remove content harmful to children.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten spoke out in favor of the resolution.

"In classrooms and communities across the country," said Weingarten, "AFT members are witnessing firsthand the impact of students suffering from anxiety, bullying, trauma, body dysmorphia and the eating disorders - as a direct result of exposure to images on Instagram, as well as the violence glorified on Meta's platforms."

Meta's proxy statement advised a "no" vote, saying the company already prohibits harmful content and provides parents tools to monitor their children's activity online.

Last week the U.S. Surgeon General issued a 19 page advisory on adolescent social media use, saying it is predictive of a decrease in life satisfaction for girls 11 to 13 years old and boys 14 to 15.

Weingarten is a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council. The labor organization's pension fund holds significant shares in the company, and it introduced the resolution at last week's Meta shareholder's meeting.

She said we need more clarity on what Meta is doing to protect children.

"While Meta's audit and risk oversight committee is charged with evaluating risks," said Weingarten, "shareholders have no idea how the committee operates, what information it considers or whether it just cedes its authority entirely to CEO Mark Zuckerberg."

The White House recently called for changes, alleging that Meta uses "manipulative design techniques embedded in their products to promote addictive and compulsive use by young people to generate more revenue."

The Federal Trade Commission is calling for a ban on collecting young children's data.

Two regional pediatric immunization symposiums are being held this month in Morehead and Owensboro, where experts will share strategies to promote vaccine dialogue and resources - as families get back on track for routine vaccinations disrupted by the pandemic.

Amber Mallot - health communicator program manager for the Immunize Kentucky Coalition and Kentucky Rural Health Association - encouraged families to check up on what routine vaccinations are needed before kids head back into the classroom.

"We want parents and caregivers to start thinking and planning for that," said Mallot, "because we know that it can be overwhelming to get into a provider's office and get those appointments scheduled, sometimes a month out."

The pandemic disrupted many kids' routine vaccination schedules - and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of kindergartners nationwide who received routine childhood vaccinations during the 2020-'21 school year dropped by around 1% compared with the previous school year.

For more information on the symposia, visit 'immunizeky.org.'

Kelly Taulbee, director of communications and development with Kentucky Voices for Health, pointed out that kids can resume their routine immunizations that were disrupted when the pandemic hit.

"They can pick right back up where they left off," said Taulbee. "There's not any sort of delay in the care now. So please talk to your pediatrician. Get into the doctor. Tell them you're interested, if you want to talk and go through questions first. "

Malott said the Coalition is currently focused on building competence among providers to address vaccine questions with patients.

"Be able to address any of the particular questions that caregivers may have specifically in regard to making the informed choice to vaccinate their children," said Mallot, "not just for required vaccines, but recommended vaccines - HPV, COVID, flu, things of that nature."

A Pew survey released last month found most adults have a lot or some confidence in their own health care provider to give an accurate picture of the health benefits and risks of childhood vaccines.





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