Child care providers do this work for the love of children, not money. Yet razor-thin margins are making it harder to stay afloat. In this episode we look into why. Why is it so difficult for the people who are caring for our children to keep the lights on? 

In Episode 3 of Child Care Matters: Built to Break, host Jamee Herbert, CEO of BridgeCare, looks beyond funding and into the day-to-day reality of what it takes to open a program, keep it compliant, and maintain quality staff. 

You’ll hear how licensing, zoning, and inspection requirements create expensive, inconsistent barriers providers have to navigate and why one day with a sick team member can force a closure that throws families into chaos.

In this episode:

• Benu Chhabra — Early childhood educator and advocate
• Wendy Doyle — President & CEO, United WE
• Sarah Rittling — Executive Director, First Five Years Fund

Child Care Matters: Built to Break examines America’s early childhood system from the perspectives of parents, providers, and experts—one piece of the puzzle at a time. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone navigating child care right now, and follow the show so you don’t miss the next chapter of the series. For more information, go to getbridgecare.com.