important topic. Their research will also include data gleaned from various qualitative focus groups. “We need more people back into the labor force,” Wilmes said. “Parents are not going back (to work) due to child care, but we don’t exactly know why. If we don’t know the reasons, then we won’t know what solutions are really going to help alleviate the problem and get more people back into the workforce faster.” Making matters worse, the cost of child care keeps going up, forcing many parents to decide between working or staying home with their children. In a recent Fortune article, the author told the stories of several women who made that choice because it would have cost them at least 25% of their paychecks to pay for child care. Wilmes said she has even heard of parents turning down a promotion because it would have placed them in a higher income bracket and, therefore, disqualify them for child care subsidies. “It is preventing a lot of people who want to work from working,” Wilmes said. “It’s also stopping them from excelling in their job, which could change the whole trajectory of their life and their child’s life, but they’re not doing it because of child care issues.” Wilmes said the initial goal of the study is to better understand concerns and build awareness about the problems.
“It will take the entire community working together to begin resolving some of the issues,” she said. The English version of the survey has already closed; however, a Spanish version is still open until May 12th for those who live or work in Oklahoma City and currently use/need child care or plan to in the near future, Wilmes said. One response per household. All responses are anonymous. To complete the survey, visit surveymonkey.com/r/B7QMBZG.
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