Musings: Childcare is no luxury but a true necessity

For the past 14 years in my hometown of Freeport, I have worked in classrooms, supported families and witnessed firsthand how childcare has become one of the most essential yet overlooked foundations of the workforce.

Every day across New York, many families begin their mornings with the same question: How can I make it to my job if I cannot find reliable childcare? As a provider, I hear this concern constantly.

Although New York State has made meaningful progress in expanding childcare access and supporting providers, many families across the state still struggle to secure affordable, dependable care.

Families in Suffolk County have reported waiting months for childcare assistance, and thousands of children across New York remain on waitlists for subsidies or available care slots — evidence of a system under strain.

Even in communities like mine, where providers work tirelessly to keep programs stable and open, the pressure is impossible to ignore. Providers are being asked to meet growing needs while navigating staffing shortages, rising operational costs and an increasingly fragile workforce system.

And much of this strain is shaped by federal policies and regulations that continue to influence the childcare industry without enough direct input from the people living these realities every day.

That is why on May 11, providers, families, educators, elected officials and advocates gathered in Freeport for our annual Long Island's Day Without Child Care event. It's an action that highlighted the experiences of families struggling to balance rising costs while recognizing providers who continue showing up every day despite burnout, workforce shortages and financial uncertainty.

As national conversations continue around workforce policy, regulations and the future of childcare, federal leaders — including Alex Adams, who heads the Administration for Children and Families — should engage directly with providers and families across the country. Why? Because when childcare systems fail, our communities feel the consequences immediately.

If we truly value our future generations and our economic stability, then childcare must finally be recognized as a national priority — not only during moments of crisis, but every single day.

Janna Rodriguez, Freeport

The writer is founder and director of The Innovative Daycare Corp. in Freeport.