INDIANAPOLIS — As the Indiana General Assembly prepares to reconvene on January 5, State Representative Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) is being vocal on what she describes as a “catastrophic” childcare crisis that is currently hollowing out Indiana’s workforce and threatening its future economic stability.
In an assessment of the state’s current landscape, Summers argues that prioritizing child care is no longer just a social issue—it is a mandatory economic strategy for a state that ranked worst in the nation for child care access in 2024.
According to data cited by Summers, Indiana—a state of nearly seven million people—possesses only 772 licensed child care facilities. This severe shortage means the state only has enough providers to serve approximately 61% of children in need of care. For the families who can find a spot, the financial burden is often insurmountable…