A new report from Oregon State University shows that as of March 2020, all 36 counties in Oregon qualify as child care âdesertsâ for infants and toddlers â meaning that there are at least three children under the age of 2 for every available child care slot in the county.
Baseline report
Researchers say the report, based on data collected prior to COVID-19, will serve as a useful baseline to highlight how the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges facing Oregon families with small children.
âThis report confirmed what families understand: Thereâs not enough child care, period, but thereâs really a crisis when it comes to infant and toddler slots,â said Megan Pratt, an assistant professor of practice in OSUâs College of Public Health and Human Sciences and lead author of the report, published today. Michaella Sektnan at OSU was her co-author.