In 2014, the President signed the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, reauthorizing the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) that provides states with resources to 1) help low-income parents afford child care while they work or pursue education and training and 2) to enhance the quality of child care for all children. The reauthorization sets forth many new requirements, including the expectation that states have in place strategies to meet the needs of specific target populations: children in underserved areas; infants and toddlers; children with disabilities; and children in need of care during nontraditional hours.

While Virginia has numerous strategies in place, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) wanted an up-to-date assessment of the current state of child care needs among localities and target populations. To do so, the VDSS Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Development convened a workgroup of stakeholders from across the state to:

• Evaluate and, to the extent possible, quantify the child care needs of these specific populations in Virginia.
• Identify potential strategies to increase the supply and quality of child care for these populations.
• Share ideas and form collaborations to implement selected strategies.

Final Child Care Underserved Areas Workgroup Report