Indiana’s $4 Billion Child Care Crisis
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.
Monthly Cost: $677 (Average)
Income Impact: roughly 6% of the average Hoosier’s monthly income.
Workforce Exodus: 40% of parents who left the Indiana workforce in 2024 cited a lack of reliable child care as the primary reason.
Summers noted that this burden falls disproportionately on women, who are eight times more likely than men to experience employment disruptions due to care issues.6 Within that group, Black women and Latinas are the most severely impacted.
The crisis isn’t just felt at the kitchen table; it’s visible on the state’s balance sheet. A 2024 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Early Learning Indiana revealed that the state loses roughly $4.22 billion annually due to child care challenges. This includes a staggering $1.17 billion in lost tax revenue each year.
Political Friction at the Statehouse
The debate has reached a boiling point following recent moves by Governor Mike Braun’s administration. Critics, including Summers, point to the decision to stop issuing new childcare vouchers and the 50% reduction in available spots for the state’s preschool program as evidence of a “pro-life” state failing to support actual life.
Summers highlighted a recent legislative battle over House Bill 1032—a redistricting bill. House Democrats offered a “minority report” that would have scrapped the redistricting language and replaced it with full funding for the Child Care and Development Fund and On My Way Pre-K vouchers. The measure was blocked by House Republicans in a 64-24 vote.
“Our Republican supermajority can’t call themselves ‘pro-life’ while simultaneously blocking any effort to create a good quality of life for Hoosiers,” Summers stated. “Child care is a critical part of our cultural infrastructure.”
As the 2026 legislative session begins next week, Summers has pledged to make childcare her primary focus, challenging her colleagues to move beyond suggestions that parents simply “rely on family and friends.” “Hoosiers today and in years to come depend on us in the Statehouse working together to create a better system for all families,” she concluded.
