The market rate fee in non-urban areas of the state in 2019 for any child in in-home care was $2.50 per hour, according to a 2019 survey by the South Dakota Department of Human Services. Again, child care centers are not creating new slots but rather, replacing slots that were once offered by family or in home providers. If the number of family child care sites is declining and the number of child care slots is replacing them, the cost for childcare is increasing. Those sites historically have lower hourly childcare fees than childcare centers. Studies have noted the decline in the estimated number and licensed number of in-home or family child care sites. Infant care for one child would cost 10.2% of the median family income in the state, according to EPI. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), child care is affordable if it costs no more than 7% of a family’s income.Īccording to the Economic Policy Institute, 28.5% of South Dakota families can afford infant care. In Day County, for example, there were an estimated 28.8 children under 6 for every licensed day care slot.įor some parents, it’s difficult to find a child care opening while others may not be able to afford it.

The Minneapolis Federal Reserve District which includes South Dakota, says that there are two children for every licensed child care slot. The Sioux Falls study said 58% of all surveyed providers had a waiting list for children 3 to 5.Īlthough the study focused on Sioux Falls shows a gap of 2,000 in available childcare slots, the need is spread around the state. At the same time, the state has had an increase in the number of children under 4 and a steady participation of 74% to 75% of parents in the workforce. The estimated number of providers is higher than the licensed number because South Dakota allows for an in-home child care provider to have up to 12 children without registering with the state.Ĭhild care centers may have expanded to account for the slots remaining the same. But, the capacity has remained at about 30,000 slots. The total number of estimated providers declined by 16% including a 30% drop in registered providers from 2012 to 2018, according to Early Learner South Dakota. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decline in some available child care spaces but data shows that spaces were changing in South Dakota before 2020. The study on the Sioux Falls environment and other research shows that the child care system was struggling before the pandemic and now, needs even more attention. So, 2,000 children don’t have available child care. There are 9,723 childcare slots available, according to the study’s sources.

The study says that 11,386 children under the age of six in Sioux Falls all have working parents.

Baby daycare game