{"id":10200,"date":"2026-10-27T10:57:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T16:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/?p=10200"},"modified":"2026-10-27T10:57:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T16:57:52","slug":"new-kansas-poll-child-care-costs-drive-affordability-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/new-kansas-poll-child-care-costs-drive-affordability-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"New Kansas poll: Child care costs drive affordability concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Topeka, KAN. \u2014<\/strong>\u00a0New statewide polling finds\u00a0Kansas\u00a0voters are concerned about the cost of living, with child care costs adding to the financial pressures facing families across the state. More than a third of parents say child care costs are preventing them from saving for the future, while one in four are cutting back on essentials to afford care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The poll was conducted on behalf of the First Five Years Fund<\/a> and\u00a0The Partnership for Early Success<\/a> in partnership with state and national organizations, including the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voters across party lines overwhelmingly agree that finding and affording quality child care is a serious problem and support lawmakers taking action to make care more affordable and accessible. The findings also underscore the connection between affordable child care, families\u2019 financial stability, and Kansas\u2019s workforce and economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis research highlights that Kansas families are feeling the financial stress from the high cost of living, including the sky high cost of child care. It\u2019s clear Kansans are looking for financial relief,” said David Jordan, president and CEO of the Health Fund. “Funding child care programs and tax credits that bring down the cost of care is a tangible way that policymakers can make life more affordable for Kansas families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

AFFORDABILITY IS TOP OF MIND FOR KANSAS VOTERS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When asked which two issues are most important to their families, Kansas voters overwhelmingly identified lowering the cost of living (65%). The findings underscore the financial pressures facing families across the state, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • 43% of voters are unable to pay their full credit card bill every month.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 37% of parents are unable to save money for the future due to child care costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • One in four parents are cutting back on essentials to afford child care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • One in three voters are struggling to pay rent or mortgage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    KANSAS VOTERS SEE CHILD CARE AS PART OF THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Kansas voters across party lines overwhelmingly agree that finding and affording quality child care is a serious challenge for working families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Fully three-quarters of voters<\/strong>\u00a0believe the ability of working parents to find and afford quality child care is either \u201cin a state of crisis\u201d or a \u201cmajor problem,\u201d including 65% of Republicans, 77% of Independents, and 91% of Democrats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • More than half of voters<\/strong>\u00a0are concerned that young families may leave Kansas or choose not to have children because they cannot find affordable child care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      CHILD CARE IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO KANSAS\u2019S WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Kansas voters also recognize the broader economic benefits of expanding access to quality child care, including its role in helping parents enter and remain in the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • 70% of voters<\/strong>\u00a0agree that increasing access to high-quality child care would strengthen Kansas\u2019s economy and workforce, including 60% of Republicans, 67% of Independents, and 93% of Democrats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • 45% of voters<\/strong>\u00a0agree that labor shortages throughout the state are due in part to the lack of quality, affordable child care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Approximately one-third of voters<\/strong>\u00a0say they or someone they know would consider entering the workforce if quality child care were available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Nearly four in ten voters<\/strong>\u00a0say child care challenges affect their workplace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        CHILD CARE MATTERS TO KANSAS VOTERS AT THE BALLOT BOX<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Kansas voters want to know where candidates stand on supporting working families with young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Fully 72% of Kansas voters<\/strong>\u00a0say a candidate\u2019s plans to support working families with young children will be important in deciding whom to vote for, including 66% of Republicans, 65% of Independents, and 83% of Democrats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          KANSAS VOTERS SUPPORT STATE AND  FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN CHILD CARE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          FEDERAL POLICIES<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          Kansas voters also support a federal role in helping working families access and afford quality child care and early learning opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Nearly two-thirds of voters<\/strong>\u00a0believe federal funding for child care and early learning programs for low-income working families is a good investment of taxpayer dollars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • 60% of Kansas voters support the Child Care Modernization Act,<\/strong>\u00a0including 48% of Republicans, 57% of Independents, and 86% of Democrats. The bipartisan legislation would strengthen the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the federal program that helps low-income working families afford child care<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • 74% of voters<\/strong>\u00a0support Head Start, including 62% of Republicans, 74% of Independents, and 95% of Democrats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            STATE POLICIES<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • There is strong opposition (57%) to reducing the number of children or allowing the funding to lapse in the state\u2019s child care assistance program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Over half of voters support the state giving child care dedicated ongoing funding care dedicated, ongoing funding like it gives public schools, even if it meant raising taxes to pay for it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • And nearly 60% of voters want yearly tobacco settlement payments to go<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • to programs that directly benefit children and families.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              These findings demonstrate broad support for state and federal investments that help families access affordable child care and early learning programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              BOTTOM LINE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              The results point to a clear message from Kansas voters: making child care more affordable and accessible is a priority that cuts across party lines. Voters recognize the connection between child care, household affordability, and the state\u2019s economic future, and they want state and federal leaders to prioritize meaningful solutions that support working families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \u201cKansas families are feeling the strain of high child care costs. Voters recognize that child care is part of the broader affordability crisis, and for too many families, these costs are making it harder to save, get ahead, and plan for the future. This is the reality for families across Kansas, and it\u2019s time for lawmakers to act,\u201d said Sarah Rittling,\u00a0First Five Years Fund executive director. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Topeka, KAN. \u2014\u00a0New statewide polling finds\u00a0Kansas\u00a0voters are concerned about the cost of living, with child care costs adding to the financial pressures facing families across the state. More than a third of parents say child care costs are preventing them from saving for the future, while one in four are cutting back on essentials to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10200"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10206,"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10200\/revisions\/10206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}