In Episode 5 of Child Care Matters: Built to Break, host Jamee Herbert, CEO of BridgeCare, explores a critical but often overlooked issue in early childhood education: the data gap. Why is it so hard for families, providers, and policymakers to access the information they need, and how is that making an already-strained system even harder to navigate?

Throughout this episode, we explore how the fragmented child care system leaves everyone “flying blind.” We also look at why the lack of data on availability, cost, and eligibility causes critical delays for parents and makes it more challenging for policymakers to make informed decisions.

In this episode:

Sonja Castañeda-Cudney — Parent

Simon Workman — Co-founder & Principal, Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies

Sabina Andersson — Colorado Department of Early Childhood

Sarah Rittling — Executive Director, First Five Years Fund

Child Care Matters: Built to Break examines America’s early childhood system from the perspectives of parents, providers, and experts, one piece of the puzzle at a time. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone working to improve child care in their community, and follow the show so you don’t miss the next chapter of the series. For more information, go to getbridgecare.com.