In the diverse landscape of public policy in the United States, few issues are as central and universally significant as providing quality childcare services. The nation's economic vitality, the well-being of its workforce, and the potential of its youngest citizens are deeply intertwined with the accessibility and affordability of childcare. Over the past few decades, dramatic shifts in family structures, workforce dynamics, and societal expectations have reshaped the childcare landscape, making it an issue of paramount importance.

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) has introduced proposed regulations aimed at ensuring eligible families in New Mexico continue to receive free child care through the child care assistance (CCA) program, while also providing increased rates for child care providers.

The childcare industry in the United States is facing a severe national shortage of providers and programs, causing a significant decline in the number of licensed providers, and leaving thousands of parents struggling to find suitable care for their children.