Investing in Child Care Is Investing in the Future: How Technology Can Help Build Stronger Families, Communities, and Economies

Child care is far more than a support service. It is a cornerstone of healthy child development, family stability, workforce participation, and a thriving economy. Yet despite its critical role, child care remains one of the most underfunded and overlooked areas of the human services landscape. Families across the country continue to face challenges finding affordable, high-quality care that meets their needs, while state and local programs often struggle to keep pace with demand.

The Child Care for Working Families Act (CCWFA), introduced in Congress, represents a transformational opportunity to change that reality. By making care more accessible, improving quality, and strengthening the workforce, this legislation could reshape the landscape of early childhood support in the United States. To achieve its goals, however, child care systems must have the technological infrastructure to expand capacity, coordinate services, and measure results.

Why Child Care Investments Matter for Everyone

Investing in child care pays dividends across every level of society.

For children, early learning experiences shape brain development, school readiness, social skills, and lifelong success. A 2023 report from ACF’s Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation asserted that quality child care is directly linked to improved educational outcomes, better health, and greater economic opportunity later in life.

For families, reliable, affordable care enables parents to participate in the workforce, pursue higher education, and achieve financial security. When parents know their children are safe and supported, they are more likely to advance in their careers and contribute fully to the economy.

For the economy, child care is essential infrastructure. It enables workforce participation, reduces absenteeism, and boosts productivity. Research shows that investments in early care and education yield some of the highest returns of any public spending by reducing long-term social costs and increasing economic output. In fact, researchers at the Center for the Economics of Human Development at the University of Chicago found that high-quality early childhood programs deliver annual return rates of about 13 percent per child

Simply put, child care funding is not a social expense. It is an investment in human capital, workforce resilience, and the long-term strength of the nation.

The Child Care for Working Families Act: A Transformative Vision

The Child Care for Working Families Act, as highlighted by the Center for American Progress, aims to address the biggest challenges facing families and providers today. Its goals include making child care more affordable and accessible, expanding access to high-quality early learning programs, and supporting the workforce that delivers this essential service.

One of the most impactful provisions of the CCWFA focuses on quality improvement. The bill proposes investments in data systems and infrastructure that would allow states to share information across early learning settings, elementary schools, and secondary schools. This would enable a more holistic approach to supporting children’s development over time.

These provisions reflect a critical reality. Technology is not just a support tool for child care systems; it is the foundation for expanding capacity, coordinating services, and improving outcomes.

The Role of Technology in Strengthening Child Care Systems

Modern technology is essential for building strong, sustainable, and equitable child care programs. It transforms how services are delivered, how families access them, and how agencies measure their impact.

These capabilities are not just helpful for implementing legislation like the CCWFA. They are essential for building the scalable, responsive systems that families and communities need.

Investments in child care technology amplify the impact of every dollar spent. When agencies have the right tools to share data, coordinate services, and operate efficiently, they can deliver stronger support from birth through school and beyond. The result is a long-term return on investment measured in healthier children, more stable families, stronger communities, and a more resilient economy.

The Future Starts with Child Care — and CITI Is Ready to Help Build It

The future of children, families, and the economy depends on bold investments in child care and on the technology that powers those investments. CITI is committed to being a partner in that transformation.

Our Child Care solution, Arise, was purpose-built to help agencies modernize their child care systems and deliver better outcomes. Arise supports improved service delivery, enhances data sharing, and streamlines operations, allowing agencies to manage resources more effectively. It also provides the tools to coordinate care across multiple programs, ensuring that families receive the comprehensive support they need.

By investing in innovative technology solutions like Arise, agencies can position themselves to deliver coordinated, high-quality services that make a lasting difference. The decisions we make about how we support and deliver child care today will shape opportunities for generations to come. With the right technology and the right partnerships, we can build a stronger, more equitable future for children across the country.