State Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) is calling for urgent action following the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announcement of an immediate waitlist for the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) and On My Way Pre-K programs. This decision worsens Indiana’s already dire child care crisis, putting thousands of families in an even more precarious position.

As a member of the Senate Education Committee, Health Committee and Medicaid Advisory Committee and a longtime advocate for affordable child care, Yoder emphasized the devastating ripple effects this decision will have on families, Indiana’s workforce and the academic futures of Hoosier children.

“This isn’t just a bureaucratic misstep. It’s a crisis for families, children and our state’s future,” Yoder said. “Early childhood is the most critical period for brain development. Without quality child care, we’re not just failing our youngest learners—we’re jeopardizing their chances at literacy, math achievement and lifelong success. Indiana families deserve better.”

Indiana ranks last in the nation for child care access, with over 70% of counties lacking enough child care slots to meet demand. The FSSA estimates that 20,000 families will join the waitlist in the coming year, and thousands more could lose eligibility due to financial shortfalls.

“This waitlist is a moral failure and a fiscal disaster,” Yoder said. “We’re telling a family of four earning up to $230,000 that they qualify for a need-based private school voucher, while a family earning $38,000 doesn’t qualify for a Pre-K voucher. That’s not just unfair—it’s absurd.”

Indiana’s child care system is now at a breaking point as federal funds that previously expanded access to 30,000 children have been fully utilized. This funding shortfall, compounded by the state’s failure to address the growing demand for affordable child care, has left thousands of families facing uncertainty.

While federal aid helped bridge the gap in recent years, state leaders have resisted taking accountability for creating long-term solutions, instead deflecting responsibility back to the federal government.

Yoder also called out the contradiction in the supermajority’s stated priorities. “Last session, the supermajority claimed to prioritize expanding child care access and improving foundational literacy. Yet this waitlist undermines those very goals. You can’t help children read by third grade if they can’t access Pre-K. You can’t support working families when affordable child care is out of reach. Words aren’t enough—Hoosier families need action.”

Yoder highlighted the broader economic impacts. “Child care is a workforce issue. Parents are being forced to leave jobs, cut back hours or turn down promotions because they can’t find or afford child care. That directly undermines Indiana’s economy and leaves us lagging behind neighboring states that are investing in their children and workforce.”

She called on state leaders to act decisively in the 2025 budget. “We can’t keep claiming to value family and economic growth while neglecting the very foundation of both—our children. Hoosier families cannot wait. It’s time to ensure every child has access to the care and education they deserve.”

Yoder concluded, “The state has the resources to fix this. The only thing missing is the will. We must meet this challenge with urgency, bold action and an unwavering commitment to Indiana’s children and families.”