Child care concerns were brought up at a state commission meeting Tuesday

Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, speaks after the Alabama House of Representatives approved a new congressional map on July 19, 2023. The map includes one majority-Black congressional district and one district that is 42% Black. Democrats, who are pushing for two majority-Black districts, say the map will not satisfy a federal court. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, spoke at the Alabama Women’s Commission Tuesday about the need to address child care in the state.

In a discussion about what the commission could do and amid conversations around regional events, Drummond said that child care was an issue for one of her constituents during the summer.

“This issue was certainly a survival issue for her and I think it’s one facing women all over the state,” she said.

Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, also brought up partnering with the Women’s Foundation of Alabama on something related to the issue.

“Women’s Foundation of Alabama is encouraged by the chorus of support for expanding access to quality, affordable child care.  Collaboration is powerful,” wrote Kim Cochran, spokesperson for the foundation, in a Wednesday email. “We encourage stakeholders from every corner of the state to partner in ways to ensure that parents have access to quality child care which helps them enter, and remain, in the workforce.”

The commission focuses on issues related to women in the state.

The Alabama Legislature passed a child care tax credit in the 2024 regular legislative session. Child care was an issue brought up during meetings over Alabama’s workforce participation rate.

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