What should families consider when choosing a place to set down roots?

If families have the privilege and option to choose a place to set down roots, they should consider several factors, including the following:

1.The first factor is the state’s family leave policies.

U.S. families have changed significantly over the past few decades: More dual-earner households, single mother-headed households, working adults caring for their aging parents, and grandparents raising grandchildren.
Currently, employers in only eight states in the U.S., and Washington D.C., are required to offer paid family leave for employees to bond with a new child, care for their own or a family member’s serious health condition and take time off when a family member is on active duty.
Paid family leave policies can provide some relief to adults who are burdened with needing to care for loved ones in need while maintaining the family’s livelihood.

2. A second factor is childcare – specifically the availability, accessibility, and affordability of child care.

Many families live in areas referred to as child care deserts, with more than three children for every one-child care slot. Moreover, despite the rise in nonstandard work schedules, there are minimal child care facilities that accommodate parents who need care outside of the standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. Compared to metropolitan areas, nonmetro/rural areas have fewer available spots.
If a family is lucky to secure a child care slot, there are other concerns related to the quality of the care and how accessible the child care center is in relation to home and work. Families may have to consider the tradeoffs of having child care with the quality of child care.
Finally, the cost of child care is one of the biggest expenses families have. Low-wage workers, in particular, may need to patch together child care from various people to earn a living.

3. A third factor is the availability and quality of health care services. Even within a state, families may need to commute to access the health care services they need.

4. A fourth factor is the quality of education in the state (and in the particular county a family is considering) and the availability of education-related resources for children and youth with a range of abilities.

5. Another factor is the state’s employment situation, including low unemployment rates and earning livable wages.

These are just a few factors; other factors, such as the environment and community cohesion, are also important for child development and family life.

To what degree is a child’s development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the state they live in? How?

The state in which they live significantly influence children’s development and a family’s quality of life. The availability and quality of child care and schools affect children’s socioemotional and cognitive development. State policies and practices influence how well families can work to provide for their families and care for their families. My research shows that work-family balance – or, as I call it, work-family fit – affects each family member’s health and well-being, as well as family relationship quality. Americans’ lack of work-family fit is a major public health concern.

How can authorities make their states more attractive to young families?

States will become more attractive to young families when they demonstrate that they recognize the reality that contemporary families face difficult hurdles when raising a family while making a living. The extent to which states (and the federal government) provide the necessary resources to families – such as more affordable child care and paid family leave to focus on caring for family members without the additional undue burden of trying to figure out how to make ends meet – the more attractive they will be.

How might current administration proposals related to child care and paid family leave affect child and family well-being?

The current administration should prioritize families’ needs to care for their families while protecting their job and paying their bills. Working parents need access to affordable and quality child care. Having quality child care benefits children’s development and academic success. It benefits parents by reducing stress: With quality child care, they do not need to worry about the safety and education of their children. Additionally, finding stable child care can reduce parents’ consternation about how to create a patchwork of care for their upcoming work shift, hoping that none of the care options falls through at the risk of losing income or their jobs. States need to eradicate child care desserts and provide more economic supports to parents to pay for quality care.

With the rise in health care and assisted living costs, many families must care for their ailing parents. Also, many adults are in the sandwich generation, meaning they are caring for their parents and their children. Paid family leave will benefit those receiving care (spouse, parent, child) and the one providing care (typically women). Paid family leave allows mothers and fathers to create a secure bond with their new child and mothers can breastfeed their newborn to ensure they get important nutrients, both of which benefit the child’s development in numerous ways. Paid family leave benefits children – the next generation of the workforce. Paid family leave can reduce stress in adults worried about how to make a living while caring for a family member in need, whether a new child, spouse or parent. This stress can permeate throughout the family and strain family relationships.

In evaluating the best states for families, what are the top five indicators?

Paid family leave.
Child care (availability, accessibility, affordability).
Health care services.
Education.
Employment (low unemployment, living wages).