Key Highlights
- The N.H. Department of Health and Human Services announced new goals for increasing child care capacity.
- Average annual shortage of about 9,107 child care slots between 2019-2023 in New Hampshire.
- Child care providers are paid nearly $9 an hour less than the average working Granite Stater.
- The state aims to assess funding through a fiscal analysis sponsored by the Early Care and Education Funders Collaborative.
New State Plan Aims to Address Child Care Capacity Shortages in New Hampshire
In an effort to address critical shortages in child care capacity, the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has unveiled a new plan aimed at increasing access and support for early education programs. The roadmap, set over two years from 2025-2027, includes goals to tackle workforce shortages and high tuition costs.
Increasing Access and Capacity
The first goal of the DHHS Roadmap is to enroll an additional 10 percent more children from high-need communities by September 2026. This initiative acknowledges that New Hampshire has a significant gap between available child care slots and families in need. According to data, there were nearly 9,107 fewer child care slots on average annually between 2019 and 2023.
Shannon Tremblay, director of the N.H. Child Care Advisory Council, highlighted that while increasing access is important, the state must also address underlying workforce issues. “We have to worry about the workforce, making livable wages, getting people into the workforce, and then you are able to fill classrooms back up,” she emphasized.
Workforce Challenges
The financial strain on child care providers is a significant barrier to increasing capacity. Early childhood educators in New Hampshire earn an average of $15.62 per hour compared to the state’s average wage of $24.03, resulting in a nearly $9 hourly difference. This gap, combined with required certifications and credentials, high tuition costs, and competitive wages for similar jobs like pre-K or kindergarten teachers, makes hiring more challenging.
“Most of our child care providers are on state subsidies themselves,” Tremblay noted. “The state has done great things with increasing eligibility for child care scholarships, but even if you get a scholarship, it’s not guaranteed that the spot will be available.”
Evaluating Funding and Future Solutions
As part of its plan, DHHS intends to conduct a fiscal analysis through the Early Care and Education Funders Collaborative. The analysis will consist of two pieces: cost modeling and visioning. Cost modeling aims to identify funding sources and barriers within the current system, while visioning seeks long-term solutions involving stakeholders.
Julie Asher, executive director of the ECEFC, explained that through this process, they hope to achieve a “sustainable, equitable, and high-quality” child care system. The state recognizes its limited funding capabilities and is committed to being creative in crafting future strategies.
By focusing on both immediate access needs and long-term workforce development, the new plan seeks to stabilize New Hampshire’s child care sector while ensuring quality early education for all children.
