Boost Family Affordability

In 2026, The Policy Project will pursue a series of policies that will ensure Utah remains the best place to raise the next generation.

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The Problem

Utah has been known as one of the best places to raise a family—but for many, that promise feels increasingly out of reach.Rising costs and limited options mean parents are facing impossible choices like delaying having kids, leaving careers, taking on second jobs, or working when they’d rather stay home with children.

  • 74% of Utah parents with children under six say they need two incomes to cover household expenses. SOURCE

  • Many Utah families, especially single parents, spend more than 30% of their income on child care. SOURCE

  • 43% of working parents would prefer one parent to be home. SOURCE

  • Utah’s birth rate, once the highest in the nation, has fallen from 2.65 births per family in 2007 to 1.8 in 2023. SOURCE

  • Infant care in particular is 78% more expensive than college tuition. SOURCE

  • $25,288 is the average annual cost of care for two children in center-based care, and $19,500 is the average annual cost of care for two children in residential-based care. SOURCE

  • 75% of Utahns live in a “child care desert,” where there isn’t enough child care to serve the working population. SOURCE

  • Utah loses $1.36 billion annually in lost economic opportunity due to parentʼs experiencing disruptions to childcare. SOURCE

Stories from across the state.

  • Rebecca, Sandy

    “I always wanted to be a mom. I simply can’t afford to have kids. Even with insurance, the cost of giving birth is more than we can manage. And after that, daycare alone would cost us between $1,200 and $2,800 a month—basically a second mortgage. We don’t have help from parents or extended family, so every cost and responsibility falls entirely on us. We didn’t choose to be child-free—we were priced out of parenthood.”

  • Nate, Richfield

    “When my husband and I welcomed our first baby, we were shocked to learn there were no available childcare spots in our rural county—the waitlist was over a year long. I put my career on hold, even though we needed the second income.”

  • Sofia, Ogden

    “I work full-time as a teacher, but finding childcare that fits my schedule is a constant juggling act. I rely on relatives and friends to cover gaps, coordinate multiple pickups and drop-offs, and adjust my work around everyone else’s availability. It’s exhausting, and I constantly feel like I’m failing both at work and at home.”

  • Lindsay, West Jordan

    “I always dreamed of staying home with my kids when they were little, but financially, it’s just not possible. My entire paycheck goes toward daycare, yet quitting isn’t an option because we need health insurance and can’t afford to lose my income. It feels like we’re trapped in a system that doesn’t work for families.”

The Solution

Families need real choices. Parents should have the resources and flexibility to decide what’s best for their children—whether a parent stays at home during their children’s early years, works part-time, or pursues a full-time career.

Boost financial flexibility for parents

Increase awareness and filing assistance for the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit

Expand income eligibility for the Child Tax Credit

Increase access to affordable, high-quality child care

Remove local barriers for home-based providers

Streamline child care licensing

Facilitate employer incentives for child care partnerships

Support new moms

Extend maternity leave for state employees to 12 weeks

Enhance protections for breastfeeding and pumping at work

While high housing and other expenses contribute to Utah’s rising cost of living, supporting families through these targeted policy solutions are levers we can pull today to make a tangible difference for families.

The Potential Impact

67,000

families with more financial flexibility to consider at-home care or quality childcare through expanded tax credit access.

10,000

new child care slots could be created.

110,000

working parents supported by additional child care slots

Why It Matters

  • Children receive high-quality care during their most critical early years—supporting healthy social, emotional, and cognitive development.

  • Mothers have more time with their newborns, strengthening early bonds and supporting healthier starts for both mom and baby.

  • Parents can make decisions based on what’s best for their family, not just what’s financially possible.

  • Families gain the flexibility to raise children at home, cover essentials, save for the future, and strengthen their financial stability.

  • Communities thrive as more parents are able to participate in the workforce or care for their children without impossible trade-offs.

Boost Family Affordability

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Boost Family Affordability —

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