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.

  • 43% of working parents would prefer one parent to be home (source).

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

  • Utah’s birth rate has fallen from 2.65 births per family in 2007 to 1.8 in 2023 (source).

  • Many Utah families, especially single parents, spend more than 30% of their income on child care (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 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
Research Brief

Expand income eligibility for the Child Tax Credit
Research Brief

Increase access to affordable, high-quality child care

Remove local barriers for home-based providers

Facilitate employer incentives for child care partnerships
Research Brief

Improve access to home-based child care with startup grants
Research Brief

Support new moms

Extend maternity leave for state employees to 12 weeks
Research Brief

Enhance protections for breastfeeding and pumping
Research Brief

The Case for Investing in Utah Families

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

117,300

families with more financial flexibility through improving tax credit access

10,000

home-based child care slots could be created

110,000

working parents supported by increased child care access

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

  • Mothers can spend more time with newborns, strengthening early bonds and healthier starts for both. Parents can make choices based on what’s best for their family, not just finances.

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

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

A better Utah for families.

Boost Family Affordability

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Boost Family Affordability —

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Help us build momentum and show legislators why it’s time to invest in Utah families.

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Tell us about your experiences with rising costs, childcare challenges, and difficult family trade-offs. Your input helps us create solutions informed by and for Utah families.

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Join us at upcoming events to learn more and show legislators we’re ready to invest in families.