Adelphi Professor Makes National Call for Subsidized Childcare

Elizabeth Palley, J.D., Ph.D., professor of social work and an expert in family policy, took to the pages of The Hill on July 12 to advocate for universal childcare.

In her opinion piece, “Let’s not talk about family leave without talking about child care,” Dr. Palley points out that family leave covers only a few months, and that families need a longer-term solution. The solution, she argues, is to subsidize childcare, increasing the pay for providers, who are now among the lowest-paid workers in the country.

Boosting pay would attract qualified, well-educated caregivers, increasing the educational value of childcare and boosting America’s ability to compete globally in the years to come. In conclusion, Dr. Palley writes, “It is time to add childcare to our nation’s priorities and to work toward putting universal childcare back on the national agenda.”