At Lubbock Area United Way, we spend a lot of time listening to South Plains parents — hearing both what’s hard and what’s working for their families. One theme comes up again and again: access to high‑quality, affordable childcare can change everything.
When parents have reliable childcare — whether that’s a preschool, a church program, a grandparent, or a trusted neighbor running a home‑based center — they can show up for work. That might mean putting on a tie, a uniform, or their well‑worn work boots. Either way, it’s how parents provide for their families today and build toward a more stable future.
And quality childcare doesn’t just matter for parents. It matters just as much for children — the kids who will someday be our doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, business owners, and community leaders right here in West Texas.
We want those children to walk into their first day of kindergarten confident, curious, and ready to learn — not already playing catch‑up. That’s why our local school districts asked United Way’s School Ready 806 Coalition to focus on strategies that help more children in our communities arrive at school truly “kindergarten‑ready.”
How quality childcare benefits children, parents
Research shows there are six key areas in which children benefit from strong early experiences between birth and age 4: literacy, language, math, self‑care, motor skills, and social‑emotional development.
Parents are, of course, a child’s very first and most important teacher. But for the many parents who must work to make ends meet, high‑quality childcare is also a critical piece of the puzzle.
In a quality childcare setting, children gather on the carpet with trained teachers for story time. They practice counting, learn their letters, and figure out how to share and play with others. These everyday moments add up — laying the foundation for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Too often, though, quality childcare is simply out of reach. In some cases, it costs more than tuition at Texas Tech. That price reflects a tough reality: childcare requires skilled, hands‑on, nurturing professionals doing work that can’t (and probably shouldn’t) be automated.
Because of these costs, many parents (especially mothers) are forced to make impossible choices. Some leave the workforce altogether. Others rely on care arrangements that may be less stable or lack the educational supports children need during these crucial early years.
There is good news.
During the 2025 legislative session, leaders from both parties — including House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Representative Armando Walle, Senator Joan Huffman, and others — came together to invest an additional $100 million in childcare. This investment strengthened Texas’ childcare scholarship program, helping working families afford care they otherwise couldn’t access. Without that support, thousands of Texas families would have lost childcare altogether.
We are grateful for that leadership — and we also know the work isn’t finished. Thousands of families across Texas, including here on the South Plains, remain on waiting lists for childcare scholarships.
By building on this progress during the 2027 legislative session, lawmakers have an opportunity to help more parents go to work with peace of mind, and more children start school ready to learn.
Creating that future will take all of us. Parents reading with their kids. Community organizations walking alongside families. Educators, employers, and elected officials working together to strengthen childcare across our state.
When we do, the South Plains — and the families who call it home — will be stronger for generations to come.
Amanda McAfee is President/CEO of the Lubbock Area United Way.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock United Way’s McAfee says Texas’ childcare investments pay off
Reporting by By Amanda McAfee, special for the Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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