Cost is the greatest barrier to accessing childcare in Brown County, according to the findings of a recent survey.
Achieve Brown County, Brown County United Way and the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association partnered to conduct the 2026 Brown County Child Care Survey, gathering insights from Brown County employees about how childcare impacts their families, workplaces and financial stability.
A total of 183 people completed the survey, including 157 respondents with children living in their household.
Among the key findings:
- 84% of respondents with child care needs identified cost as a barrier to accessing the care they need.
- 78% reported that access to child care affected their or their partner’s employment in the past 12 months.
- 64% said they or someone in their immediate family had considered staying home rather than enrolling children in a child care program.
- Nearly 80% of all respondents agreed that employers will face workforce or labor shortages without access to affordable child care.
Brown County has approximately 7,900 regulated childcare seats, while an estimated 13,700 children under age 6 need care outside the home, meaning regulated capacity exists for about 58% of young children estimated to need care.
“Families in Brown County should not have to choose between accessing quality child care, remaining in the workforce and building financial stability for their future,” said Robyn Davis, President and CEO, Brown County United Way.
The Child Care Trust estimates an economic impact of $334 million in Brown County due to the lack of affordable childcare.
“These findings mirror trends in other regions of the state and across the U.S. Lack of affordable childcare is impacting parents’ ability to work and families’ ability to save for the future,” says Paula Drew, Director of Early Care and Education Policy & Research, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association.
Similar survey efforts are being developed in Kenosha and Racine.
Achieve Brown County, Brown County United Way and Wisconsin Early Childhood Association will use the Brown County findings to continue conversations with business leaders and elected officials.
View the full Brown County Child Care Survey Data Brief:
About the Survey
The 2026 Brown County Child Care Survey was conducted from April 28 through July 16, 2026. The 22-question survey was distributed through employer partners, community organizations, social media and other outreach channels. A total of 183 completed responses were included in the analysis.
Respondents represented a range of household types, though the survey sample skewed toward full-time workers, higher-income households and employees working in nonprofit, education, health and government sectors. The findings should be understood as a snapshot of the experiences shared by participating Brown County employees rather than a representative sample of all Brown County families.
