Raising Kids in a Desert
By Amanda Rink, Editor
As Clarion grows with new families and development, one challenge looms: a lack of childcare. This shortage forces parents to make tough decisions, staying home, giving up work, delaying having children, or relying on inadequate or unsafe options. The problem extends beyond families, disrupting businesses and hindering economic growth.
With 517 children under 12 and only 156 licensed daycare spots, Clarion qualifies as a “childcare desert,” where more than three children vie for each available spot.
Local Providers Struggle to Meet Demand
Meghann Solis, owner of Meghann’s Munchkins, operates one of the four state-registered in-home daycare options in Clarion. Meghann, who has run her daycare for 15 years, shared:
“I started daycare in 2010 for a few reasons—I love children, the cost of childcare was high at the time for the two kids my husband and I had, and I knew there was a need in Clarion.”
Her Category B child development home allows her to care for up to eight full-time children under school age, along with an additional four school-aged children. Even with her capacity, adding the potential 36 spots from other in-home providers still leaves a significant gap. Clarion’s only state-registered daycare center, First Steps Early Learning Center (formerly Kid’s Korner), recently moved to a new location to expand its services.
First Steps Early Learning Center can accommodate up to 108 children but currently has a waitlist. According to center manager Joleen Gonzales, staffing is a major barrier to increasing capacity:
“We’re always looking for quality employees. We have full-time and part-time openings right now. The only way to expand our daycare spots is to ensure there are enough employees.”
Karianne, the lead teacher for 4- and 5-year-olds at First Steps, echoed the need for more childcare options, “All the in-home daycares in Clarion are full.”
A Broader Problem
The lack of openings has been a long-standing concern among in-home providers. Meghann shared, “I have zero openings and haven’t had any for about five years. We do not have adequate childcare options in town. Most of us registered providers are always full.” New state requirements for in-home daycares have made it harder for providers, including experienced ones, to expand their services and offer more spots.
This issue isn’t unique to Clarion. A report by the Bipartisan Early Childhood Initiative found that rural areas face a 35% gap between the demand for and availability of childcare programs, compared to a 29% gap in urban areas. Rural childcare deserts are often concentrated in low-income census tracts, worsening workforce shortages as parents are forced to stay home as full-time caregivers.
Nationally, 86% of rural parents who are not working, or whose partners are not working, cite childcare responsibilities as a primary reason, according to a Bipartisan Policy Center survey. Of those, 45% said they or their spouse care for their youngest child.
This burden normally affects women more, limiting their ability to participate in the workforce and achieve financial independence. Research shows that when center-based care is accessible, the percentage of mothers who use that care and are employed doubles.
However, with childcare costs in some areas rivaling or exceeding in-state college tuition, many parents struggle to justify the expense of paying more than half of their check to have someone else raise their child.
Kelsey Burres, owner of The Main Scoop in Clarion, remembers being in a similar situation before becoming a business owner, “When I was working full-time at the school, I was barely making enough to cover daycare and a car payment. When I opted to stay home full time, it made sense.”
The challenge isn’t limited to Clarion. In larger cities, parents face similar struggles. Former Belmond resident Katie Franken, who relocated to Mason City, shared her experience, “I had my infant daughter on a waitlist for daycare before she was even born in March 2023. Now my newborn son is on the same waitlist. My husband stays home with them while I work because we don’t have childcare options.”
Without other options and less financial flexibility, some parents have no choice but to trust strangers with their children.
In Webster City, Sara Lovely discovered nearly a dozen bite marks on her 10-month-old son after he returned from daycare in May 2024, according to a report from The Messenger. Despite assurances from the daycare about its camera system and supervision, Lovely was left without answers and had to rely on family members for childcare.
Looking Ahead
Fortunately, many parents in Clarion feel confident leaving their children with the town’s registered providers. Kelsey shared, “I loved when my kids were in an in-home daycare. They were so well cared for, and it felt like a second home. I miss that a little for my youngest.”
Childcare isn’t just about babysitting, it’s about building a better future for the entire community. In Clarion, the need is clear, and the time for action is now. Investing in childcare means supporting families, strengthening workplaces, and fostering a healthier, more connected community.
