Child care ordinance signed to help families in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Some parts of Louisville, particularly in the west and southwest, are like child care deserts, but changes are being made to make it easier for families to find child care near their homes and workplaces.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer signed an ordinance on Tuesday making it easier to start and operate in-home daycares. This ordinance removes many restrictions from the industry, allowing more providers to open in more locations and better serve families where they live and work. It also includes safeguards to protect neighborhood safety.

Previously, in-home day care facilities could only accommodate six children. Daycares can now care for more children under the new rules if the home or property can accommodate it.

The ordinance, which was passed in March, was sponsored by Metro Councilwoman Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D-District 8), who is also a mother. She said the ordinance is not a perfect solution for all of Louisville’s child care issues, but it is a step in the right direction.

“Today, we know that families with children are struggling like never before,” Chambers Armstrong said. “We’ve all heard the statistic about 100,000 Kentucky women leaving the workforce because of child care issues, but I want to take a moment and sit with that. There are only 12 sports stadiums in the entire world that are large enough to hold 100,000 people. The 100,000 moms who are out of our workforce solely because of childcare issues could almost fill Cardinal Stadium twice.”

She said the hope is that with more child care options in Louisville, more parents can return to work.

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