"Child Care: Crisis Mode" reported by Erica Carbajal

Demand for affordable child care has historically been high, with COVID-19 exacerbating the already unsteady system. For parents to get back to work, they need secure and affordable child care, but some providers aren’t ready to reopen yet. Others don’t have the space. The effects of COVID-19 are exposing the structural challenges child care providers like Maria Del Carmen Macias and Araida Palacios have dealt with long before the pandemic arrived. On this episode, they share their hopes and struggles as they navigate through a time of crisis.

Reporter Erica Carbajal is a recent graduate from DePaul university where she studied journalism and Spanish. During her time as a student, Erica reported for the university’s broadcast and print media outlets, with coverage ranging from sports betting legislation to Chicago’s rising lake levels. She’s passionate about telling all sides of a story; the ones that often go unheard and overlooked, which is what connected her to Hope From the Front Lines. When she’s not watching the news or reporting it, you can find her cooking or unapologetically watching some reality television.