Custer County Considered
a Childcare Desert

   by Reggie Foster
On these brisk October mornings, the parking lot outside the Custer County Early Childhood Education Center (CCECEC) fills with the sound of car doors shutting, backpacks rustling, and little feet hurrying to their classroom. For many families, this drop-off is more than a routine; it’s a lifeline.
Just a few years ago, that lifeline didn’t exist. Parents scrambled for options, often piecing together care between relatives, neighbors, or reduced work hours. At the time, Custer County had only 15 full-day childcare slots for more than 250 children under the age of five. Of those, only four slots served infants and toddlers. That meant fewer than one in ten children had access to care. By every definition, Custer County was and is a “childcare desert.” Continue reading Custer County Considered a Childcare Desert →