The data compounds urgent fears about the impacts of the child care affordability crisis, as the Trump administration scales back early learning programs, including Head Start. Gaps between kids whose families aren’t experiencing economic strain and those who are widen as kids get closer to school age. Isabel Blair, who has been a provider for nearly 20 years, is seeing the ripple effect of family stressors on kids’ development in Michigan. Previous findings showed the majority of families are relying on a network of family, friends and neighbors to provide critical early child care. That matters for child development.”