Stephanie Bivins from Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families explores how the changing costs and availability of childcare create challenges for families, especially those without nearby family support. The discussion highlights the broader economic effects: workers may miss shifts when care is unavailable, essential services and local businesses can face staffing disruptions, and prospective employees may decline or leave jobs when they cannot find reliable childcare. The central point is that childcare access is not only a family issue—it affects communities and industries across the region.