A statewide early childhood agency recognized the need to revise income eligibility guidelines for its childcare assistance program. However, leaders faced a fundamental barrier:
Despite multiple data sources, the agency didn’t have reliable insight into:
where children lived
which communities had adequate access to childcare
where supply gaps left families with few or no options
how demographic and economic factors shaped local needs
Without this visibility, updating eligibility guidelines risked creating uneven access, unintended inequities, or misaligned resource distribution — ultimately leaving vulnerable families without the support they needed.
At its core, the agency was trying to make policy decisions without the full picture.
To close this insight gap, the agency partnered with CSpring to conduct a statewide, data-driven assessment of childcare accessibility.
Our team used a multi-layered analytical approach combining public census data, geospatial modeling, and interactive visualization to give leaders a comprehensive and actionable understanding of childcare access.
Analyzing population distribution of children ages 0–18 across all regions
Integrating demographic and economic indicators, including poverty rates and racial composition
Mapping licensed childcare facilities statewide
Using drive-time analysis to determine realistic access to available care
Identifying communities with the greatest need for additional capacity
Comparing adjacent areas to minimize unintended consequences in policy updates
This transformed disconnected data points into a single, clear view of need and opportunity.
CSpring developed a suite of tools that helped translate complexity into clarity:
Users could explore childcare capacity, supply gaps, and population needs—from statewide trends to local community details.
GIS-powered visualizations highlighted underserved regions and illustrated how travel distance affected access to care.
We delivered a foundational dataset and framework to help leaders monitor changes and adjust policy as needs evolve.
These tools empowered decision-makers to move beyond assumptions and act on evidence.
Equipped with accurate, location-based insights, the agency was able to:
Redesign childcare assistance guidelines using a more equitable and transparent approach
Target resources toward communities with the highest need
Avoid unintended disadvantages in bordering or adjacent areas
Make decisions based on a trusted, longitudinal, statewide dataset
Improve access to childcare for families in historically underserved regions
This work did more than influence one policy decision.
It reshaped how leaders understand childcare access, providing a sustainable foundation for future planning.
Access to childcare is essential for children, families, and the strength of the workforce. When leaders have clear data, they can ensure that every child—no matter where they live—has access to the support they need to thrive.
This project demonstrates how data, geospatial insight, and careful analysis can drive more equitable, effective policy-making across the public sector.