On some mornings, a mother in Layton kisses her 8-month-old, sets him in his crib with a few toys and a tablet, and heads to work at the grocery store. It’s not what she wants or what she pictured. But child care costs more than she can afford, and rent and utilities still have to be paid. Staying home just isn’t an option.
In St. George, a woman with a master’s degree had a career she loved. When her kids were born, she stepped away from this career, expecting to return when the time felt right. But as expenses climbed, her family needed another income. The only job flexible enough to work around school pickup and sick days — scooping ice cream — pays far less than what she earned before.
In rural Utah, a young couple recently had their first child. Both parents need to work to cover the basics, but there are no open child care spots in their county. With no family nearby and no real alternatives, one parent had to put their career on hold.
And parents the county over say they would love to be at home to raise their children during the early years of their lives. But between the cost of living and demanding lifestyles, raising kids full time can’t be their reality.
These scenarios — which are real, though names have been omitted to preserve anonymity — are impossible. But they aren’t rare.
Utah’s birth rate has dropped dramatically — from 2.65 children per family in 2007 to just 1.8 in 2023, a 32% decline in less than 20 years. Behind those numbers are families sitting at kitchen tables, running the numbers and realizing how hard it has become to make everything work.
Nearly half of working parents in Utah say they would prefer one parent to stay home if they could afford it. At the same time, more than three-quarters of families need two incomes just to cover everyday expenses. Many parents are left making tough choices — waiting longer to have children, stepping back from work altogether, taking on extra jobs or hours, or juggling work and family in ways that feel unsustainable.
We at The Policy Project have spent months listening to families across the state. We’ve learned that these challenges are everyday realities for Utah families. Parents aren’t asking for luxury — they are asking for some flexibility, some stability and the chance to choose what works best for their families.
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Utah provides strong support for children ages 5 to 18, but families with children ages 0 to 4 are often left without the resources they need during the most formative time of a child’s life. These early years shape health, learning and emotional well-being for years to come. And yet infant care costs 78% more than college tuition — hitting families at a time when parents are often early in their careers and least able to absorb the cost.
Without support during these early years, families are pushed into decisions that can have long-term effects on parents, on kids and on their futures.
Children are Utah’s most important infrastructure. They grow up to be our workers, caregivers, leaders and neighbors. Research shows that investing in early childhood delivers outsized returns with better health, higher earnings and stronger communities over time. We need to shift our perspective and invest in families the same way we invest in infrastructure. When families are supported, society benefits.
Utah has long been known as one of the best places to raise kids, and we want it to remain that way. The Policy Project’s goal is simple: Give parents the ability to choose what works best for their families. During the 2026 legislative session, we’re thinking differently about what it looks like for Utah to support our families. We’re partnering with lawmakers on policies that give parents more financial flexibility, increase access to quality child care and support new mothers during the early months.
These steps won’t fix everything at once. But they will move the needle. And together, they reflect our commitment to building systems that truly work for Utah families.
This is our moment. It is up to all of us — parents, employers, policymakers, educators and neighbors — to show up for Utah families. Every parent deserves real choices, and every child deserves a strong start. Let’s work together to keep families at the heart of Utah.
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