A recent study shows the rate of young people having kids in Delaware is only slightly below the national average.
The data comes from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
It shows 9% of Delawareans between the ages of 18 and 24 are parents, compared to 10% across the country.
It also shows about half of that population are low-income families, half are persons of color and only 8% have completed an associate degree or higher.
Kids Count Delaware Director Janice Barlow notes the inherent challenges these young parents face.
“It’s a very young age and they are still transitioning into adulthood so they’re facing these challenges simultaneously,” said Barlow.
There are about 7,000 young parents in Delaware with about 8,000 kids.
Barlow recommends expanding childcare subsidies for young parents.
“The other piece is that childcare tends to be very traditional hours, so if we’re talking young parents who want to further education or who might be working in a new job in a second shift or a third shift. We’re looking for childcare in nontraditional hours,” she said.
Barlow says only 5% of young parents nationally collect childcare subsidies while 63% require childcare.
She points to the recently passed family leave bill in Delaware as one means to support families with young parents.
