Child Care Stabilization Zip Code Factors

The Zip Code Factors dashboard is intended to support the DCYF Federal Child Care Stabilization Grants. This dashboard covers geographic zip code factors only, that are being used to inform grant verifiable add-ons. These factors operationalize the statutory definitions mandated in budget appropriations for these grants (see ESSB 5092 Sec 229(22)(a)(iii)).

These dashboards and data sheets will be updated quarterly to make use of the most recent data available.

See the DCYF Fair Start for Kids Act page

 View the dashboard below

Extreme Child Care Access Deserts

DCYF’s Office of Innovation, Alignment, and Accountability (OIAA) uses extreme access deserts, making use of methodology developed in Massachusetts to identify extreme access deserts for child care.

For the purposes of this funding, DCYF is counting any zip code as an extreme access desert if it is identified as an extreme access desert for any subset of populations – infants/toddlers and preschoolers, from low-income households as well as non-low-income households.

For reference on the methodology, see Hardy et al. 2018 Research Report: Subsidized Child Care in Massachusetts: Exploring geography, access, and equity.

Marginalized, Low-Income Communities

Zip codes counted in this category are those with high rates of child maltreatment, or high rates of childhood poverty, or those in rural counties.

• High rate of child maltreatment. Zip codes that overlap with the areas of the state with the highest rates of maltreatment, >50 children in accepted Child Protective Service referrals per 1,000 child population. DCYF’s OIAA uses data produced by RDA on locales and rates of child maltreatment in local communities for their Risk and Protection Profiles for Substance Abuse Prevention. 
• High childhood poverty. Zip codes with >=20% of childhood poverty (percent of children <age 15 living in households <100% Federal Poverty Level), using the most recent American Community Survey 2019 5-year zip code-level data.
• Rural counties. Using OFM’s 2021 county designation of 30 rural counties.

Supporting Racial Equity

In addition to providers serving communities of color (below), this indicator is informed by zip codes with the highest concentration of young children in racial/ethnic groups that experience disproportionality in kindergarten entry. Data on kindergarten readiness from OSPI indicate that statewide these populations are American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander children.

Zip codes with the highest concentration of children in racial/ethnic groups experiencing disproportionality in kindergarten entry (>=40% of children <age 5 AI/AN, Black, Hispanic, NH/PI children), using the most recent American Community Survey 2019 5-year zip code-level data. FFN providers in these zip codes meet the definition, and licensed providers in these zip code who are rated a Level 3 or higher in Early Achievers.

Communities of Color

Zip codes with the highest concentration of children of color by population (>=50% of children <age 15 children of color, including multiracial children), using the most recent American Community Survey 2019 5-year zip code-level data.

Highest Impact COVID-19 Areas

High impact COVID-19 areas are defined as zip codes where >=40% of licensed providers reported any temporary COVID closure in the 14 months between March 2020 – May 2021, AND the zip codes with the top quartile of COVID closure days. Using both definitions allows DCYF to capture both rural and urban areas where temporary COVID closures may have had a greater impact on childcare providers.

Dashboard Map - Zip Code Factors

Select the zip code criteria on the right to see specific zip code factors, separate or in combination.

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