World War II child care program (1942-1945)
The Lanham Act funded child care centers for war workers, reaching over 100,000 children at its peak. The program was dismantled after the war despite widespread public support.
The program ended, and most centers closed within a few years.
Left no lasting national child care infrastructure, setting the stage for today's shortage.
Highlights how child care access is a political battleground, with availability depending on local and federal support. Today's opposition is local, but it similarly hampers access.
