the issues
Law enforcement agencies nationwide face a vicious cycle of retirements, resignations, and fewer people entering the field. Women are not promoting and police morale is lower than ever. Child care in law enforcement must be a priority to make policing accessible to all.
Law enforcement is in a staffing crisis.
Agencies are reporting applications declining at alarming rates of up to 70%. Coupled with a recent PERF study showing a 45% increase in retirements and an 18% increase in resignations last year alone, we are in a crisis.
applications
retirements
resignations
Childcare for Law Enforcement: A Workforce Crisis
Recent data reveals that the average cost of childcare for two children now surpasses the average rent in all 50 states.
bloomberg.com
Despite these high costs, the accessibility and quality of childcare still fall short of what parents—and their children—need. The one-size-fits-all approach to childcare is broken, and law enforcement families are among those paying the price.
Unlike many industries that have adapted to support working parents, childcare solutions for law enforcement often do not exist. Officers work unpredictable shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays—schedules that traditional childcare centers don't accommodate. This leaves many officers, especially women, with an impossible choice between serving their communities and being present for their families.
A Workforce Issue That Must Be Addressed Locally
The childcare crisis is not just a personal struggle for officers—it directly threatens public safety. When law enforcement parents cannot find care for their children, they are forced to reduce hours, turn down promotions, or leave the profession entirely. Police departments nationwide are already facing recruitment and retention challenges, and failing to address this issue only deepens the crisis.
NLEF is changing this by educating law enforcement leaders, elected officials, and philanthropists on immediate, tangible solutions that impact an officer's daily life. This isn't about abstract policy discussions—it's about real action that allows officers to stay in the profession and perform their duties without unnecessary barriers.
The Urgency of Action
Police morale is plummeting, retirements and resignations are soaring, and applications are declining at an alarming rate. Women in law enforcement are particularly affected, as the lack of childcare support hinders career advancement and leadership opportunities.
Childcare must be treated as a critical workforce issue, not just a personal one. Investing in flexible, localized childcare solutions for law enforcement will strengthen retention, improve officer focus and well-being, and ultimately make communities safer.
The policing crisis is here, and we don't have time to wait. It's time to align and champion real solutions that invigorate the law enforcement workforce and protect our nation's safety, security, and quality of life.
of agencies reported having difficulty in recruiting qualified candidates
of agencies reported having too few candidates applying to be law enforcement officers
of agencies reported that recruiting is more difficult today than it was five years ago
of agencies reported having to change agency policies in order to increase the chances of gaining qualified applicants
of agencies reported having to reduce or eliminate certain agency services, units, or positions because of staffing difficulties
Childcare for law enforcement doesn't exist.
NLEF is working to change that by educating law enforcement leaders, elected officials, and philanthropists to address the national recruiting and retention crisis with immediate, tangible tools that actually impact an officer’s daily life.
Child care in law enforcement must be a priority to make policing accessible to all.
America's traditional childcare services need to meet the needs of the modern workforce and the unique needs of law enforcement. Current accessibility and affordability obstruct law enforcement families from utilizing traditional childcare centers. The lack of affordable, flexible, and quality childcare impacts our economy and society. And when it keeps cops off the streets, it even affects our safety.
The challenge of working at a demanding job while parenting makes childcare support not only a powerful recruiting tool but also a critical benefit for existing employees—enabling officers to work various shifts or overtime and allowing all personnel to stay on the job during school closures. Hard-working officers can focus better on their work without the stress of having to deal with babysitting or worrying that their children aren't well cared for.
The childcare crisis requires more attention and funding—and when it comes to law enforcement officers and their families—we don't have time to wait!
Police morale has plunged, retirements and resignations are soaring, women are not promoting, and applications are declining alarmingly. We are in a policing crisis and must align and champion tangible solutions to invigorate the workforce. Our nation's safety, security, and quality of life are at stake.
We have a solution.
The National Law Enforcement Foundation (NLEF) works at all levels of law enforcement to cut through the childcare funding bureaucracy.
We are not simply providing childcare or tax credits. We are overhauling the accessibility with round-the-clock care, the affordability by giving half of market-rate tuition, and the lack of childcare teachers by increasing their pay.
We've designed this model with the mission to make the everyday life of a cop more habitable and the profession attractive to recruits, especially women. While many critical workforces need customized childcare, none impact our communities quality of life as law enforcement does.