Child care centers are reopening, but many risk closing for good

And in Oregon, all 36 counties were considered "child care deserts" for infants and toddlers before the pandemic, with only one child care slot for every three children who need care, according to Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici's office.

Bonamici recently released a report called "Child Care in Crisis: Solutions to Support Working Families, Children, and Educators," calling for stabilizing and improving the child care system in Oregon and across the nation.

"Access to high-quality, affordable child care has always been fundamental to the well-being of families and children," Bonamici wrote in the report. "As a mom of two, I've long recognized the importance of affordable and high-quality child care. It's foundational to our economy, and will be a key factor in reopening our communities safely by making it possible for parents to return to work."