Two out of three families in the Greenwich and New Canaan area are either searching for childcare or on a waitlist, according to a statewide survey released Wednesday, July 22. Only a group of seven towns in northeastern Connecticut fared worse.

The 2025 Parents/Caregiver Survey, led by Samantha Lawrence, an assistant professor in the UConn School of Social Work, found that 66% of parents in the Greenwich and New Canaan Early Start Network reported actively looking for care or waiting for a spot. That rate trailed only Brooklyn, Canterbury, Killingly, Putnam, Sterling, Thompson and Plainfield, where 71% of families reported the same struggle.

Lawrence surveyed 3,719 parents and caregivers across Connecticut in collaboration with 140 partner organizations and the state's Office of Early Childhood. She called the data "a really important first step to hold us accountable, to make change."

Statewide, 53% of families said childcare is too expensive. Toddlers ages 18 to 35 months face the worst access gap, with nearly half of families in that age group searching or waitlisted. Low-income families reported the steepest barriers. Cost topped the list of obstacles, followed by waitlists, lack of openings, distance, and difficulty accessing subsidy programs like Care 4 Kids.

Greenwich providers say spots exist

Louis Josephson, CEO of Family Centers of Greenwich, acknowledged the disconnect between the survey data and his organization's experience. His four central Greenwich locations have openings for children from 6 weeks through age 5, with sliding-scale tuition and scholarships available.

"I've heard about this as a longstanding phenomenon, that families are finding it really challenging to find the right slot for the right age child in the Greenwich community at a price they can afford," Josephson said at the Wednesday press conference. Full tuition at Family Centers runs $2,650 per month for children under 3 and $2,200 per month for ages 3 to 5 in the 2026-27 school year.

Meanwhile, a proposed Goddard School at 160 West Putnam Ave. would add up to 216 childcare spots in central Greenwich if approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Attorney Tom Heagney, representing the applicant, told commissioners at a July 9 hearing that the need for daycare in town is "acute." The proposal remained pending further review with traffic data still required.

State endowment growing

State Treasurer Erick Russell said at the press conference that Connecticut's Early Childhood Education Endowment has grown to roughly $723 million. Created with about $300 million in state surplus, the fund is projected by state officials to reach $1 billion by 2028. Under the program's design, families earning under $100,000 would pay nothing by 2027; those earning more would pay up to 7% of income.

In its first year, the endowment funded 1,039 new childcare slots statewide, including 385 infant and toddler spaces.

Comptroller Sean Scanlon, also at the press conference, said the struggle cuts across income levels: "Whether you live in the richest part of Connecticut or the most rural part, it doesn't matter."

What Greenwich families can do

Family Centers of Greenwich is accepting enrollment for 2026-27, with openings available as space permits. Care 4 Kids, the state's main childcare subsidy for working families, is accepting applications through the Office of Early Childhood. Families can reach the OEC at 860-500-4412 or dial 2-1-1 for referrals.