In 2020, The Ford Family Foundation commissioned a report to investigate the economic impact of state policies on rural families and the child care businesses that serve them. Five key issues were raised in this paper, including the need for:
   1. Cost-Based Reimbursement Rates
   2. Lower Family Co-Payments
   3. Stable and Consistent Funding, based on enrollment, and administered as slot contracts
   4. Support for provider networks structured as Shared Services Alliances
   5. A Regulatory Framework appropriate for small sites, like micro-centers and learning hubs