Is Childcare Availability in Addiction Treatment Associated with County-Level Childcare Prices and Median Income in the United States?

Background: When parents or other guardians of children need treatment for a substance use disorder, it presents challenges impacting both them and their children, as a lack of childcare can be a barrier to treatment access. However, some treatment facilities provide childcare services to increase access. Little is known about how local economic factors like childcare costs and income levels are associated with the availability of childcare services in addiction treatment programs in the United States. Objectives: This study's objectives were twofold: (1) assess whether county-level childcare prices are associated with the availability of childcare services in substance use disorder treatment facilities, and (2) assess whether county-level median household income is associated with the availability of childcare services in substance use disorder treatment facilities. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Methods: This study examined n = 9003 substance use disorder treatment facilities in the United States. Childcare costs and median income estimates were linked with facilities based on the county in which they were located. Univariable and bivariable statistics were used to examine the facilities. An adjusted logistic regression model was used to evaluate associations between childcare availability and county-level economic indicators, while controlling for facility-level characteristics. Results: Approximately 5.7% (n = 514) of the facilities in the sample had childcare services. The multivariable logistic regression model identified factors associated with facilities having childcare including having outpatient and residential treatment (compared to having only outpatient only), accepting females only (compared to accepting males only), having a pregnant or postpartum program/group, accepting Medicaid, slightly higher county-level toddler center prices, and slightly higher county-level preschool center prices. Conclusion: Local childcare costs, but not median income appears to be slightly associated with the availability of childcare services in substance use disorder treatment settings. Economic investment in family-friendly services may help reduce access barriers for parents seeking treatment.