To determine the childcare age population in Wyoming, we used 1999 Bureau of Census estimates, which were the most recent available.  We defined the childcare age population as children birth through age 12.  To estimate the demand for childcare, we applied Urban Institute estimates of the proportion of these children whose mothers were in the work force to the census population estimates.  In their analysis of the 1997 Survey of Households, the Urban Institute found that 57 percent of children birth through age 5 had mothers in the workforce; this increased to 66 percent for children age 6 through 12.

Table A:  1999 Wyoming Childcare Age Population
and Estimated Number of Children Needing Childcare

To calculate the percent of children accommodated in licensed or known legally exempt care we used the estimated number of children needing care as the denominator.  We used DFS data showing the total number of licensed slots to determine the percent of demand met by licensed providers.  We used the subsidy unit’s data to determine the percent of demand met by legally exempt reimbursed providers.  Finally, we used DFS state-level data to determine the percent of demand met by known legally exempt providers who do not receive reimbursement.  Because we were unable to obtain the number of children in the other legally exempt category at the county level, we distributed the state total among the counties according to the distribution of the reimbursed exempt population.  The sum of these categories provides an estimate of the total percent of demand met by licensed and known legally exempt providers.

Table B:  Percent of Estimated Childcare Population
Accommodated by Licensed Slots or Known Legally Exempt Slots

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