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Child Care Access and Gap Analytics for State Agencies

See exactly where gaps exist in your early childhood system.

Instant Insights From Supply and Demand Data

Access and Gap Analytics is a comprehensive child care supply demand gap software that integrates multiple validated data sources to provide a complete picture of access.

Access and Gap Analytics brings together provider data, population modeling, and community indicators to help agencies evaluate where access gaps exist, why they occur, and how to target interventions effectively.

Population Data

Provider Data

COI 3.0

SVI

Capacity Metrics

Travel Time Data

From Data to Decision- we bridge the gap between insight and impact.

Enhanced Child Care Access Deserts

Pinpoint access gaps with more precision and insight than ever before.

The 2026 release expands CUSP's child care desert analysis capabilities, providing a more detailed understanding of service availability, community need, and changing provider capacity over time.

Key Enhancements

New priority tiers based on communities' COI 3.0 or SVI scores to contextualize access challenges
Filter deserts by subsidy-eligible child population share to focus on high-need areas
Configurable options for standard or extreme child care deserts (via the LISA method)
Time-based analysis of provider entry, exit, and capacity changes within desert zones

Benefits

Identify vulnerable communities that face both capacity shortages and socioeconomic barriers
Understand how provider turnover affects access over time
Evaluate the impact of policies, programs, or market changes on access over time
Prioritize equitable investment and targeted support with confidence

COI 3.0 + SVI + Capacity Data

Enhanced Access Desert Dashboard

Actionable Insights

Mapping and Analysis Tools

Advanced geospatial analytics to identify and address access barriers.

Child Care Desert Mapping

Identify areas with limited or no access to licensed child care using industry-standard definitions.

Census tract-level analysis
Multiple desert definitions
Capacity-to-demand ratios
Interactive map visualizations

Child Opportunity Index (COI) 3.0

Add neighborhood opportunity data to better understand the conditions affecting children and families.

Education opportunity scores
Health and environmental factors
Social and economic context
Multi-dimensional analysis

Social Vulnerability Index (SVI)

Understand which communities face compounding barriers to child care access.

CDC SVI integration
Socioeconomic status metrics
Household composition data
Vulnerability heat mapping

Travel Time Analysis

Measure how easily families can reach available child care services.

Drive time calculations
Public transit access
Walkability scores
Distance-based filters

Population Density Overlay

See where children live relative to available services and capacity.

Age-specific populations
Demographic overlays
Demand concentration
Enrollment patterns

Gap Severity Scoring

Prioritize areas for intervention using a 3Si’s proprietary composite measure of access and need.

Multi-factor gap scores
Severity rankings
Comparative analysis
Priority zone identification

From Data to Insights

A structured approach to understanding access challenges and identifying solutions.

Map Providers

Map providers and available capacity.

Layer Population

Overlay child population and demographic data.

Add Context

Add contextual indicators such as COI 3.0 and SVI.

Identify Gaps

Identify service gaps, access barriers, and priority areas for investment.

Real-World Applications

How organizations use Access and Gap Analytics to drive equitable solutions.

Targeted Expansion Planning

Identify high-priority areas for new provider recruitment or facility development.

Fair Access Improvement

Focus resources on communities with limited access to quality care.

Grant Applications and Funding Support

Use clear, data-backed visuals to strengthen funding proposals.

Risk Mitigation

Identify areas at risk of becoming child care deserts before capacity loss occurs.

Transportation Planning

Inform programs that reduce distance and travel barriers for families.

Community Engagement

Share visual evidence of access challenges to build understanding and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a child care desert, and how does 3Si's platform identify one?

A child care desert is any area where the number of licensed child care slots falls significantly short of local demand- typically defined as fewer than one slot for every three children in need. 3Si's child care desert mapping software uses census tract-level analysis combined with provider capacity data and the LISA statistical method to identify both standard and extreme deserts. The platform allows agencies to apply multiple desert definitions and filter results by factors like subsidy-eligible population share, giving a precise, customizable view of where gaps are most severe.

What data sources does the Access & Gap Analytics tool use to measure child care supply and demand?

3Si's child care supply demand gap software integrates six core data streams: licensed provider data (including capacity and enrollment), child population data segmented by age and demographics, Child Opportunity Index (COI) 3.0, Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), travel time data, and capacity metrics. By layering these sources together, the platform moves beyond simple provider counts to capture the true complexity of access- accounting for who needs care, whether they can realistically reach it, and what community-level barriers may be compounding the gap.

How do the Child Opportunity Index (COI) and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) integrate into 3Si's gap analysis?

3Si's child opportunity index analytics tool uses COI 3.0 to score communities across education, health, and socioeconomic dimensions, allowing agencies to contextualize which child care deserts exist in areas already disadvantaged by low opportunity. The Social Vulnerability Index, developed by the CDC and widely used during the social vulnerability index COVID-19 emergency response, adds a complementary layer that highlights communities facing compounding risks such as poverty, housing instability, and limited transportation. Together, these indices enable agencies to prioritize intervention in communities where the need is both greatest and most complex.

Can state agencies use Access & Gap Analytics to support child care grant applications?

Yes- Access & Gap Analytics is specifically designed to generate the kind of clear, data-backed visuals and documentation that strengthen grant proposals. The platform's child care access gap analysis outputs include maps, severity rankings, and trend data that demonstrate need with precision and credibility. State agencies can use these materials to substantiate funding requests, show geographic equity in resource allocation, and provide reviewers with a transparent, reproducible methodology grounded in trusted federal data sources like COI 3.0 and SVI.

How does 3Si's gap severity scoring help prioritize child care investment decisions?

Gap Severity Scoring within 3Si's child care access analytics platform assigns a composite score to each geographic area by combining capacity-to-demand ratios, population vulnerability indicators, provider churn rates, and travel time barriers. The result is a ranked list of priority zones where investment- whether in new provider recruitment, transportation subsidies, or targeted grants- will generate the greatest impact. Comparative analysis features allow agencies to model how different interventions might shift severity rankings over time, making it a powerful tool for both short-term resource allocation and long-term strategic planning.

CUSP Foundation

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