Los Angeles County families with young children are struggling to pay for basic needs

The RAPID-California Voices Project is a multi-year, statewide survey of households with children under age 6 that aims to amplify parent voices, better understand the needs of families, and advance data- and parent-informed policies and programs across California. RAPID surveys are designed to listen to parents about their economic and emotional well-being in order to understand the experiences of families with young children.

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In this fact sheet, we lay out what we’ve learned from parents with children under age 6 in Los Angeles (LA) County—the most-populated county in California and home to 27% of the state’s population—about family economic and emotional well-being. The data presented below were gathered between November 2022 and May 2024.

The majority of LA County parents with young children have difficulty meeting basic needs

Economic well-being is critical to families’ ability to access essentials, like food and housing, and other resources that support the healthy, positive development of children.

When we asked parents in LA County about their overall economic well-being, four in five (81%) described their family as experiencing some financial problems, and 60% described their financial problems as being “major” or “extreme.”

We also asked families with young children about their experiences of material hardship, defined as difficulty affording basic needs like food, housing, utilities, child care, healthcare, and activities that support health and well-being. In May 2024, 71% of LA County parents reported material hardship in at least one area of basic need.

To understand the financial hardships that families are experiencing, we asked parents about changes to their household income over the past month. More than half of LA County parents (59%) reported that their household income had decreased in the past month.

Los Angeles County parents reporting financial problems, overall

Many LA County families with young children face difficulty accessing food

Regular access to healthy, nutritious foods is essential to positive early childhood development. Data from RAPID’s national survey have found that many families are worried about food access and parents frequently raise concerns about the high cost of food, difficulty affording food, and concerns about food programs ending.

We asked LA County parents about their experiences of hunger and food insecurity and found high and sustained rates of food insecurity.

In May 2024, more than half (56%) reported food insecurity. RAPID survey data shows that food insecurity for LA County families increased as pandemic-era benefits, such as the expanded CalFresh food stamp program, were rolled back.

Los Angeles County parents reporting food insecurity, overall

Many LA County parents with young children are concerned about underemployment

RAPID surveys include questions about parents’ employment and work environment. The majority of LA County parents (90%) are employed in either full-time or part-time work. However, many LA County parents report not working the amount they would like to: 40% work less than they would like to and 29% work more than they would like to.

RAPID surveys also include open-ended questions to give parents space to provide additional information and share their experiences in more detail.

When we looked at LA County parents’ responses to questions about their biggest challenges or concerns as well as what is helping them, we found that many parents mentioned relying on child care to access employment opportunities that support their family’s well-being. Data from RAPID’s national survey show the need for additional government support with child care (e.g., subsidies, increased pay) is a topic that parents across the country are raising with increasing frequency and is a trend that seems likely to continue going forward.

Los Angeles County parents reporting working less than they would like to, overall

Most LA County parents with young children are experiencing significant stress

To better understand the experiences of parents of young children, in November 2022, we started asking LA County parents about their emotional well-being.

Parents report how much they agree, disagree, or feel neutral toward the statement: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, being a parent is manageable, and any problems are easily solved.”

In May 2024, the vast majority of LA County parents (91%) reported strongly or somewhat disagreeing with the statement and reported experiencing parenting stress.

Research shows that parents’ own emotional well-being affects their children’s emotional well-being and development. The national RAPID survey has consistently found evidence of a chain reaction of hardship. That is, as parents’ experiences of material hardship increase, they also experience more emotional distress (higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness), which, in turn, is associated with parents reporting increased emotional distress among their young children.

Conclusion

LA County parents with young children are struggling to find economic stability, food security, and emotional well-being, all of which are essential for providing supportive, responsive caregiving to young children. Research shows that families reported lower material hardship, including food insecurity, when pandemic-era support benefits were in place. Given the high rates of material hardship and reports of stress among parents of young children in LA County, as well as the barriers parents reported to accessing food and employment, there is a pressing need to ensure parents and families of young children receive early and necessary support so that all children and families can thrive.