The Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County will host a town hall meeting next month to discuss how child care, or lack thereof, can affect myriad aspects of society, including schools.

Child care can gobble up 25-34 percent of a family’s budget, according a study by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies the council.

In 40 states, the average annual cost for center-based care for an infant was higher than a year’s tuition and related fees at a four-year public college, according the study. It also states that California is one of the least affordable states for full time infant care in a center, based on the cost of child care as a percentage of the state median income for a two-parent family.

The study also found that monthly child care fees for two children at any age exceeded the median monthly rent cost, and were nearly as high, or even higher than the average monthly motgage payment in every state.

The Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County, established in 1991, is charged with assessing child care needs, availability and coverage in Sonoma County.

The council shares this information with the Sonoma County Office of Education.

The council will host a town hall meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the Steele Lane Community Center. Free child care available if guardians RSVP before Oct. 14 at 524-2658.

Learn more by going to http://www.scoe.org/pub/htdocs/child-care-planning.html