MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Many families know the strain of finding and paying for child care. 

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin was in Milwaukee Monday talking to both parents and providers. 

The senator visited Penfield Children's Center which got funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. 

Baldwin says almost half of Wisconsin is considered a child care desert, meaning there's a shortage of places for children to be looked after. 

Area child care leaders spoke about how important it is to have federal grants coming in to help keep child care centers open and available to parents and to improve their environments for kids.