The Center first started looking into the matter of the child care shortage in 2015. In the process of this initial research, we found a corresponding shortage of information on just why providers were leaving the business. As a result, we concluded in 2018 that it was necessary to conduct a survey that would allow us to hear directly from providers themselves, both family and center-based. The goal was to look deeper into the issue by asking providers themselves what's going on. (author abstract)