Harrisburg, PA– Yesterday, the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women hosted a virtual discussion between business and government leaders and child care advocates about Pennsylvania’s child care crisis, which has forced many parents to leave the workforce due to the lack of access to affordable, quality child care.
Governor Josh Shapiro understands the child care crisis and continues to fight for Pennsylvania’s families by ensuring Pennsylvania’s parents can work and provide for their families with access to quality, affordable child care and early intervention services. The budget the Governor signed secured significant investment in child care, including:
$25 million for a new Child Care Staff Retention and Recruitment Program, providing roughly $450 per employee annually to licensed Child Care Works providers.
A $7.5 million increase for Pre-K Counts rates, enabling providers to raise wages and stabilize the early educator workforce.
Continued support for the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, encouraging businesses to help employees cover child care costs, and the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit for working families.
A $10 million increase for Early Intervention to provide coaching support and services to families with children with developmental delays and disabilities.
“Governor Shapiro knows that the child care industry is in crisis and has fought to secure significant investment in this year’s budget to help retain and recruit child care workers and increase the availability of services to Pennsylvania’s parents,” said Ashley Walkowiak, Executive Director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women. “These investments make child care more accessible, affordable, and sustainable for families and strengthen our Commonwealth’s child care workforce.”
“Access to high-quality, affordable childcare isn’t just a family issue, it’s a societal imperative,” says Tracy Lawless, Co-Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women’s Women in the Workforce Subcommittee. “Child care goes well beyond impacting women; it affects employers, all working parents and the children themselves. When Pennsylvania invests in accessible child care, we strengthen our workforce, support children’s development, and build more resilient communities. It’s essential that public and private sectors work together to develop solutions.”
“Child care and the early learning professionals who make this work possible play an important role in supporting child development and fueling our economy,” said Office of Child Development and Early Learning Deputy Secretary Shante’ Brown. “Our child care workforce makes it possible for parents to go to work knowing their children are learning and growing in an enriching, caring environment. Child care bolsters every part of our economy, and these investments will directly support the dedicated professionals who care for children and support families in every community of our Commonwealth.”
“Ensuring affordable, high-quality child care depends on bold, ongoing investment in the educators who power our Commonwealth,” said Cara Ciminillo, Executive Director of Trying Together. “Early educators are the workforce behind every thriving community. By continuing to invest in them, Pennsylvania can strengthen its economy, support families, and build a child care system that positions our state for long-term prosperity.”
“Employers throughout the Commonwealth continue to struggle finding workers and child care access is a barrier preventing many Pennsylvanians from entering the workforce,” said Alex Halper, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the PA Chamber of Business and Industry. “Lawmakers should pursue a comprehensive agenda to support child care providers, who are strained by many of the same challenges impacting the broader small business community, including overly burdensome regulations, rising insurance costs and their own staffing shortages.”
“Access to quality, affordable child care isn’t just a family issue — it’s a workforce issue and an economic competitiveness issue,” said Kevin Schreiber, President and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance. “In York County, employers are feeling the strain as parents are forced to choose between reliable care and reliable work. If we want to grow our labor force, strengthen our businesses, and keep our local economy thriving, we have to ensure that every working family has the child care support they need to succeed.”
Yesterday’s discussion will inform the Commission’s future recommendations to the Shapiro Administration, continuing the Administration-wide effort to strengthen Pennsylvania’s economy by supporting working parents.
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