Pa. Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women address child care crisis

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.

The budget Governor Josh Shapiro 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