For many Pennsylvanian families, child care is an unaffordable, yet essential expense. On average, families spend between $770 to $880 per month on child care, whether they opt for family-based or center-based child care. However, the average monthly salary for a child care worker is only $2,400. This means that a typical child care worker may spend up to 37% of his or her income on child care each month, leaving many struggling to provide for their families. Despite many child care workers holding college degrees, approximately 21% rely on SNAP benefits and 21% are insured through Medicaid. 

 

A recent study found that almost 50% of early childhood educators reported being unsure if they can continue to afford working in the industry or that they plan to leave the industry within the next five years.  The financial pressures they face are extreme, and untenable, and for each childcare worker forced to leave the industry because of economic pressure, many more families whose children are in care become at risk of needing to leave the workforce as child care becomes less available.  

 

To help these workers and preserve our economy we will be proposing legislation that would allow child care workers, including direct support professionals in a child care setting, in Pennsylvania to be eligible for subsidized child care, regardless of income status. Child care workers would be able to apply for the Child Care Works program in Pennsylvania, thus making their own child care more affordable. 

 

We believe that this bill would be incredibly impactful for Pennsylvania’s incredibly hard-working child care employees and their families and imperative for preserving our economy. Child care is an essential service for all, and it is our privilege and responsibility as lawmakers to help provide for child care workers and their families through this measure. 

 

Please consider joining us in ensuring that child care workers are able to support their families.