Can't find a babysitter? Try the family dog! 🐕 How about the TV? 📺 JK, we don't want CPS at your door.
PA has a billion-dollar childcare access and affordability crisis and lawmakers are ready to turn this ship around. 🚢 A new effort headed up by multiple counties statewide wants to pass the state budget ASAP.
Here’s Five Fast Facts on PA's childcare drama:
- 🤱 Kids Are Expensive - PA currently ranks 37th nationwide in childcare affordability. Today, Pennsylvanians spend about 18.6% of their salaries on childcare costs.
- 💵 Just Budget Things - PA Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed new fiscal year budget includes $66.7 million in childcare services for low-income families and an increase of $30 million for PA's Pre-K Counts program. It also includes $2.7 million for the Head Start Supplemental Program, which helps manage staffing shortages in early childhood education programs.
- ⌚ I'm Waiting - In Shapiro's recent address, it was noted that the state had nearly 4,000 unfilled child care jobs and 38,300 children on waitlists. Because of this and other related issues, a third of PA parents report that childcare problems impact their jobs.
- 🤑 Pay Up - To address the shortage of childcare workers, the proposal includes hiring incentives and wage increases. The current average hourly rate for those in childcare-related positions is $12.43 an hour.
- ✅ Extra Credit - The proposal also includes the potential creation of a tax credit for employers who provide childcare benefits to employees.
🔥Bottom line: Working parents have a lot on their plates. Finding good childcare without breaking the bank shouldn't be another job they need to take on. Let's hope these new initiatives make a difference for PA families. Wondering if being a stay-at-home parent is a wise decision? Check out this article.
Do you and your family rely on childcare services?
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