Child care programs have always operated on razor-thin margins to provide quality care while keeping tuition costs as affordable as possible for parents. For many child care providers in Rhode Island and across the nation, the past three months have dealt programs a substantial financial blow as they had to close to slow the spread of the virus and are now reopening and operating under strict health and safety requirements that add to the cost of care.
Now, more than ever, children are in need of consistent and nurturing caregiving and access to early childhood, afterschool, and summer learning opportunities. Parents are in desperate need of safe options so they can return to work. Rhode Island needs to maintain a stable supply of healthy, safe, and quality child care options.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Congressman Bobby Scott, and Senator Patty Murray recently introduced the Child Care is Essential Act (H.R.7027/S.3874) to create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund within the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), providing critical support to families, child care providers, and our state’s economy.
