On February 1, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf announced an increase to base rates paid to child care providers participating in Child Care Works (CCW), Pennsylvania’s subsidized child care program.  CCW helps make child care affordable for lower-income, working families and allows parents to go to work knowing their children are being cared for and learning in safe, loving environments.  Increasing base rates helps all providers who participate in the program invest in services offered for children in care, staff development and compensation, and overall quality of their child care facility.

Pennsylvania is also issuing $600 COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Awards to child care workers across Pennsylvania through federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) quality dollars and remaining CARES funding. Child care providers that are currently licensed and certified through OCDEL can apply for these funds through their local ELRC until February 12, 2021. More information about ELRCs can be found at http://www.raiseyourstar.org/Opens In A New Window.  

On December 27, 2020, an additional $10 billion dollars was allocated by the federal government to support child care. Pennsylvania should receive its share of the additional funds in the coming weeks.  

For more information on child care providers operating during the COVID-19 public health crisis, visit http://www.findchildcare.pa.gov/Opens In A New Window.   

For more information, click here.