Wolf announces $51M in assistance to child care providers

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is distributing an initial $51 million in funds to nearly 7,000 child care centers as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday.

The fund distribution range is based on the type of care provided and in which county the facility is in. The full distribution outline can be seen on the administration’s website. 

The funds, designated for eligible, licensed providers, are intended to cover costs associated with reopening as counties move into the yellow phase of COVID-19 mitigation. 

“Child care providers are the backbone of our economy in many ways,” Wolf said in a written press release, May 20. “Without their work, children would miss out on an introduction to education that helps them throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, and parents and guardians may have to stay home or not pursue education themselves.”

Through the CARES Act, Pennsylvania received $106 million in funding to support child care providers. The funds will be distributed in two waves, beginning with the $51 million. 

Remaining funds will be allocated by the Department of Human Resources (DHS) Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs following the completion of a study to assess the economic impact of COVID-19 on child care providers.