The Administration for Children and Families released new data on October 21, 2022, showing that child care stabilization funds provided in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) have served more than 200,000 child care providers, impacting as many as 9.5 million children. The new state-by-state profiles include the total number of child care providers assisted in each state and territory as of June 30, 2022. Stabilization grants are still running in most states and territories.
According to ACF, “the ARP Child Care Stabilization program has been critical to helping child care centers and family child care providers reopen or remain open, preventing more child care staff from leaving the profession, and increasing child care options for working parents. Child care programs are mostly small businesses, run and staffed mostly by women. They are essential for strong families, communities, and the economy.”
Without Congressional action, these funds will expire, making it more difficult for families to access the child care they need. The Child Care Proposal from Senators Murray (D-WA) and Kaine (D-VA) was not included in the Inflation Reduction Act passed this summer, and advocates have turned their attention to next Congress to address the growing child care crisis.
