DHS Releases Study on COVID-19 Impact on PA Child Care Providers
On August 17, 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) released a Penn State University study of COVID-19’s impact on Pennsylvania’s child care industry.
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The impact study, completed by researchers at Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs, analyzes the financial costs of the COVID-19 crisis to child care providers, the possibility of permanent closures as a result of the crisis and the level of investment needed to sustain the industry during a transitional period of low demand and after the crisis has subsided.
The study included a detailed cost analysis, a representative statewide survey of child care providers, and in-depth interviews with child care providers and workers.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is using the study’s recommendations to guide distribution of federal CARES Act funding allocated for child care.
OCDEL has distributed approximately $104.3 million in two rounds of COVID-19 grants and intends to direct at least an additional $116 million in future rounds. OCDEL is working on a distribution plan that will maximize the positive impact of the funds, and DHS will announce more information in the coming weeks. Distribution of the funds is tentatively scheduled for late August.