Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh visited Boyertown on Tuesday to highlight the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to recruit and retain child care workers while expanding access to affordable child care for working families.
The visit took place at Boyertown Children’s Center, where Arkoosh joined local leaders, educators and parents to discuss state investments aimed at strengthening Pennsylvania’s child care workforce and supporting families who rely on child care services.
According to the Department of Human Services, Pennsylvania’s child care industry currently has about 2,600 unfilled positions. State officials said filling those vacancies could allow providers to serve nearly 22,000 additional children. Many providers continue to face challenges hiring and retaining staff due to low wages, leading some centers to close classrooms or limit enrollment.
“In the last year, the Shapiro Administration has provided nearly 39,000 child care employees with up to $645 in retention bonuses,” Arkoosh said. “Our dedicated, passionate child care workers are the ones who make that possible. The Shapiro Administration is proud to make these investments to support professionals, strengthen our child care industry, and our overall economy.”
Governor Josh Shapiro secured a $25 million investment in recruitment and retention grants through the 2025-26 state budget. The funding provided retention bonuses of up to $645 for employees working at licensed child care centers participating in the federal Child Care Works program.
The governor’s proposed 2026-27 budget includes an additional $10 million for the program, bringing the total proposed investment to $35 million.
State officials also highlighted several child care and early education initiatives enacted during Shapiro’s first three budgets. These include increased funding for Pre-K Counts and Early Intervention services, expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, creation of an Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, and nearly $117 million in additional funding for Child Care Works programs serving low-income families.
Jamila Winder said investments in child care help keep centers operating and allow parents to remain in the workforce.
“Childcare is not a luxury; it is essential to working families and to our economy,” Winder said. “In Montgomery County, we’ve seen how investments in the childcare workforce keep centers open, support parents, and give children a strong start.”
Boyertown Children’s Center serves approximately 63 children throughout the year and employs up to 18 full-time staff members. The center is designated as a four-star Keystone STARS provider and offers a curriculum that incorporates literacy, math, science, art, music, fitness and social-emotional development through a play-based learning model.
Director Angie Miller said the center received $10,320 through the state’s staff recruitment and retention bonus program.
“Quality childcare is necessary so that parents are able to work and provide for their families,” Miller said. “The Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention bonus we received this year helps this become a little more obtainable and retain the teachers and staff who help provide a safe, loving learning environment for our children.”
Parents also shared their experiences during the event. Caitlin Williams said affordable and reliable child care remains essential for many working families.
“When I heard that Governor Shapiro was visiting today to speak about programs and ideas to help alleviate some of the stress for families like mine, I was thrilled,” Williams said. “We need Harrisburg to understand both the needs of families, and needs of great facilities like Boyertown Children’s Center.”
The administration also pointed to the expansion of Pennsylvania’s Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, signed into law in 2023. The change increased the maximum benefit from $630 to $2,100 per family and delivered more than $136 million in tax relief to working families across the state last year.
State officials said the administration will continue advocating for additional investments in child care and early childhood education as lawmakers consider the proposed 2026-27 budget.
