Pennsylvania families are struggling to find affordable, quality child care

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Child care challenges brought Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis to Roxborough on Thursday. It’s an issue that hits close to home.

“I’m a new father to a soon-to-be 1-year-old next week, so I’m just in this with you, trying to work through what’s right for my daughter,” Davis said.

Davis made several stops around the state as co-chair of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission, also known as ELIC, looking to learn how the state can help parents and providers. An ELIC commissioner said parents face three challenges when it comes to childcare right now.

“The trilemma is availability, quality and availability“, said Alice Lindenauer. “(In) 41 states, infant care costs more than in-state tuition.

According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, child care in Pennsylvania drops $2,692 to the average in-state tuition price at a four-year college. But their data shows the average cost of child care in the state is $11,842, representing 17.5 percent of median family income.

Roxborough mom Tiana Williams also shared the challenges she faced trying to find care for her 4-year-old son. Williams says she was looking for a safe space where her child could learn, but it also had to fit within their budget.

“Trying to find the right space for it, it definitely came with some challenges,” Williams said.

Williams, however, considers herself lucky. She said she got involved in an online moms’ group and got a referral to go to the YMCA. She didn’t have to sit on a long waiting list, as she admitted many parents do, and she loves the staff and facilities for her son.

But even with all these pluses, there are still challenges.

“She’s at school from 9 to 3. My work day starts at 8. So I can’t afford, we can’t afford extended care, which is $290 extra a week. I used my lunch break, technically, in the morning to take him to school and go home to work,” Williams said.

Experts say suppliers also face challenges. Specifically, there are problems when it comes to recruiting and retaining staff. They say less staff means fewer rooms can be open in facilities, leading to less availability.

Some experts discussed the challenge of obtaining licenses to be a child care worker that doesn’t equate when it comes to pay.

“When you have an offer from a retail company down the street for a few more dollars an hour, with a lot less stress and responsibility,” said Jen Segelkin of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA.

“No matter how many creative and smart ideas we have to expand the workforce, it won’t matter if we don’t pay for them,” said KenCrest’s Melanie Brennan.

During the conversation, Davis called child care “infrastructure,” saying it’s as important to the state’s economy as its roads and bridges. Without adequate child care, Davis said, the state could start losing jobs.

“If you want employees to get back to work, to the office, we have to make sure that their most precious thing, their children, is cared for safely and in an environment where they can flourish,” Davis said. .

Part of the conversation about how to solve childcare challenges has turned to how employers can get involved. An ELIC commissioner said times have changed and companies can look at childcare like health insurance.

“Where government can help lead on that, the private sector will follow, take it, innovate on it,” said Commissioner Kate Woods. “We need to think about how today’s workforce needs childcare as part of a benefits package.”

Lindenauer noted that she believes companies that support child care for employees can benefit from the practice.

“These employees are less likely to leave the organization. They are more likely to deliver what we in the financial services industry call alpha performance, meaning performance above and beyond,” said Lindenauer.

Davis didn’t leave Thursday’s discussion with concrete plans in place, but said it gave him and other leaders some good ideas. He said the next step is to take those ideas back to Harrisburg and come up with plans to be included in the state budget.

Asked if he thinks he can get child care relief plans through Pennsylvania’s divided legislature, Davis said he thinks it’s a bipartisan issue.

“I think you can expect us to continue to make this a solid issue as we go into the budget process next year,” Davis said.