ADVISORY - LEHIGH VALLEY - Shapiro Administration to Highlight Governor's Proposed Investments in Pennsylvania's Child Care Workforce

March 10, 2026- Wescosville, PA

ADVISORY - LEHIGH VALLEY - Shapiro Administration to Highlight Governor's Proposed Investments in Pennsylvania's Child Care Workforce

Leaders from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will highlight how Governor Josh Shapiro's 2026-27 Budget Proposal will make child care more affordable for working Pennsylvania families while expanding and strengthening the child care industry.

DHS Executive Deputy Secretary Andrew Barnes and Office of Child Development and Early Learning Deputy Secretary Shante' Brown will visit Brookside Children's Early Education Center to share how investing in the child care workforce ensures that families can continue working while children receive the foundation they need to succeed. The Governor's proposed budget makes major investments in early education and builds off the success of previous investments in the child care workforce, including:

An additional $10 million to support retention and recruitment grants and increase bonuses to $630 for employees at licensed child care centers in the federal Child Care Works program, bringing the total investment to $35 million;
An additional $7.5 million for the Pre-K Counts program to help providers raise wages and stabilize the early educator workforce; and
$2 million for the Head Start State Supplemental program to help providers raise wages and stabilize the early educator workforce.

WHO:
Andrew Barnes, DHS Deputy Executive Secretary
Shante' Brown, Office of Child Development and Early Learning Deputy Secretary
Devon Raad, Owner, Brookside Children's Early Education Center - East Penn

WHEN:
Media Availability: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:
Brookside Children's Early Education Center - East Penn
675 N Brookside Road, Wescosville, PA 18106

MEDIA RSVP:
Press interested in attending must RSVP with the name of photographer/reporter to [email protected].

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