Shapiro Administration Urges Child Care Providers to Apply for New Recruitment and Retention Bonuses Before January 29 Deadline, Reinforces Commitment to Ensuring Families Have[...]

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January 28, 2026- York, PA

Shapiro Administration Urges Child Care Providers to Apply for New Recruitment and Retention Bonuses Before January 29 Deadline, Reinforces Commitment to Ensuring Families Have Access to Quality Child Care

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Executive Deputy Secretary Andrew Barnes and Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Deputy Secretary Shante' Brown visited York Day Early Learning and encouraged child care providers to apply for the new Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program before the January 29, 2026, deadline.

This funding, secured in Governor Josh Shapiro's 2025-26 budget, will distribute $450 per employee to licensed Child Care Works (CCW) providers to address workforce shortages and expand child care availability for families around the Commonwealth. Providers must complete applications online before the deadline.

"Every child in Pennsylvania deserves access to excellent early learning opportunities, and every child care provider deserves fair compensation for the vital work they do every day. High quality child care helps our children grow and thrive while allowing parents to work and participate in our economy, and our dedicated, passionate child care workers are the ones who make that possible," said Executive Deputy Secretary Andrew Barnes. "The Shapiro Administration is proud to make these investments that will support this essential field and strengthen our child care industry and our overall economy. I encourage any eligible provider who has not yet applied to complete their application now and receive this additional funding to support their staff and help recruit additional workers."

Speakers Include:
Andrew Barnes, Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Human Services Executive
Shante' Brown, Deputy Secretary, PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning

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