Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
06/23/2026 | Press release | Archived content
DHS Secretary Dr. Arkoosh Visits Boyertown Children's Center, Highlights Shapiro Administration's Work to Make Child Care More Affordable for Pennsylvania's Working Families
June 23, 2026 - Boyertown, PA
DHS Secretary Dr. Arkoosh Visits Boyertown Children's Center, Highlights Shapiro Administration's Work to Make Child Care More Affordable for Pennsylvania's Working Families
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh visited Montgomery County with community leaders to highlight the Shapiro Administration's investments in recruiting and retaining Pennsylvania's child care workers. These investments help Pennsylvania recruit and retain child care workers, expand access to quality care, and ensure more parents can stay in the workforce and provide for their families.
In the 2025-26 budget, Governor Shapiro secured a new $25 million investment in recruitment and retention grants, providing nearly 39,000 child care employees across the Commonwealth with up to $645 in retention bonuses. The Governor's 2026-27 proposed budget builds on this foundation, investing an additional $10 million to support employees at licensed child care centers in the federal Child Care Works (CCW) program, bringing the total investment to $35 million.
"Early learning and child care programs like Boyertown Children's Center are the workforce behind our Commonwealth's workforce - a catalyst for a healthy, vibrant economy while fostering educational and social development for our youngest Pennsylvanians," said Secretary Dr. Arkoosh. "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, we must build on this support to continue to strengthen this resource."
Speakers in Order:
Angie Miller, Director, Boyertown Children's Center
Caitlin Williams, Parent
Val Arkoosh, Secretary, PA Dept. of Human Services
Jamila Winder, Montgomery County Commissioner
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