Pennsyvlania Department of Human Services secretary Teresa Miller revealed they've worked with Penn State Harrisburg to look at the effects the coronavirus has had on childcare centers, and to help recommend how to distribute a third round of CARES Act funding.
"Child care, both the industry and its workforce, has long been under-appreciated for its foundational role and as a critical piece of our economy's infrastructure," she said, adding that adequate child care has been as important as virus mitigation during the pandemic.
"Lives have been saved because essential workers like first responders, healthcare personnel and grocery store employees could go to work thanks to the childcare providers in their communities who kept their doors open," she explained.
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The state has already direceted more than $100 million in CARES Act funding to child care centers. But the study finds it could take twice that.
Before the pandemic, according to Miller, there were around 7,000 childcare centers in Pennsylvania.
"As of late July, more than 200 of those providers have indicated an intention to permanently close their doors," she reported.
She said 1,000 more could close if they don't get help, not only with what they lost when they were forced to close, but also with limited enrollment and higher costs for protective equipment and cleaning.