Early Learning PA Coalition Applauds Pennsylvania House for the Passage of House Bill 1330 Prioritizing Early Care and Learning

HARRISBURG, PA (July 14, 2025) — The principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, applauded the Pennsylvania House’s bipartisan passage of House Bill 1330 this evening, which includes Governor Shapiro’s proposed investments in the early care and learning workforce.

The partners of ELPA issued the following statement regarding the passage:

“The Governor and Pennsylvania House of Representatives responded to the pleas of Pennsylvanians to prioritize early care and learning by investing in early childhood educators and ensuring that their critical work of caring for and educating young children is valued. These educators are the workforce behind the workforce in Pennsylvania, and their work matters to children, families, businesses and Pennsylvania’s economic security.

“We laud the fact that House Bill 1330 includes the following investments above FY 2024-25 appropriations:

• A $55 million investment in a new and recurring Child Care Recruitment and Retention line item to grant licensed child care providers participating in the child care subsidy program with $1,000 per educator
• $17 million in additional funding for Pre-K Counts and
• $16.2 million increase for infant/toddler Early Intervention and $38.1 million increase for preschool Early Intervention.

“The House action is a positive step toward a final budget agreement which demonstrates that Pennsylvania state lawmakers stand with families with young children on these essential pro-family, early childhood line items. Coalition partners encourage the Senate to support these investments and ensure that $9.5 million is provided for Pennsylvania’s Head Start Supplemental Assistance Programs in the FY 2025-26 Pennsylvania budget.

“These urgently needed investments will stabilize and reverse the exodus of early educators, directly benefit tens of thousands of early childhood professionals and help keep child care centers open so parents can go to work. Additionally, these investments will begin to reverse the billions of dollars in lost productivity and earnings suffered by working families and employers when families do not have the reliable child care they need.”

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Working Families & Employers Win With Shapiro Early Education Budget Investments

HARRISBURG, PA (February 4, 2025) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, applauded the early education workforce investments included in the Shapiro Administration’s 2025-26 state budget proposal. 

Investments that will stabilize and reverse the exodus of early educators will directly benefit tens of thousands of  teachers and other professional staff and help provider businesses remain open. Additionally, these investments will help reverse the billions of dollars in lost productivity and earnings suffered by working families and employers when families don’t have the care they need.  

The partners of ELPA issued the following statements regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home, and Thriving PA.

Budget proposal takes direct action to address PA’s child care teacher crisis

“Start Strong PA celebrates the Shapiro Administration’s proposal to directly invest in a child care teacher recruitment and retention program that will help keep teachers in the classroom so that working families have access to the care they need.

“The $55 million recurring investment estimates an additional $1,000 per educator increase for licensed child care programs participating in the child care subsidy program.

“With this investment, Pennsylvania is joining 18 other states that are directly investing in teacher recruitment and retention efforts to keep child care classrooms open for the benefit of working parents and the economy at large. Recent estimates show that gaps in Pennsylvania’s child care system cost working families, employers, and taxpayers a staggering $6.65 billion annually — in lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue.

“A September 2024 survey of 1,140 child care providers, representing 17 percent of providers, from across Pennsylvania, showed that 92% of child care programs reported challenges in recruiting staff with 85% struggling with teacher shortages leaving more than 3,000 unfilled positions statewide, thereby  – eliminating child care for more than 25,000 Pennsylvania children.    

“Start Strong PA looks forward to working with the House and Senate to ensure these urgently needed funds are included in the final budget and to the extent that state budget resources are available, increasing the investment so we can more fully address the child care crisis and its impact on working families and employers.”

Shapiro proposal increases Pre-K Counts rates to address continuing teacher shortage; additional action needed for Head Start

“Pre-K for PA applauds the Shapiro Administration’s continued commitment to address the historic teacher staffing shortage in the Pre-K Counts program. The 2025-26 budget proposal includes $15 million in new state funding to help stabilize early learning providers by boosting per child rates to help combat inflationary pressures and staffing shortages caused by low wages.

“Opportunities for teachers to earn more in the K-12 system and other sectors have challenged Pre-K Counts providers to keep classrooms open and operate at full capacity. This investment is a critical next step in preserving state funded pre-k programs for our commonwealth’s youngest learners. 

“However, we are disappointed that the Governor’s budget proposal fails to offer support for the commonwealth’s Head Start Supplemental programs that are facing similar staffing challenges. Pre-K for PA urges lawmakers to include increased funding in the final state budget to stabilize the Head Start workforce. 

“Mitigating teacher shortages in Pennsylvania’s publicly funded pre-k programs is a necessary first step in ensuring that all children have access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Currently, 78,000 three- and four-year-olds in the commonwealth are eligible but do not have access to high-quality pre-k programs.”  

Budget proposal also gives nod to significant workforce challenges in Early Intervention

“Early Intervention is a critical part of the Thriving PA campaign, as all children from birth through age five with developmental delays, regardless of family income level, must be identified, referred to, and provided necessary services to help them and their families reach their fullest potential. We appreciate the inclusion of a $16.2 million increase in the governor’s proposal for Early Intervention Part C (infants and toddlers) in the Department of Human Services, while noting significantly more dollars are needed to adequately deliver Part C EI to children in Pennsylvania. A total of $10 million of this overall investment aims to address key challenges in the sector including workforce shortages, and we urge policymakers to build on this momentum. The budget also includes a proposed increase of $14.6 million for Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) in the Department of Education budget.”

Fewer young children, families and pregnant women will be served by home visiting services due to continued flat funding and loss of federal funds

“The Childhood Begins at Home campaign is concerned the proposed 2025-26 budget does not account for the loss of federal funds expiring in June nor the continued rising costs of providing these life-changing services. Without any assurance that the state will account for rising costs and backfill federal dollars, this ultimately will mean fewer home visiting services for Pennsylvania families impacted by economic and social disparities.

“Home visitors are supportive partners who build a trusting relationship with families and help guide them through the early stages of having and raising a child. The evidence-based models show positive outcomes, from improving health for both children and adults to achieving economic self-sufficiency to reducing child maltreatment. Childhood Begins at Home will continue to work with policymakers in the legislature and the administration to ensure Pennsylvania does not unnecessarily see a reduction in families receiving and benefitting from evidence-based home visiting services.”

Governor Shapiro’s State Budget Proposal Includes:

• $57.7 million in additional funding for child care ($55 million in the proposed new Child Care Recruitment and Retention line item as well $1.6 million in Child Care Services and $1.1 million in Child Care Assistance line items).
• $17 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program.
• Level funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
• Level funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Center line item and a small reduction in the Nurse-Family Partnership line due to a change in federal matching rates.
• $16.2 million increase for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS.
• $14.6 million increase for the Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) program through PDE.

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State Budget Fails to Address Crisis in Early Childhood Sector to the Detriment of Working Families and Employers

HARRISBURG, PA (July 11, 2024) – Today, the principal partners of the Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA Campaigns issued the following statements regarding Senate Bill 1001 that awaits the expected signature of Governor Shapiro to become the enacted 2024-25 Pennsylvania state budget. 

No Child Care Recruitment and Retention Support Deepens PA’s Child Care Crisis and Lags Other States

“With a child care sector that is collapsing with classrooms and programs closing across the commonwealth due to the historic child care teacher shortage, the Start Strong PA Campaign is deeply disappointed by the lack of direct investment to help child care providers recruit and retain their workforce as part of the state budget bill. 

“The staffing shortage within the child-care sector is driven by low wages. According to the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the average child-care teacher in Pennsylvania only earns $15.15 per hour. This average wage includes the impact of one-time federal child care stimulus funds. With the lack of direct state investment, it is unclear if even these wages can be sustained. 

“More than 50 local chambers of commerce across Pennsylvania called for a state investment that directly helps child care providers attract and keep their teachers. These chamber leaders understand that alleviating the child care workforce shortage means classrooms can remain open or reopen, increasing the availability of child care for the tens of thousands of families that need it to remain in the workforce and contribute to Pennsylvania’s overall economy. Recent estimates show that gaps in our child care sector cost the commonwealth’s economy $6.65 Billion annually in lost wages, lost productivity and lost tax receipts.

“At least 18 states are directly investing in recruitment and retention strategies to solve the child care teacher shortage and ensure that child care supply can meet the demand from working families.

“The budget deal includes a tax credit for businesses that help employees pay for child care. This tax credit is a demand-side solution, helping families afford care. Pennsylvania must also invest in the supply side – stopping the exodus of child care teachers – for these tax credits to be effective. 

“Child care teachers are the workforce behind the workforce. When families can’t get child care, their children suffer, their income drops and the state’s economy is shortchanged. In a time of severe labor shortages and billions in state budget surplus, the commonwealth’s failure to help child care providers recruit and retain these teachers is a tragic outcome.

Some Growth for Pre-K Counts and State Funding for Head Start but Workforce Challenges Will Remain

“The Pre-K for PA Campaign is relieved to see modest growth in the state’s publicly funded pre-k programs – PA Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.

“The $15 Million increase for PA Pre-K Counts and $2.7 Million increase for Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program will make rate increases possible to pre-kindergarten providers to combat inflationary pressures and unrelenting staffing shortages. We are disappointed that the increase to PA Pre-K Counts is half of what Governor Shapiro proposed, and state support for Head Start continues to grow at a slower rate than Pre-K Counts. 

“Inadequate wages across the early care and education sector are causing pre-k classrooms to close throughout the commonwealth. Pre-k teachers who have the same credentials earn roughly half of their (K-5) counterparts in public schools and face the tough choice of staying in their chosen profession as wages increase across other sectors. Future state investment is vital to continue to close this gap and ensure adequate staffing levels to operate state-funded pre-k programs at current-funded capacity.

“Currently, just over 78,000 three-and four-year-olds in Pennsylvania are eligible but do not have access to publicly-funded pre-k programs. Additional investment will be needed in future years to further mitigate the historic levels of teacher shortages in this competitive economy and ensure greater access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our preschool learners.

“Access to pre-k continues to be front of mind for Pennsylvania voters with 95% of voters believing that early childhood education is an important issue and nearly 70% of voters specifically supporting increased state funding for pre-k access.”

Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA are initiatives of the broader Early Learning PA coalition that advocates for access to voluntary, high-quality early care and education and healthy development opportunities for all Pennsylvania children. Below is a summary of pertinent appropriations line items in SB 1001: 

• $26.2 million in additional funding to maintain the status quo of payments in the subsidized child care system and the number of children served.
• Additional federal child care funding to meet the federally recommended child care subsidy reimbursement rate. This increase will help buffer inflationary pressures on child care providers that heavily participate in the subsidy system, however its impact on stabilizing the child care workforce will be limited. 
• $15 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program to increase rates from $10,000 per child for a full-day slot to $10,500.
• $2.7 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
• $9.1 million increase for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS. While this reflects the administration’s updated budget request, it does not address broader issues within the program, including worker shortages and a long-needed rate adjustment for providers.  
• $32.9 million increase for the Part B Early Intervention program (age three to five) through PDE.

About Pre-K for PA
Pre-K for PA launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. Learn more at www.prekforpa.org.

About Start Strong PA
Start Strong PA launched in 2019 to support healthy child development, working families, and the economy by increasing access to and affordability of high-quality child care programs for young children. Learn more at www.startstrongpa.org.

State Budget Fails to Significantly Invest in Early Care and Education Amid Historic Labor Shortage

HARRISBURG, PA (July 6, 2023) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding House Bill 611 that still awaits the signature of the Senate President Pro Tempore and finally Governor Shapiro to become the enacted 2023-24 Pennsylvania state budget. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.

First Budget in a Decade to Not Expand Pre-K Counts and State Funding for Head Start

“The Pre-K for PA campaign is deeply disappointed by the failure to expand the state’s publicly funded pre-k programs – PA Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. When nearly 90,000 eligible 3- and 4-year-olds do not have access to these once-in-a-lifetime early learning opportunities, and pre-k and Head Start programs can’t keep teachers in their classrooms because of inadequate reimbursement rates, this budget bill is simply unacceptable.

“Public investment in high-quality pre-k has historically been a consensus issue in Pennsylvania; aligning political parties, rural, urban and suburban communities, and families across the commonwealth on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that improves the life chances of Pennsylvania’s children. In fact, a February 2023 Susquehanna Polling and Research poll showed that 98% of PA voters believe that early learning is important, and 78% of PA voters support increasing state funding to serve more eligible children in pre-k programs, which was an increase from 65% in 2022.

“Unfortunately, HB 611 is a noticeable departure from a decade of growing investment in high-quality pre-k and threatens the stability of the early care and education sector and the futures of the 90,000 young children that lack access.

“With no new funding and all PA Pre-K Counts contracts up for renewal as part of a complete competitive rebid in FY 2023-24, Pre-K for PA urges the Shapiro Administration to maintain (to the greatest degree possible) the current per county slot allocation to ensure stability in access for our youngest learners.”

Budget Fails to Address Historic Labor Shortage; Continues Child Care Crisis Impacting Working Families

“With a child care sector that is on the brink of collapse, the Start Strong PA Campaign is shocked by the lack of investment to address the child care teacher shortage in the state budget bill. Policymakers ignored calls from chambers of commerce, working parents, child care providers, military leaders and others to stabilize the sector by investing in child care wages. Failing to invest in the workforce, which supports all other sectors, will continue to harm the commonwealth’s children, working families and the overall economy.

“HB 611 currently allocates slightly more than $100 million in new state funding to maintain the status quo in the child care system. This includes supporting the current child care subsidy caseload and utilization, as well as maintaining the increase in subsidy rates as one-time federal funding lapses. While maintaining the 60^th percentile of market rates is important to help alleviate inflationary pressures on child care providers, it has not stabilized the child care workforce. This maintenance of effort of the subsidy system is simply woefully inadequate given the scale of the commonwealth’s child care crisis.

“Across Pennsylvania, child care providers are closing classrooms and entire programs due to this historic child care teacher shortage. According to a February 2023 Start Strong PA survey of more than 1,000 child care providers across the state, 85% of responding providers had open and unfilled positions amounting to more than 3,600 open staff positions resulting in 1,500 closed classrooms, and a combined waitlist of more than 35,000 children.

“Low wages within the child care sector are driving this staffing shortage. The average wage of a Pennsylvania child care teacher is less than $12.50/hour. At this earning potential, 21 percent of the child care workforce relies upon Medicaid for their health care coverage and SNAP to put food on the table. There is no county in the commonwealth where this wage covers the cost of living.

“For families with young children, access to child care is a critical factor in their ability to go to work and ensure their children are in a safe and nurturing environment. Nearly 70 percent of all households with children younger than age 6 have all available caregivers in the workforce—that’s over 537,000 households.

“For all other business sectors, the child care sector is the workforce behind the workforce. When families can’t get child care, their children suffer, their income drops and the state’s economy is shortchanged. In a time of severe labor shortages and billions in state budget surplus, the commonwealth’s failure to ensure parents have access to child care is a tragic outcome.

“For all Pennsylvanians, when businesses aren’t fully staffed, or staff are unreliable due to lack of child care, they cannot produce goods or provide services, creating shortages and increasing prices. So, whether one has young children or not, Pennsylvania’s child care crisis should matter to all of us.”

Infant and Toddler Early Intervention and Maternal Health Increases Included in Budget

“The budget bill also contains an increase of $15.4 million for Infant and Toddler (Part C) Early Intervention in the Department of Human Services budget. This is short of Governor Shapiro’s March budget proposal, which called for a $20.2 million increase. While the additional $15.4 million will serve more children and sustain a rate increase initially achieved through one-time federal stimulus funding, Thriving PA is disappointed more was not done to support the Early Intervention system holistically. This includes solutions to address workforce shortages needed to create a viable and sustained service delivery platform.

“Additionally, Preschool (Part B) Early Intervention received a $10.4 million increase in the Department of Education budget, which was what Governor Shapiro included in his March request.

“A $2.3 million increase in the Department of Health budget was included in HB 611 in order to implement recommendations included in the Maternal Mortality Review Commission report. Thriving PA appreciates support for these funds, which will help address maternal mortality and morbidity in Pennsylvania.”

In summary, House Bill 611, which still awaits the signature of the Senate President Pro Tempore and finally Governor Shapiro to become the enacted 2023-24 Pennsylvania state budget, includes:

• Level funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program.
• Level funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
• Increase of $103,747,000 to maintain the status quo in the child care subsidy program (increases of $13,370,000 million for the state Child Care Assistance line item and $90,377,000 million for the Child Care Services line item).
• Level-funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Center line item and $25,000 for the Nurse-Family Partnership line item, which is a technical adjustment from previously enhanced federal matching funds.
• $15.4 million for the Early Intervention Part C (infants and toddlers) program through DHS.
• $10.4 million for the Early Intervention Part B (age-three-to-five) program through PDE.

About Pre-K for PA
Pre-K for PA launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. Learn more at www.prekforpa.org.

About Start Strong PA
Start Strong PA launched in 2019 to support healthy child development, working families, and the economy by increasing access to and affordability of high-quality child care programs for young children. Learn more at www.startstrongpa.org.

About Childhood Begins At Home
Childhood Begins At Home is a statewide campaign launched in 2017 to help policymakers and the public understand the value of evidence-based home visiting and support public investments in the programs.  Learn more at www.childhoodbeginsathome.org.

About Thriving PA
Thriving PA is a perinatal and child health campaign launched in 2021 and is working to ensure each birthing person, infant, and toddler in Pennsylvania has the opportunity for affordable, quality health care access. Learn more at www.thrivingpa.org.

Early Care and Education in Governor Shapiro’s 2023-24 State Budget Proposal

Early Care and Education in Governor Shapiro’s 2023-24 State Budget Proposal

HARRISBURG, PA (March 7, 2023) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regardingGovernor Josh Shapiro’s 2023-24 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Start Strong PA,Pre-K for PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.

Budget Proposal “Maintains” Child Care System in Crisis

“Governor Shapiro correctly emphasized the importance of high-quality child care for working families and the need to boost childcare wages to get “more teachers and professionals on the job,” and eliminate growing wait lists. Unfortunately, the Administration’s$66.7 million proposal merely maintains a system already in crisis.

“The proposal continues subsidized child care access to 75,000 low-income working families and sustains Child Care Works reimbursements to meet or exceed base rates at the 60th percentile of the market rate for a child care provider’s region. This represents a continuation of the current child care operating environment that has been in place since January 2022 after utilizing one-time federal funds to boost rates. Since that time, conditions within the system have not improved, in fact, wait lists have increased.

“Currently, Pennsylvania’s child care system is experiencing a 4,000 person workforce shortfall resulting in more than 35,500 children sitting on wait lists making it difficult for parents to work.

“The average child care teacher earns less than $12.50/hr. with approximately 21 percent of those child care teachers relying on SNAP benefits and 21 percent insured by Medicaid. As many of these staff are college educated, it’s no surprise that nearly 50 percent of educators surveyed say they are unlikely to remain in their child care jobs. Without a direct investment in the child care sector’s workforce, this crisis will continue and is likely to mean that more classrooms will close and more working parents will struggle to find care for their children.

“The child care crisis is costing working families, employers, and taxpayers $6.65 billion annually in lost wages, productivity and revenue. Fortunately, child care is an issue that crosses over the political divide with 81 percent of Pennsylvania voters in favor of allocating state funding to increase wages of child care workers and 78 percent percent of voters supporting an increase in state funding to help more low-income working families afford high-quality child care.

“The PA House and Senate must build on what’s been proposed by Governor Shapiro and not simply maintain a system that is currently in crisis but invest more, prioritizing the sector’s workforce to get ahead of this staffing shortage. Pennsylvania businesses depend on working families and working families depend on child care.”

Shapiro Proposal Boosts Pre-K Counts / Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program Rates In Effort to Combat TeacherShortage / Stops Short of Expanded Access

“Governor Shapiro’s first budget proposal begins to address the growing shortage of pre-kindergarten and Head Start teachers by including a $33 million increase to boost cost per child reimbursement rates in the 2023-24 budget. Specifically, the proposal would add $30 million in new funding for the Pre-K Counts program to increase rates by approximately $1,000 per child (full-day) / $500 per child (part-day) and $3 million in new funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program to also increase the cost per child rate. This funding is intended to further support pre-kindergarten providers in combating rising inflation and address increasing staffing shortages. It is worth noting, however, that the classroom closures and teacher shortages resulting from low wages found in the child care sector is also impacting pre-k availability because 48 percent of the children served in Pre-K Counts classrooms are located in high-quality child care centers.

“As part of his budget address, the Governor also noted the importance of giving Pennsylvania children a “ladder up” through pre-k. Unfortunately, this budget proposal does not provide the resources necessary to expand publicly-funded pre-k opportunities tomore of the 100,000 Pennsylvania children that are eligible but not served.

“The General Assembly should respond to the 78 percent of Pennsylvania voters that supported increasing state funding to serve more eligible children in pre-k programs by building on the Governor’s proposal and expanding pre-k access.”

Sustained Funding in Home Visiting Appropriate Following Historic Increase in 2022

“Following last year’s historic budget increase for evidence-based home visiting, the Childhood Begins at Home campaign appreciates the continued funding in the proposal. Voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs mentor parents and others raising children and provide supports for child development and school readiness, child health, family economic self-sufficiency, linkages and referrals, maternal health, positive parenting practices, reductions in child maltreatment and reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence and crime.

“While there is a large unmet need for services with only 5 percent of eligible pregnant women, young children and families currently receiving them, we acknowledge increased access must be done in a manner that home visiting programs can effectively implement.”

Budget Address Emphasizes the Importance of Referral Services for Young Children

“All children birth through age five with developmental delays must be identified, referred to and accepted for the services they need to reach their fullest potential. The proposed state budget includes a needed investment in Early Intervention services with an increase of $10.4 million for the Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) program in the Department of Education (PDE) budget and a $20million increase for Early Intervention Part C (infants and toddlers) program in the Department of Human Services (DHS) budget.Thriving PA welcomes both of these proposed increases.”

Governor Shapiro’s State Budget Proposal Includes:

• $30 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program to boost reimbursement rates by nearly $1,000 per child (full-day)/ $500 per child (part-day).
• $3 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program to boost cost per child.
• $66.7 million in new funding for the state’s Child Care Services line item to maintain subsidized child care access to 75,000low-income working families and sustain Child Care Works reimbursements to meet or exceed rates at the 60th percentile of the market rate for child care facilities.
• Level funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Centers line item as well as level funding for the Nurse Family Partnership line item.
• $10.4 million increase for the Part B Early Intervention program (age three to five) offered through PDE.
• $20 million increase funding for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS.
• $2.3 million increase to expand Maternal Health Programing, implementing strategies outlined by the MaternalMortality Review Committee (MMRC).

About Start Strong PA

Start Strong PA launched in 2019 to support healthy child development, working families, and the economy by increasing access to and affordability of high-quality child care programs for young children. Learn more at www.startstrongpa.org.

About Pre-K for PA

Pre-K for PA launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. Learn more at www.prekforpa.org.

About Childhood Begins At Home

Childhood Begins At Home is a statewide campaign launched in 2017 to help policymakers and the public understand the value of evidence-based home visiting and support public investments in the programs. Learn more at www.childhoodbeginsathome.org.

About Thriving PA

Thriving PA is a perinatal and child health campaign launched in 2021 and is working to ensure each birthing person, infant, and toddler in Pennsylvania has the opportunity for affordable, quality health care access. Learn more at www.thrivingpa.org.

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