Since being sworn in in 2023, one thing has become painfully clear: every time I speak with parents in our community, I hear the same story. No matter how hard they work, they feel like they are falling behind. The cost of life’s basics is staggering, and families just can’t seem to catch up.
That reality came through even more strongly when I recently sat down with parents at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit’s Head Start program in Ambler.
Head Start is not just an early learning program. It is a lifeline that prepares young children for school while giving families stability, support, and connection.
I understand these struggles on a personal level. Years ago, I faced the same impossible math that so many parents face today. The cost of childcare was more than my family could manage, and the only way forward was to become a childcare provider myself. It was the only option that allowed me to bring my own children with me while still earning a paycheck. That experience is why I know firsthand how critical programs like Head Start are for working families.
The parents I spoke with turned to Head Start because they could not afford the crushing cost of childcare. They explained that no matter how hard they work, they still cannot keep up. Many also expressed doubt that leaders in Harrisburg or Washington are doing enough to help.
They are right to be frustrated. A recent report shows that the lack of affordable childcare costs Pennsylvania’s economy roughly $6.65 billion each year. Working mothers alone lose $2.4 billion annually in earnings and productivity.
That is unacceptable. We have to do better. Leaders must put working parents in a stronger position to succeed, so their children can grow up in financially stable households. The benefits of that stability last a lifetime.
We have an opportunity to do more than talk. We must make working parents a top priority in Pennsylvania.
When parents cannot go to work, our local economy suffers. Without affordable, high-quality childcare and early learning programs like Head Start, parents simply cannot participate fully in the workforce.
This year’s budget invested $25 million in childcare worker retention and recruitment, recognizing the critical role these professionals play in caring for our children. This investment is a great start, and I will work with my colleagues to build on it—truly investing in early learning and making childcare more affordable for Pennsylvania’s working families.