We are in desperate need of staff. Not just staff, but highly-qualified staff so that we can provide the best possible care for our children. However, in order to get these highly-qualified people, we need to be able to pay them a fair wage. Additional funding for child care is absolutely necessary if we want our children to continue to grow and flourish. - Annie Chappel, Site Supervisor, Danville Child Development Center, Danville, PA
Join Start Strong PA and Trying Together for the release of the report, Elevating the Early Childhood Workforce on Thursday, June 9 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. via Zoom.
During this virtual event, we will provide an overview of the report and hear from child care providers about the ongoing struggle to recruit and retain qualified staff. Providers, families, advocates, policymakers, and community members are invited to attend to learn about pathways toward elevating the early childhood workforce.
The report highlights the historical and current context for the underinvestment and undervaluing of the early childhood field while also offering pathways toward a more equitable, high-quality early learning system. These pathways will be achieved by elevating the value of the profession and increasing provider compensation. Early childhood educators are the center of a child’s quality experience. Without these professionals, parents are unable to work and children will not be able to reap the benefits of high-quality child care.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 566,000 Pennsylvania children younger than age six (71%) had all of the adults in their household in the labor force. In order for parents to return to work and help rebuild our economy after the impact of the pandemic, we must rely on early childhood educators to provide a caring and nurturing environment for their children.
Register by June 8.
