COVID-19 has brought with it a storm of uncertainty and instability for the District’s child care providers, many of whom already struggled to make ends meet prior to the public health emergency. In this exceptionally challenging time, one of the few sources of stability has been the child care subsidy program.
The Council of the District of Columbia passed a nearly $16 million investment in FY2020 as a partial yet key down payment on the Birth-to-Three Act. The Council’s commitment will fund measures to ensure healthier birth outcomes and supports for the District’s youngest residents to grow and thrive.
Before the pandemic hit, there were only enough child care seats for one out of every three children under the age of three in DC. Now that many providers are struggling to stay open and pay for their facilities and staff costs.
As policymakers make choices about what to prioritize in a time of economic downturn, we urge DC Council to keep home visiting, uncut, in DC’s FY 2021 budget.
As policymakers make choices about what to prioritize in a time of economic downturn, we urge DC Council to keep home visiting, uncut, in DC’s FY 2021 budget.
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