Delaware County Child Care Provider Sees Potentially Scary Time for Child Care Industry

By

Wearing hazmat gear, St. Mary's Nursery School director Traci Childress, greets teacher Genevieve Abaara and her son. Image via the Notebook.

A child care industry crisis could be looming in Pennsylvania, writes Dale Mezzacappa for thenotebook.org, as reported on WHYY.org.

Childcare providers now receive revenue from state reimbursement subsidies for children they enroll, as well as parent sliding scale co-payments and full tuition for those who can afford it.

When the pandemic closed the centers in mid-March, the state reimbursed providers using  enrollment figures as of March 16.

In September, reimbursements will be based on actual enrollments.

Most centers that have reopened have far fewer students now but more expenses for cleaning, sanitizing and creating extra space for distancing.

Veronica Crisp, owner of Step-by-Step Learning Center in Delaware County, calls the situation “quite scary.”

“I honestly don’t see how we will be able to sustain ourselves,” she said.

Erin James, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, offered a more upbeat assessment.

A majority of childcare centers have reopened, she said.  Of 7,000 licensed providers, 5,300 have reopened, 650 are temporarily closed and about 165 have permanently closed.

“Reverting back to real-time attendance numbers will allow more families to receive the Child Care Works subsidy, and gain access to safe and stable child care,” James said.

Read more about the plight of childcare centers here.

You Might Also Like                            

Day Care is Open. Here’s What It Could Look Like

SCORE Asks: Reopening? Plan your work. Work your plan. Tips for Small Businesses

He Took Biology on a Dare. Now’s He’s Got Video of a Giant Squid

Join Our Community

Never miss a Delaware County story!

"*" indicates required fields

Hidden
DT Yes
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Advertisement