Congress holds hearing to examine the impact of COVID-19 on child care industry

-
BlogOn March 2, the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis held a hearing on the unique challenges that families, caregivers and the child care workforce have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Congress holds hearing to examine the impact of COVID-19 on child care industry
-
Blog
Congress holds hearing to examine the impact of COVID-19 on child care industry
On March 2, the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis held a hearing on the unique challenges that families, caregivers and the child care workforce have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnesses discussed key areas of vulnerability exacerbated by the pandemic and federal strategies to strengthen the nation’s child care sector. County governments play a significant role in local child care systems and encourage our federal partners to take action to stabilize this critical industry.
Among many of the challenges facing the child care sector, the most pressing include limited slots and exorbitant costs for families. At the same time, low profit margins prevent providers from offering competitive pay and benefits for employees. Low compensation coupled with a high demand workplace environment leads to stress, burnout and turnover, resulting in a steady decline in the child care workforce that the pandemic has only further accelerated. Today, the child care workforce remains 10 percent below pre-pandemic levels, hampering local recovery as parents struggle to find affordable options for their children.
While families and providers received crucial emergency support from federal COVID-19 relief packages, full recovery cannot occur without significant, long-term financial investments from states and the federal government. Counties support swift federal action to ensure high-quality child care is more affordable and available to our residents while ensuring child care workers receive adequate compensation. NACo will continue to work with Congress and other federal agency partners to develop policies that strengthen efforts to support families, child care infrastructure and the child care workforce.
To watch a webcast of the hearing, click here.
Additional Resources
- NACo Legislative Toolkit: Federal Policy Levers for Stabilizing the Child Care Industry
- NACo Report: County Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Child Care
- NACo Policy Brief: Support the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
- NACo Research Foundation: Counties for Kids
On March 2, the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis held a hearing on the unique challenges that families, caregivers and the child care workforce have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.2022-03-08Blog2022-03-09
On March 2, the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis held a hearing on the unique challenges that families, caregivers and the child care workforce have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnesses discussed key areas of vulnerability exacerbated by the pandemic and federal strategies to strengthen the nation’s child care sector. County governments play a significant role in local child care systems and encourage our federal partners to take action to stabilize this critical industry.
Among many of the challenges facing the child care sector, the most pressing include limited slots and exorbitant costs for families. At the same time, low profit margins prevent providers from offering competitive pay and benefits for employees. Low compensation coupled with a high demand workplace environment leads to stress, burnout and turnover, resulting in a steady decline in the child care workforce that the pandemic has only further accelerated. Today, the child care workforce remains 10 percent below pre-pandemic levels, hampering local recovery as parents struggle to find affordable options for their children.
While families and providers received crucial emergency support from federal COVID-19 relief packages, full recovery cannot occur without significant, long-term financial investments from states and the federal government. Counties support swift federal action to ensure high-quality child care is more affordable and available to our residents while ensuring child care workers receive adequate compensation. NACo will continue to work with Congress and other federal agency partners to develop policies that strengthen efforts to support families, child care infrastructure and the child care workforce.
To watch a webcast of the hearing, click here.
Additional Resources
- NACo Legislative Toolkit: Federal Policy Levers for Stabilizing the Child Care Industry
- NACo Report: County Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Child Care
- NACo Policy Brief: Support the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
- NACo Research Foundation: Counties for Kids

About Rachel Mackey (Full Bio)
Legislative Director – Human Services & Education | Veterans & Military Services
Rachel serves as legislative director for human services and education.More from Rachel Mackey
-
Webinar
County Listening Session for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
Jun. 30, 2022 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm -
Blog
Congress clears bipartisan gun reform legislation
On June 25, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (P.L. 117-159), the first major gun reform legislation in decades. The bill makes critical changes to the process for acquiring a firearm and includes funding opportunities to assist in identifying and addressing mental health, and makes key investments in strengthening school safety. -
Webinar
Are Your Wellbeing Efforts Making a Difference for Your Employees?
Jun. 29, 2022 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmAs a result of the COVID-19 pandemic employee priorities shifted, and many now place increased value on a supportive organizational culture with benefits that meet their diverse needs. How can your county adapt, remain differentiated, and compete for talent? -
Blog
Lawmakers introduce compromise legislation to extend federal child nutrition flexibilities
On June 21, Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) introduced the bipartisan Keep Kids Fed Act (H.R. 8150) to extend certain federal child nutrition flexibilities currently set to expire on June 30. -
Blog
Biden administration announces new resources to address the infant formula shortage
On Friday, June 17, the Biden administration announced additional resources from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assist families coping with ongoing the infant formula shortage. -
Blog
Tell your county’s story by completing Medicaid and SNAP surveys
To better inform our understanding of the county role in administering Medicaid services and how counties can strengthen coordination between the Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National Association of Counties (NACo) invites county health and human services officials to complete two research surveys.
-
Reports & Toolkits
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Resource Hub
Explore NACo's resource hub for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.Reports & Toolkitsdocument010512:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> -
Basic page
Transforming County Human Services Network
Counties Matter in Human Services There are over 257,000 county human services employees across the country delivering vital services to our nation’s most vulnerable populations.pagepagepage<h3><strong>Counties Matter in Human Services</strong></h3>
-
Basic page
NACo High Performance Leadership Academy
The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy is an online 12-week program that will empower frontline county government professionals with the most fundamental leadership skills to deliver results for counties and communities. -
Basic page
Human Services & Education Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. Policy Platform & Resolutions 2021-2022 2022 NACo Legislative Prioritiespagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary,
-
Reports & Toolkits
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
On November 15, 2021, President Biden enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), into law. This page and its contents are supplemental to NACo's comprehensive legislative analysis of the BIL for counties.Reports & Toolkitsdocument030310:00 amReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent jump">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Contact
-
Legislative Director – Human Services & Education | Veterans & Military Services(202) 661-8843
Related Posts
-
BlogCongress clears bipartisan gun reform legislationJun. 29, 2022
-
BlogLawmakers introduce compromise legislation to extend federal child nutrition flexibilitiesJun. 22, 2022
-
BlogBiden administration announces new resources to address the infant formula shortageJun. 22, 2022
Related Resources
-
Press ReleaseCounties Welcome White House Focus on Hunger, NutritionMay. 5, 2022
-
VideoWebinar Series: Jail Reentry for People with Substance Use Disorders ResourcesApr. 26, 2022
-
Reports & ToolkitsLegislative Analysis for Counties: the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022Mar. 17, 2022
More From
-
How communities are investing American Rescue Plan funds with the Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker
The Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker, powered by NACo, Brookings Metro and National League of Cities provides a detailed local investment picture of American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Learn More