April 20, 2026 - Harrisburg, PA
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Child Development and Early Learning Deputy Secretary Shante' Brown will highlight how Governor Josh Shapiro's 2026-27 Budget Proposal will make child care more affordable for working Pennsylvania families while expanding and strengthening the child care industry.Deputy Secretary Brown will visit Follow Me Christian Child Care to celebrate the largest Child Care Recruitment and Retention Program bonus award in Dauphin County to staff and discuss how investing in the child care workforce ensures that families can continue working while children receive the foundation they need to succeed. The Governor's proposed budget makes major investments in early education and builds off the success of previous investments in the child care workforce, including: An additional $10 million to support retention and recruitment grants and increase bonuses to $630 for employees at licensed child care centers in the federal Child Care Works program, bringing the total investment to $35 million;An additional $7.5 million for the Pre-K Counts program to help providers raise wages and stabilize the early educator workforce; and $2 million for the Head Start State Supplemental program to help providers raise wages and stabilize the early educator workforce. WHO: PA DHS Office of Child Development and Early Learning Deputy Secretary Shante' Brown Follow Me Christian Child Care Executive Director Jennifer Granitz WHEN: Media Availability: Monday, April 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Follow Me Christian Child Care Center 6003 Jonestown Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112 MEDIA RSVP: Press interested in attending must RSVP with the name of photographer/reporter to ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov.
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