The Ligonier Valley Learning Center has never had the staffing challenges it has today in the 38 years it has been in operation. While there are other businesses also struggling to recruit and retain staff, our industry supports the workforce of every other industry. If parents don’t have access to child care, they cannot work. If they aren’t available to work, businesses can’t hire them.
According to a survey by Start Strong PA, 32,500 children currently sit on child care waiting lists in Pennsylvania. Over 30,000 more children could be served if programs were fully staffed. The families of those 32,500 children waiting to enroll are either not working or piecing together inconsistent care for their children, likely significantly impacting the quality of their child’s care and education.
We need to improve access to and the affordability of high-quality child care for all working families. To do this we need our legislators to invest significant, sustainable child care funds to build a stronger early care and education system. This would not only benefit our children short- and long-term, but would give other industries access to a much larger workforce. That workforce would help our local businesses rebuild our economy.
Erin Schellenberger
New Alexandria
Eva Wood
Latrobe