POLITICS: In recent weeks, the Biden-Harris administration has turned the focus for improvement toward childcare providers and the structure of their operations. The administration has addressed certain matters at issue including the matter of too low wages for workers, the exorbitant cost of childcare for families and the need for adequate supply of high quality childcare. By Michelle Crawford-Sapenter During a conference held among local and national leaders that included the Director of the Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein, Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, and Chief Economist of the Investing in America Cabinet Heather Boushey, alongside senior staff from the Department of the Treasury who met with provider members of the childcare community and community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Gathering together in a plan to revitalize the child care industry and steer the industry in the direction of higher quality care and greater affordability for families. The Biden-Harris administration has arrived at a plan that will address and alter matters that have, for years, made a negative impact on the child care sector. The announcement made by the Biden-Harris administration indicates that adjustments will circumscribe transformational investment that will "...guarantee affordable, high-quality child care from birth until kindergarten for low- and middle-income working families, restore the expanded Child Tax Credit, expand home and community-based services, and provide national paid family and medical leave." This month, the recognition of the Month of Action on Care /Care workers' Recognition Month President Biden signed an Executive Order that impacts 53 million Americans serve as family caregivers and includes over 5 million caring for service members or veterans investing $60 billion from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act in the care industry. This year's recognition of the EO and the industry redirects the plan for including an increase in funding made available as a result of capital issued by the Small Business Administration to support small business providing care and the creation of a child care business development guide. The new funding opportunities will provide for the use of supportive services, include two final rules; to improve access to safe, reliable, high-quality long-term care and increasing the caregiver's daily hours providing care to resident/patients. The revised plan will support the need for highlighting ways for bringing awareness to challenges and opportunities faced by both child care businesses and CDFIs and forging cooperation in pursuit of supporting access to affordable, high-quality care.
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