Impending Crisis: Thousands of Connecticut Kids Face Loss of Child Care

The expiration of a $24 billion federal Covid-19 pandemic support program is causing child care providers across the US to rethink their operations, leading to the closure of many centers and leaving families scrambling for alternate arrangements. More than 70,000 child care programs are projected to close, and about 3.2 million children could lose their spots. The federal investment from the American Rescue Plan Act helped keep child care programs open, retain workers, and provide support for children and families. However, without additional federal assistance, child care providers are struggling to sustain their operations, leading to potential closures and limited access to affordable child care. Efforts are being made to extend federal assistance and enhance tax credits to make child care more affordable, but securing additional funding through Congress may be challenging.