MA family child care providers ease shortage, seek greater state backing – Public News Service
By Kathryn Carley
Advocates in Massachusetts say increasing the pay of smaller, family child care providers could help ease the shortage and provide economic benefits statewide.
The majority of providers work overtime at less than the state's $15 minimum wage, providing licensed care for up to 10 children in their homes.
Adam Jones, policy analyst at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, said providers offer a smaller portion of child care slots statewide but serve some of its most vulnerable children.
"Clearly, they're not the majority of slots," Jones acknowledged. "But a fifth is a lot and I think, as the pandemic showed us, every slot matters."
Jones pointed out pending legislation would codify child care grants into state budgets to stabilize funding and increase reimbursement rates to help provide a living wage for providers and quality care for children.