Caregivers returning to work in York County are grappling with a significant challenge: affordable and reliable childcare. At the same time, early childhood education programs in the area are also facing difficulties, with staffing shortages plaguing many facilities.
A study by Start Strong PA reveals that 89% of York County’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs are struggling to fill staff vacancies. The National Head Start Association echoed this issue, reporting that 20% of Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms have closed, with 81% of closures linked to staffing shortages.
In response to this crisis, the Community Progress Council (CPC) has launched a Teacher Aide Program aimed at addressing workforce gaps. The program provides paid classroom experience, stipends, and support for individuals to pursue Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials. Supported by Every Child Has Opportunities (ECHO) and the York County Economic Alliance (YCEA), this initiative is focused on growing the educator workforce to stabilize the industry.
Natalie Dragan, Assistant Education Manager for Early Head Start/Head Start at the CPC, noted the positive growth of the program. “Now in its third year, our program has expanded thanks to the investment from Every Child Has Opportunities (ECHO),” she said. “Our model has now become the foundation for ECHO’s Early Childhood Education apprenticeship, which will benefit other providers and educators.”
This year, the program has added in-person CDA instruction, coaching through the CPC’s Self-Sufficiency Program, and enrollment in a course called ‘Getting Ahead in the Workplace,’ according to Dragan.
The need for initiatives like this is clear. Before the pandemic, York County had 221 childcare providers, a number that has since dropped to 170. Programs are now facing waitlists of 50-75 children on average, making it increasingly difficult for businesses to retain employees.
“The challenges families face regarding workplace stability are complex,” said Dragan. “Without reliable childcare, employees struggle with attendance, performance, and focus, as the demands of home life spill into the workplace. By building sustainability in the ECE workforce and ensuring more families can access affordable childcare, we’re helping workers be more present and successful at work.”
Dragan emphasized the broader economic impact on York County businesses. “Stable childcare supports a productive and reliable workforce,” she said.
Kevin Schreiber, president and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance, echoed these concerns. “I once heard someone say, ‘The childcare industry is the workforce behind the workforce,’ and I know that to be true,” said Schreiber. In a recent YCEA survey, 74% of respondents indicated that access to childcare impacted their employment.
Many early childhood education centers in York County are operating at only 85% capacity because they lack the staff to fully open. Schreiber explained, “Centers are forced to do rolling blackouts, which means parents get calls saying their child can’t attend on certain days. This disrupts parents’ work schedules, causing absenteeism that affects businesses and the economy as a whole. Pennsylvania loses $6.5 billion annually in economic productivity due to absenteeism.”
Schreiber highlighted that addressing the childcare issue is critical for stabilizing York County’s economy. With a 3% unemployment rate and 7,400 individuals seeking work, childcare barriers are a key issue for local businesses.
“The York County Economic Alliance is hearing from employers that they’re increasingly aware of the childcare crisis and its impact on their workforce,” said Schreiber. “Many are taking steps to address these concerns, such as offering dependent care savings accounts to help offset childcare costs and providing more flexible work arrangements.”
The YCEA’s goal is to double the number of low-income children receiving high-quality early childhood education. To achieve this, Schreiber said the organization is investing in childcare sector initiatives.
“We’ve deployed nearly $1 million in grant awards this summer, which will allow around 500 more children to access high-quality early childhood education, and 75 new early childhood educators to be hired,” Schreiber said.
York County, Schreiber pointed out, has long been proactive on the childcare front, going back to its “Focus on our Future” initiative established in 1999. However, more needs to be done.
“With partnerships, we’re doing incredible work, but we’ve only scratched the surface,” Schreiber said. “This underscores the importance of continued collaboration and investment in early childhood education at local, state, and federal levels.”
Schreiber emphasized that government support will be essential moving forward. “The hope is that our government will recognize the critical role childcare plays in our economy and make significant new investments in this vital sector,” he concluded.
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