Committee supports Sen. Ingwersen bill to improve access to child care and early childhood education

AUGUSTA — On May 23, the Health and Human Services Committee approved LD 1859, “An Act to Improve Access to Child Care and Early Childhood Education by Establishing Regional Resource Hubs,” a bill sponsored by Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel. This legislation aims to address Maine’s child care crisis by creating a network of regional hubs to connect families, child care providers and employers.

“In my dual role as Health and Human Services Chair and a grandfather of twelve, I know personally how deeply important child care is,” said Sen. Henry Ingwersen. “We must support families, child care providers, educators and businesses in building child care resource hubs so they can work together to solve their regional child care needs.”

LD 1859, if passed, would direct the Department of Health and Human services to establish early childhood learning and development resource hubs through contracts with local entities. These resource hubs would provide families with information on how to locate early childhood programs near them, support the training of child care workers and build stronger networks between providers. 

“[I]t is crucial to make sure Maine’s investments in early childhood reflect the science of what children need while also accommodating Maine families as they raise the generation that will lead Maine into the future,” said Rita Furlow of Maine Children’s Alliance in testimony in support of the bill. “…[LD 1859 would] support new and existing child care providers and work with the business community to meet the child care needs of their employees.”

Currently, Maine is one of three states in the nation that does not utilize what is nationally referred to as a “child care resource and referral” service.

The bill faces further votes in the full Senate and the House.