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

AUGUSTA — Today, Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel, introduced LD 1859, “An Act to Improve Access to Child Care and Early Childhood Education by Establishing Regional Resource Hubs,” which was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Committee on Health and Human Services. 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.

“A strong foundation in the early years is what drives positive outcomes later in life. We must work together to ensure that all children and families have access to the resources they need for a strong start,” said Sen. Henry Ingwersen. “Child care educators are the workforce behind our workforce. When children can get a strong early start, and their parents can be fully engaged in the workforce, our communities and economy will reap the rewards of this investment. Creating these Childhood Resource Hubs will do just that.”

“Employers understand that to have productive employees they must have a reliable, stable, safe, quality childcare network,” said Sue Powers on behalf of the Maine Community Action Partnership in testimony supporting the bill.  “LD 1859 aims to identify and address the gaps that exist by supporting employees, childcare providers and the community in general to remove barriers for working families.”

LD 1859 would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to support the child care needs of families, educators, businesses and our communities by establishing regional early childhood learning and development resource hubs. These hubs would be affiliated with existing regional nonprofit organizations to promote early childhood learning and support family needs.

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 a work session and further action in committee.