Maine Voices: Child care providers are the workforce behind the workforce

A lack of affordable child care for working parents is a brake on Maine employers' ability to hire.

Child care providers say industry needs consistent financial support to survive

More than 170 Maine child care centers have shuttered since the beginning of the pandemic, and Gov. Janet Mills has proposed $12 million to fund legislation to increase the wages of workers. But much more may be needed.

Mills speaks on expansion of UMF childhood, early education center

Maine Voices: We are parenting during COVID. We are tired. And we’re the lucky ones

My wife and I have good jobs and day care, and we’re still stressed out right now. How are other families even managing?

Maine Voices: Child tax credit providing financial relief to working families like mine

Child care cost my family over $18,000 last year. Extending the child tax credit can help more women like me stay on the job.

Our View: Getting Maine back to work

A think tank’s report identifies child care subsidies and other aid to families as a necessary step toward full economic recovery.

Maine Voices: More funding not a long-term fix for our state’s child care crisis

Instead of hoping for Washington to bail us out, Maine legislators should take a scalpel to onerous regulations.

Rep. Pingree: Build Back Better offers historic chance to deliver for Maine people

This legislation will roll back irresponsible tax cuts and fund clean energy, child care affordability and a stronger safety net for older Mainers and those with disabilities.

Maine providing $73 million in grants to stabilize state’s ‘crucial’ child care industry

Working families in Maine are struggling to find child care as facilities close or limit enrollment because of staffing shortages worsened by the pandemic.

10% of Maine child care centers closed during the pandemic, threatening ‘the workforce behind the workforce,’ experts say

With Maine child care facilities closing and financial pressure on those still open, concerns rise that parents won't be able to return to work.