Grantee: Bipartisan Policy Center
Study Type: Survey
Principal Investigator: Linda Smith – Bipartisan Policy Center, Anubhav Bagley – Arth Analytics, Grace Reef – Early Learning Policy Group, Mousumi Sarkar – Well World Solutions
Project Description: This study by the Bipartisan Policy Center reports on an 11-state survey of a random selection of representatives from approximately 1,100 child care centers and 1,200 family child care homes regarding respondents’ experiences with business closures, enrollment, revenue, staffing, and other factors related to the availability of U.S. Congressional relief packages during the COVID-19 pandemic: The CARES Act of March 2020, the CRRSA Act of December 2020, and the ARP Act of March 2021.
Key Findings: The researchers found that the COVID-19 relief packages passed by Congress were a lifeline for struggling U.S. child care programs. Nearly all child care providers in an 11-state survey said the relief packages were essential for keeping their businesses open during the pandemic. Child care providers used relief funds to pay for staff, rent or mortgage, facility maintenance, and personal protective equipment. The funds also allowed them to integrate competitive hiring strategies, such as retention bonuses and flexible schedules.
Study Citation: Smith, Linda, Bagley, Anubhav, Reef, Grace, & Sarkar, Mousumi. COVID-19 Relief Bolstered U.S. Child Care Programs in Crisis. Bipartisan Policy Center, September 2022. Retrieved from https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BPC_Covid19-Relief-Brief_R04.pdf.
Full report here.
The Key Findings above were reproduced from the published report and do not necessarily reflect interpretation of Overdeck Family Foundation staff.