The Annie E. Casey Foundation
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Pennsylvania

Statistics on children, youth and families in Pennsylvania from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

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Under age 5

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Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

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Child Care Subsidy - Eligibility and enrollment of children under 5 years in Pennsylvania

Child Care Subsidy - Eligibility and enrollment of children under 5 years

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Why This Indicator Matters

Pennsylvania’s Child Care Works (CCW) subsidy program plays an essential role in supporting low-income families by reducing the financial burden of child care and increasing access to quality services.[1] The program provides assistance to eligible families, enabling parents to work, attend school, or engage in job training programs while their children are cared for.[2] Families choose from licensed, regulated providers, which ensures that children receive care in environments that meet safety and quality standards. This is vital for early childhood development, as quality early childhood education has been shown to enhance cognitive and social-emotional skills, preparing children for school and long-term success.[3] Access to affordable child care is also beneficial for parents, allowing them to maintain stable employment, which is necessary for economic mobility and reduced dependence on public assistance in the future.[4] The subsidy program additionally strengthens the broader economy by supporting the child care workforce, a predominantly female and underpaid sector, and promoting the availability of reliable care.[5] While enrollment in the program has fluctuated over the years in Pennsylvania, the majority of children eligible for child care subsidies remain unserved, highlighting a gap in access and a need for more effective outreach and engagement efforts.

[1] The Pennsylvania Key. (2018). Child Care Works (CCW). https://www.pakeys.org/ccw/

[2] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2024). Child Care Works (CCW) – Subsidized Child Care Program. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs/resources/early-learning-child-care/child-care-works.html

[3] Heckman, J. J. (2011). The Economics of Inequality: The Value of Early Childhood Education. American Educator, 35(1), 31. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ920516.pdf

[4] Matthews, H., & Schmit, S. (2014). Child Care Assistance Spending and Participation in 2012. Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Washington, DC. https://www.clasp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CC-Spending-and-Participation-2014-1.pdf

[5] Bipartisan Policy Center. (2021). The Economic Impact of America’s Child Care Cap. https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/BPC-Economic-Impact-Report_R01-1.pdf

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Definition and Source

PROVIDER

Definition

Child care subsidies are available to low-income working families to increase the opportunity for parents to obtain high-quality child care for their children while they work.  

The figures represent the number of children under 5 years who are eligible (i.e. have all available parents in the labor force and live below 200% poverty), the number and percent of infants, toddlers and preschool-age children enrolled through the Child Care Works subsidized child care system, and the percent of unserved, eligible children.

Data Source

PPC creates interactive maps with statistics by county, legislative district, and school district. Please go to https://www.papartnerships.org/resources-publications/mapping-tools/ for links to the maps and fact sheets.

Notes

Starting in October 2018, OCDEL did not provide data for counts less than 11. In those cases, the percent of children in high-quality could not be calculated.

Last Updated

May 2024