Advocates for Multnomah County's Preschool for All are working to bring the pilot program to the national stage. The program offers free preschool to children across the county, aiming to fill the gaps in the childcare system. At a panel held at Portland State University last Friday, local and state leaders met to discuss how to move it forward.
"The only way we’re going to solve this problem is by seeing action at the state and federal level with investments in building our childcare system," said Andrea Paluso, Co-Director of Childcare for Every Family Network.
U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici says she's doing just that, working on securing federal funding for the program's expansion."We have some serious workforce issues in the area of childcare because oftentimes, childcare workers don’t make enough to afford childcare for their own children, and they’re doing valuable work," Bonamici said.
She says that while she's proud of the work legislators have done in adopting the American Rescue Plan with a $39 billion investment in childcare, that was a pandemic relief bill. Sustainable policies are needed, she said.
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