May 5, 2021
The Mills Administration is committed to supporting Maine families and investing in our state’s future by ensuring quality child care is available, accessible, and affordable to all Maine parents and children. The vital need for child care has become even more evident during the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result of historic Federal support, Maine has, and will, receive more than $175 million to support child care improvements – representing the biggest Federal investment in child care since World War II. This will be complemented by an additional $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that Governor Mills recently announced, which will be used to help construct child care facilities to increase availability of early care and education.
The DHHS Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) is poised to implement enhancements already planned before the pandemic, and to reach further to make unprecedented, system-wide improvements that remove barriers to access and ensure that all Maine families have the affordable, safe, and enriching child care options they need to thrive. The progress achieved to date and priorities for future investment are now available in the Child Care Plan for Maine.
Read the full Child Care Plan for Maine (PDF)