In a breakthrough initiative, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has unveiled the National Early Care and Education Workforce Center (ECE Workforce Center). Backed by a $30 million investment, this center aims to bolster the recruitment, retention, and career growth of the early care and education workforce.

The childcare sector has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 80,000 jobs lost since 2020. Moreover, the workers, predominantly women, are among the lowest-paid despite the vital role they play in young children's development. The ECE Workforce Center is HHS's response to this challenge, striving to enhance workforce stability and compensation.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the center's focus on better remuneration and career advancement for this critical workforce. This support will directly impact young children's well-being, contributing to their thriving development.

Two core activities form the center's blueprint: fostering a career pipeline for the workforce that supports continuing education and maintains the sector's diversity, and identifying and implementing sustainable methods to improve compensation and benefits.

Assistant Secretary January Contreras underscored the need to end the cycle of poverty wages for early educators, crucial to the quality of early childhood programs. The ECE Workforce Center is positioned to provide much-needed support for these professionals, indirectly aiding working families.

This initiative aligns with HHS's larger agenda to support the early childhood workforce, with resources such as a dedicated webpage, monthly email newsletters and webinars, and program guidance. Coupled with the recent award of nearly $300 million in Preschool Development Grants, these efforts underscore HHS's commitment to an effective early care and education system, vital for the country's economy and communities.

Thus, as HHS marks the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the launch of the ECE Workforce Center reaffirms its dedication to ensuring American families' economic and social well-being.