Abstract
In this brief, the authors illustrate New Hampshire and Vermont’s different responses to supporting the early childhood education and care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the limited publicly available data on pandemic relief funds through the lens of the interstate Upper Valley region. While data limitations preclude the authors from identifying which child care pandemic relief programs worked best and for whom, the authors find spatial and program type differences in relief receipt. Using data from interviews with early childhood educators in the Upper Valley, the authors identify the role that temporary relief funds have played in keeping the sector afloat during the pandemic. While relief funds served the role of “keeping the doors open” for many providers, these short-term funds are unable to address the deep-seated challenges of the sector’s unsustainable economic model, a challenge that predated the pandemic and has worsened since. The authors conclude by identifying important policy steps to support the sector in New Hampshire, Vermont, and beyond.
Department
Carsey School of Public Policy
Publication Date
Winter 3-6-2023
Series
National Issue Brief No. 168
Publisher
Durham, N.H. : Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Boege, Sarah; Carson, Jessica A.; and Nasirova, Kamala, "Child Care Investments and Policies in the Upper Valley, in the Pandemic and Beyond: “People have to hurry because this ARPA funding isn’t going to last forever”" (2023). The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository. 456.
https://scholars.unh.edu/carsey/456
Rights
Copyright 2023. Carsey School of Public Policy. These materials may be used for the purposes of research, teaching, and private study. For all other uses, contact the copyright holder.