Children's Village's Mary Graham Quoted in The Philadelphia Inquirer Article Regarding End of ARPA Funding

In its September 23, 2023 article, The Philadelphia Inquirer highlights the crisis looming as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding ends October 1, 2023:

Day care owners are fighting for survival as federal funding runs out this month
Nearly 3,000 child care programs are expected to close,
which will mean the loss of over 11,000 child care jobs.

From the article…

Despite an abrupt end to funding, Mary Graham, executive director of Children’s Village, in Center City, said the impact won’t be felt immediately on October 1, but over the long haul . “It will take time to realize the effect.”

Staffers, for example, received up to $4000 in bonus payment as a supplement to their wages under the ARPA funding. But because it wasn’t a direct pay raise that is now gone, Graham said it will take time to realize that the bonus is gone and they are making less than last year. “Your paycheck hasn’t changed.”

“I have 100 staff. I don’t have $400,000 to supplement their pay,” Graham said.

Read the full article by Nate File and Lynette Hazelton HERE: