In Maine, child care providers are now eligible for government subsidies of up to over $600 per month to cover their own child care costs.

The two-year pilot program, which takes effect this month, is one of several child care initiatives included in the state budget last year.

Rita Furlow, a senior policy analyst with the Maine Children's Alliance, said some are disappointed that it took more than a year to get the program up and running, but she said the incentives are meant to bring stability and attract workers to the field.

“Of course, more needs to be done to really raise wages to the level they ultimately should be. But this is a great first step,” Furlow said.

Employees in all licensed child care programs can apply for subsidies of up to $330 every two weeks. If an employee is eligible for Maine's child care subsidy program, the state will cover the program's parent fee. A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services said the Office of Children and Family Services expects about 500 child care employees to be eligible to receive the new subsidy.

The agency also said in a memo last week that it plans to provide “stability grants” to child care centers starting in August. Amounts range from $800 for a small family daycare to more than $12,000 for a larger daycare. The grants come from unspent state funds and can be used to hire staff, support families and maintain operations.

A DHHS spokesperson also said the Office of Children and Family Services on Monday submitted emergency and proposed rules that expand eligibility for the state's child care subsidy program to families earning up to 125% of the state median income. The new rules will take effect July 1.

Heather Marden, co-executive director of the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children, said the new programs – as well as an existing monthly salary stipend program for child care workers – bring some optimism to providers after years of struggle.

“This unique benefit and the attempt to increase wages through the salary supplement program are things that we have observed to help strengthen the workforce,” Marden said.

However, Marden also noted that the state will now have to cut monthly benefits to child care workers as more workers enter the child care industry. Marden said her organization will advocate for more funding for child care in the next state budget.