Cranston, RI – Sen. Lammis J. Vargas and Rep. Grace Diaz, in partnership with the RIght from the Start Coalition, highlighted their Child Care is Essential Act today at the Comprehensive Community Action Program Child Development Center in Cranston. The bill (2025-H 5281, 2025-S 0240) aims to make high-quality child care more affordable and accessible for Rhode Island families. The act would expand eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program and raise child care provider reimbursement rates to meet federal standards.

“Families across Rhode Island are struggling to find affordable, high-quality child care,” said Senator Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence). “This bill is about ensuring parents can go to work and know their children are in safe and enriching environments. By increasing income eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program and raising rates to meet federal benchmarks, we are taking significant steps to support working families and child care providers."

“No family should have to choose between paying for child care and paying their bills,” said Representative Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence), who is co-chairwoman of the Joint Legislative Commission on Child Care. “This legislation ensures more families will qualify for assistance and supports child care centers by ensuring they are adequately reimbursed for their services. Affordable child care is essential to our economy and our children's future."
Key provisions of the Child Care is Essential Act include:

1. Expanding income eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program to 85% of the state median income, allowing more families to access assistance.
2. Removing child support enforcement as an eligibility requirement, aligning Rhode Island with 41 other states.
3. Increasing Child Care Assistance Program rates for infants under 18 months by 50%, addressing the infant care shortage, and ensuring providers can offer competitive wages.
4. Adjusting all Child Care Assistance Program rates to meet or exceed the federal equal access standard, ensuring families have more child care options.
5. Aligning payment practices with federal rules to streamline and improve the child care reimbursement process.

“The Child Care is Essential Act will make a significant difference in the lives of Rhode Island families,” said Stacy Del Vicario, vice president of child development at the Comprehensive Community Action Program. “Parents should not have to worry about whether they can afford quality child care, and providers deserve fair compensation for the critical work they do.”

“Child care costs are out of reach for so many of us. This bill would provide relief to families like mine, helping us balance work and caring for our children,” said Naiommy Baret, mother of 5-year-old boy Nael Rosario Baret.

The Child Care is Essential Act has garnered widespread support from advocates, parents, and child care providers alike. With child care costs in Rhode Island reaching nearly $17,000 annually for infant care, many families are struggling to afford care. The bill seeks to address these challenges by increasing access to affordable care and ensuring fair compensation for providers.