Governor Healey Celebrates $31.2 Million Investment to Make Child Care More Affordable and Accessible

Governor Healey Celebrates $31.2 Million Investment to Make Child Care More Affordable and Accessible  

PITTSFIELD – Governor Maura Healey visited the Berkshires today to celebrate a $31.2 million investment to help families afford child care and get off waitlists through the Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) program. The funding stems from the FY26 Fair Share supplemental budget signed by Governor Healey last month and is part of the administration’s broader efforts to make child care and early education more accessible and affordable in Massachusetts. 

CCFA is a state and federally funded program administered by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) that helps eligible families pay for child care and before-and after-school programs. Under the Healey-Driscoll Administration, CCFA has helped cover child care costs for more than 17,000 children and their families. Governor Healey proposed $1.22 billion for CCFA in the FY27 budget. 

Governor Healey highlighted the investment today with a visit to the Berkshire Family YMCA in Pittsfield, her second visit to a Western Mass child care provider since taking office. In 2024, she stopped at a Westfield early learning center to celebrate transformative CCFA rate increases that made Massachusetts one of the first states in the country to use the cost of care as an additional metric when setting rates. 

“Every family deserves access to affordable, high-quality child care, and every child deserves the strong start that comes with it,” said Governor Healey. “This investment will help more families get off waitlists and into the child care programs they need so parents can work, children can learn and our economy can continue to grow. We’re proud to have delivered on historic investments in child care affordability with the Legislature, and we know there is more work to be done. We’re going to keep working to lower costs, , expand access, and support the providers who make it all possible.”  

“This investment means more Massachusetts families will have access to the child care they need to succeed, while helping to strengthen our early education system for years to come,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration has worked to make it easier for families to qualify for assistance, streamline the application process and support providers in delivering high-quality care.”   

"Child care is not a luxury. It is the infrastructure that lets parents go to work and kids get the strong start they need," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "The Senate has fought hard to make sure we are making child care as affordable and accessible as possible for Massachusetts families. I'm proud that our commitment has come to fruition today for providers and families in every part of the Commonwealth, and I applaud Governor Healey and her Administration for being laser focused on delivering these opportunities to Massachusetts families."  

The $31.2 million investment follows an increase in CCFA reimbursement rates for Fiscal Year 2026, approved by the Board of Early Education and Care in February. The FY26 rate increases built on the state’s previous investments in CCFA rates, which have increased by $147.5 million since FY23 and represent the latest step in a multi-year, data-driven effort to set rates based on the cost of care.   

In May, the administration launched MyChildCareMA, a modern, mobile-friendly and multilingual family portal for CCFA programs. Families can now apply for child care financial assistance, track application progress, and manage their cases through a single, streamlined platform. This improved user experience will make it easier for families to apply for help paying for care, ease administrative burdens on child care providers and improve program integrity and transparency. 

“Affordable, reliable child care is one of the most important investments we can make for children, families and our communities,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “This funding will help more families access the high-quality early learning opportunities their children deserve while giving parents the support they need to work and succeed.” 

“In partnership with the Legislature, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has made expanding access to affordable, high-quality early education and care a top priority,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “This new investment will help more children access the enriching early learning experiences they deserve, while giving more families the support they need to work, pursue educational opportunities, and build greater economic mobility.” 

In addition, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has streamlined CCFA regulations to simplify applications and reduce paperwork, raised income eligibility from 50 percent to 85 percent of state median income, and, for the first time in 15 years, re-procured provider contracts to strengthen standards and improve service delivery.  

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration has been a champion for early childhood education”, said Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti. “Pittsfield families have benefited directly from these investments by having more access to childcare and to before and after school programming, making day to day life a little bit easier for many in our community.” 

“This investment in our youngest residents and their families is crucial to the success and well-being of our next generation, and indeed our economy," said Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield). “The rate increase for Child Care Financial Assistance was a vote I was proud to take. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for prioritizing this funding and ensuring it's equitably funded for families in the Berkshires." 

"Access to child care is essential to the strength of our communities and our economy. In Pittsfield and in rural communities across our region, affordable, reliable child care is often one of the biggest barriers to workforce participation and economic growth. I'm pleased the Legislature partnered with the Healey-Driscoll Administration on this investment to help more families access the care they need while supporting the providers who make it possible,” said Senator Paul Mark (D-Berkshires). 

“This $31 million investment sends a powerful message that Massachusetts is committed to supporting children, working families, and the providers who make high-quality early education and care possible,” said Chief Executive Officer of Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs Kate-Marie Roycroft, MSPA. “Across the Commonwealth, YMCAs serve thousands of families every day, and we know firsthand that affordable child care is essential for children's healthy development, parents' ability to participate in the workforce, and the strength of our local economies. The Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs applauds Governor Healey and the Legislature for making this critical investment in the Child Care Financial Assistance program and helping ensure that more families can access the care they need to thrive." 

"Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe, nurturing environment, regardless of their family's income. The Legislature's approval of an additional $31 million to expand access to child care financial assistance is a meaningful investment in Massachusetts children, working families, and our economy,” said Berkshire Family YMCA CEO Christian Bianchi. “At the Berkshire Family YMCA, we see every day how access to affordable, high-quality child care allows parents to work with confidence while giving children the strong foundation they need to succeed. We are grateful to Governor Healey and the Legislature for recognizing that child care is not just a family issue—it's essential infrastructure that strengthens communities across the Commonwealth."