THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022 Page 7 Clark celebrates ARPA’s critical support of child care providers, families ARPA provided Mass. $314.4M for child care relief, supporting 6,530 centers and 202,400 children and families A ssistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (5th District of Massachusetts) celebrated the transformational impact of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on child care providers and families in Massachusetts. New data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that ARPA’s historic investments provided Massachusetts with $314.4 million for its Child Care Stabilization Program, funding 6,530 centers caring for 202,400 children in the Commonwealth. “Democrats know that child care is essential to families and the economy. We made a historic investment to keep care centers open, lower child care costs for families, and help parents return to work,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “Additionally, the American Rescue Plan allowed child care providers to invest in their staff and tackle the ongoing workforce shortage that we face across the care sector. This law was critical to our recovery and ensured that the early education sector we all rely on survived the pandemic.” In Massachusetts, the ARPA child care stabilization funding CHIEF | FROM Page 6 how we can ensure aff ordability, but also how we can build more to meet the demand – I think for both of those things zoning is a way to help support those priorities, but it could also be a barrier to prevent it depending on how the law is written. Question: What lessons did you learn in Fitchburg that you will bring with you in this new position? Skwierawski: Everything we did in Fitchburg was collaborative, so working beyond the walls of City Hall is something I defi nitely want to bring in my approach. It’s all about making decisions with the community. I think anThe ARPA Child Care Stabilization Program has provided vital relief for child care centers and families across the nation: 1. Helped providers to stay open or reopen and serve 9.5 million children and families. 2. Helping working families afKATHERINE CLARK Congresswoman provided critical aid to programs in every county within the Commonwealth, supporting 6,530 child care centers and impacting 202,400 children: 1. Helping child care workers remain employed: 2,440 of the child care centers that received funding used the aid to cover personnel costs. 2. Maintaining access to quality child care for families: 4,090 child care family homes used the aid to pay for operating expenses. 3. Providing overdue assistance to providers: On average, centers received $95,500, and family homes received $12,800. other important lesson learned is that with certain things like infrastructure – I oversaw in Fitchburg a two-way conversion of our downtown traffi c system – at fi rst it was something that no one thought was possible. Similarly with the rezoning process, we had a much more housing-forward approach. When I started fi ve years prior no one thought we would be taking such an aggressive stance on housing. But I think, in both cases, it’s really about taking your time and being deliberate in building your plan with the community. I just want to help us think about things in a diff erent way. Question: What do you wish to know and learn about Revere? Attorneys at Law 14 Norwood St., Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 John Mackey, Esq. * Katherine M. Brown, Esq. Patricia Ridge, Esq. ford child care: It provided the largest-ever increase in the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, making more families eligible for child care assistance. Additionally, one in four families in the United States used the ARPA’s Child Tax Credit to pay for child care. 3. Got parents back to work: The employment rate for mothers with children under six has fully returned to pre-pandemic levels. 4. Contributed to an equitable recovery: This program aided over 30,000 child care centers in rural areas and assisted those in persistently impoverished counties. It also provided funding to centers owned and operated by people of color in some of our country’s most racially diverse communities. It also helped child care providers cover basic operational costs like wages, benefi ts, rent and program materials. Do you have a favorite roast beef spot in Revere? Skwierawski: It’s going to be the same approach that I said with the first 100 days… I will need to do more listening and learning – and I’m going to have to eat a lot more roast beef! There are a lot of great local restaurants I haven’t eaten at and a lot of great coff ee I haven’t drank and a lot more for me to explore past your typical outsider activities like visiting the beach and driving down Squire Road. Hopefully, I’ll have a better answer for you soon, but I’m excited to get started! 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut St. We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-8 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Wednesday Thursday Friday Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Private Parties Private Parties 4-11 p.m. Saturday 12-11 p.m. $9.00 $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma
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