HI HCR69

Designates September 2022 as Child Care Provider Appreciation Month in Hawaii.

Acknowledges that over 30,000 children under age six in Hawaii receive licensed child care services and that the majority have working parents requiring child care.

Notes that child care workers in Hawaii earn less than $30,000 annually while families spend nearly one-third of their income on child care, and one in three child care workers experience food insecurity.

Recognizes the critical importance of early childhood education and the need for child care providers to earn wages commensurate with their skills, education, and role in child development.

Encourages policymakers, community organizations, and residents to recognize the importance of child care services and providers.