Governor McKee’s Campaign Highlights Record on Children & Families Ahead of Policy Forum

McKee has delivered relief for families while investing in education, strengthening health care access, and expanding childcare

PROVIDENCE – On Tuesday, ahead of the Early Childhood Forum, Governor Dan McKee’s campaign highlighted the Governor’s strong record on the critical issues covered at the forum. Although Governor McKee could not participate in the forum, hosted by Children’s Friend and the Right from the Start Campaign, due to COVID-19 restrictions, he will be featured in a recorded video message to attendees highlighting his strong track record on children and families, and his vision for the next four years.

“Supporting children, education, and families is not politics for me – it is a priority reflected in my budget and in my decades-long career in public service,” said Governor Dan McKee. “In just the last 18 months, we have made an immediate and long-term impact on our children and families, beginning with our vaccine rollout that prioritized teachers, allowing us to re-open our schools safely and get children back into the classroom and parents back to work. We are now the top vaccinated state in the country, with the best economic recovery in the Northeast, and lowest unemployment on record. With strong leadership and effective management of the state’s historic surplus, we’ve delivered targeted relief for families by providing a $250 per child rebate and finally ending the car tax. Our children and families deserve our full attention, from early intervention to education and healthcare, and I’m proud to be the Governor who will continue to put them first.”

“Governor McKee stands up for women, children, and families to make sure they have the pathways to opportunity and success in all aspects of life,” said Margaret Holland McDuff, CEO of Family Service RI. “Under his leadership, more families will have access to high-quality child care and seats in Pre-K. Increased Medicaid rates will expand crucial services like early intervention. With ‘Cover All Kids’ and expanded postpartum care from 60 days to 12 months, all children and families will have the opportunity to thrive.”

“Good, reliable child care is crucial in our communities, and Governor McKee has expanded access so that parents can get back to work and children can learn in a safe environment. When children and families succeed, the entire community succeeds, and I thank Governor McKee for having the leadership to invest in our families,” said Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt.

“The pandemic has exposed so many inequities in education, access, and the workforce, and Governor McKee has supported every measure to close those gaps and benefit all Rhode Island children and families,” said Senator Ana B. Quezada (District 2, Providence). “I am grateful to Governor McKee for showing leadership on these important issues, including the legislation I sponsored to raise minimum wage for working Rhode Islanders and expand coverage for doula services.”

Governor McKee’s record on early childhood policy also includes:

• Sending $250-per-child credits estimated to provide over $43 million in relief for families

• Expanding the Child Care Assistance Program for the first time in decades to increase access to affordable early learning

• Strengthening the workforce by extending educator retention bonuses and child care start-up grants included in the Governor’s RI Rebounds Plan

• Funding the TEACH RI scholarship program to allow child care workers to get their higher ed degree

• Adding seats to Pre-K to reach the goal of 5000 seats by 2028

• Increasing rates to help early intervention providers recruit and retain staff

• Hiring over 200 DCYF workers over the past year to strengthen our child welfare system

• Expanding Medicaid coverage to all Rhode Island children and to all women up to 12 months post-partum regardless of their immigration status