Section IV. Looking Ahead The ACCM Pilot Program sought to address two distinct, yet intimately related issues: increasing access to child care and improving workforce participation. Our evaluation suggests that parents perceived a wide range of positive impacts from the ACCM Pilot Program in both areas. Parents discussed having greater access to child care, improved participation in the workforce, increased financial stability, and improved psychological well-being and family functioning. Child care providers observed similar impacts on the families they served. They also discussed how the ACCM Pilot Program fit well with their current operations and supported their ability to operate and serve families. While the experiences of both parents and providers were overwhelmingly positive, they also described some challenges with the ACCM Pilot Program and the child care system at large. For example, some parents struggled to find open slots and felt anxious about whether they would be able to afford child care in the future. Despite these challenges, all focus group participants expressed that they would recommend participating in the ACCM Pilot Program to other parents and providers. These positive findings about a relatively small pilot program suggest that scaling child care subsidies could benefit working families and employers throughout Allegheny County and Pennsylvania at large. If Allegheny County or Pennsylvania were to pursue scaling up the ACCM Pilot Program as a next step, it will be important to consider a variety of interrelated factors—including sustainable funding mechanisms, policy levers to improve access, and effective communication and support for families and providers. Sustainable funding mechanisms. Because the current funding landscape presents several challenges to scaling up, states and counties may have to consider funding mechanisms that do not necessarily depend on federal funding. 17 Allegheny County can draw inspiration from other states that have successfully increased income limits for child care subsidies using a variety of funding mechanisms. xviii For example, Washington State uses funds from a capital gains tax to expand access to its child care subsidy program to those making up to 60 percent of the state median income. xix Similarly, in 2023, Vermont expanded child care subsidy eligibility to individuals with incomes up to 575 percent of the Federal Poverty Line. The expansion is funded by a mix of state general funds and the Child Care Contribution, a 0.44 percent payroll tax. xx Outside of the ACCM Pilot Program, Pennsylvania has also allowed families enrolled in CCW to stay in the program even as their incomes increased above 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, as allowed by the 2014 Child Care Development Fund re-authorization. xxi This policy ensured that families did not lose access to child care as a result of professional and career growth. Policy levers for improving access. If Allegheny County or Pennsylvania were to pursue scaling up the ACCM Pilot Program as a next step, it will be important to consider additional policy levers that can be used to improve access. As reported by parents in this evaluation, even with improved access to child care through the ACCM Pilot Program, families were still placed on long waiting lists, delaying their access to care. Likewise, some providers discussed how increasing access to child care without 17 This is due to the ending of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds directed to the child care sector, and recent proposed federal legislation seeking to freeze or eliminate funding for early learning and care programs. Sources: Guarino, A. (2025, June 17). Overview: White House Budget Request, FY2026 . First Five Years Fund. https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/06/overview-white-house-budget-request- fy2026/; ChildCare Aware. (2025) American Recuse Plan (ARP). https://www.childcareaware.org/our-issues/public-policy/american-rescue- plan-arp-act/
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