Gob. Meyer signs bills expanding summer camp child care

Dover, Del. – In the woods near the Dover YMCA is an unexpected place to sign legislation, but on Monday, Governor Matt Meyer signed Senate Bills 278 and 293, which received strong bipartisan support and are intended to help expand access to affordable child care through summer camps.

“Bottom line is more camps, more camps across our state,” Meyer said. “More opportunities for kids. Lower-cost opportunities for working families across our state, especially here in Kent County and in Sussex County.”

Meyer was joined by Sen. Trey Paradee (D-District 29), Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris (D-District 32) and YMCA of Delaware leaders.

Legislators and YMCA officials say the bills are meant reduce barriers for families to receive Purchase of Care assistance when enrolling their children in summer camps.

Both bills aim to streamline the authorization and licensing processes for summer care providers while also maintaining health and safety standards.

For YMCA officials, the camp represents an opportunity to provide kids with a summer built on fun and learning opportunities while giving parents a safe place to care for their kids.

“It’s more parents going to work with peace of mind, and more children spending their summers outdoors, making friends, learning new skills,” Dover YMCA Community Executive Director John Rice said. “It means more families working and contributing as a backbone of our local community. That’s what today means.””

Dover YMCA campers not only got the chance to see the governor sign the bills, they also got the opportunity to help him along by writing the date on the legislation.