Testimony of Audrey Kasselman: HealthCare4ChildCare Is Necessary Investment in Early Learning Workforce

Good morning, Chair Henderson, members of the Committee on Health, and staff. My name is Audrey Kasselman, and I am a Senior Policy Analyst at DC Action and the Under 3 DC coalition. I appreciate the opportunity to testify today. 

First, I would like to thank the Council for its commitment to early educators and to extend my gratitude to you, Councilmember Henderson, for your leadership in ensuring the Pay Equity Fund and HealthCare4ChildCare remain a priority for the District. 

The HealthCare4ChildCare program is the first publicly funded health insurance initiative in the country designed specifically for the early childhood workforce, including early educators and non-teaching staff. Since its launch in 2022, it has provided free or affordable, high-quality health insurance to nearly 2,000 people including early educators, staff, and their families – addressing a critical gap in employer-sponsored health insurance coverage that has long plagued the field. This program addresses longstanding inequities in our early learning system, particularly for a workforce made up of predominantly Black and brown women.

Research from Mathematica highlights that investments in HealthCare4ChildCare and the Pay Equity Fund increase job satisfaction, reduce financial stress, and improve health outcomes. A healthier, more satisfied workforce is better equipped to provide consistent, high-quality care for young children, a critical factor in their cognitive, social, and emotional development. At a Pay Equity Fund Task Force Roundtable last year, one participant shared that the HealthCare4ChildCare program gave them peace of mind, enabling them to better focus on their essential work with children. 

Before HealthCare4ChildCare, the majority of early learning facilities in DC did not offer employer-sponsored health insurance because it was too expensive to do so, and many early educators in facilities that did offer coverage said they could not afford to enroll in it. HealthCare4ChildCare has changed that, particularly for smaller facilities and home-based providers in underserved areas, such as those in wards 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8, making the provision of affordable health care benefits a possibility for many facilities for the first time. These areas now account for the majority of facilities participating in the program, helping to address longstanding geographic inequities in access to benefits.

Despite its success, HealthCare4ChildCare is vulnerable to political funding debates. In late 2024, HealthCare4ChildCare began requiring a waitlist for new child care providers due to funding limitations. Without additional funding to reopen enrollment, the health and financial stability of many educators and staff —and the stability of the early learning system—are at risk. 

The stakes are high: HealthCare4ChildCare is not just an investment in our early learning workforce but in our children, families, and the long-term equity and prosperity of the District. Ensuring educators have access to affordable health care is essential for retaining this vital workforce and providing the high-quality care and learning experiences that our youngest children deserve. As you and your colleagues begin this oversight season to take stock of which programs are best serving our city, HealthCare4ChildCare should be high on your priorities list. I urge you to work with the Health Benefit Exchange to identify and restore full funding for this impactful program in the forthcoming FY26 budget so every eligible educator can access the benefits they need to thrive. 

Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and thank you to the Health Benefit Exchange for exemplifying successful program implementation and community partnerships. I welcome any questions about the impact of or challenges facing HealthCare4ChildCare.

Audrey Kasselman

Senior Policy Analyst

akasselman@dckids.org