Today’s the day when children share handmade Valentine’s Day cards and treats with the grown-ups they love. But is our great Commonwealth returning their affection by providing them with important things that they love, like…

Their Child Care or Pre-K Class

Young kids light up when they arrive at their child care or pre-k programs because they’re looking forward to playing with their friends and laughing with their favorite teachers. On top of all the information their young minds are absorbing, they’re building their social and emotional skills in classrooms that are safe and nurturing.

Unfortunately, thousands of southeastern PA families struggle to afford child care, with regional rates around 30% higher than the state averages. Even families who can afford it or who qualify for subsidies can’t find openings because the child care workforce is dwindling thanks to poverty-level wages.

Being Healthy

Kids need more than a healthy hug or a kiss to heal a “boo-boo.” No one likes being sick but there are 147,000 PA kids and teens without the insurance they need to see a doctor for regular checkups, illness or injuries. Hospitals are picking up the $386 million tab to treat uninsured children – a number that would be doubled if not for PA’s Medicaid system chipping in. Especially with threats from the Trump Administration to essentially eliminate Medicaid, PA would be smart to insure every child by allowing all uninsured kids to be enrolled in our state Medicaid or CHIP programs. Doing this would save millions of dollars and keep children healthy, which they love.

Welcoming Schools with Modern Resources

Not every child leaps out of bed with excitement to go to school, but many kids love their schools for the positive climate, comfortable classrooms, modern books and technology, and great teachers. Many students are drawn to career and technical education programs that teach bankable skills through hands-on learning.

Because of generations of underfunding our public schools, students are still attending one of the 348 school districts that literally cannot afford to deliver the best education. Students’ reading and math proficiency continue to fall and waitlists for CTE continue to climb while lawmakers drag their feet on fully funding our schools. Plus, with the recent vilification of DEI efforts, many students of color may lose any ground made recently to eliminate overt or systemic bias.

Getting a Second Chance

Young people really love it when their family, friends, and community show faith in them by giving them a second chance. We all make mistakes – some more serious than others – and children and teens feel supported when they have a chance to learn from their mistakes and make amends, instead of being severely punished.

Fortunately, in southeastern PA, that love is being reciprocated. For some young people who break the law, county agencies and community programs are working together to keep them out of the juvenile court system and sending them to programs to learn HOW to learn from their actions and make smarter choices moving forward.

Today, if you’ve opened a card or a text for a child or teen who loves you, remember to share your affection in return with a hug, a kiss, and a visit to your state lawmakers. Now, that’s real love.