WV child care providers say state funding change will trigger more closures

West Virginia’s Department of Human Services is changing how it reimburses some child care providers, threatening after-school care at centers across the state.

Providers warn that the change will cause centers to lose tens of thousands of dollars per month, triggering layoffs and further pushing the state’s struggling child care industry to the brink.

The department clarified how it reimburses centers for children in after-school care, saying providers can only be paid in full if children attend for at least four hours a day once a month. The change took effect in late September, catching many providers by surprise.

Since 2020, child care providers have been paid based on enrollment , which is the number of children signed up for a program.

Child care provider Melissa Colagrosso pan