A new study conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center finds that the COVID-19 relief packages passed by Congress were a lifeline for struggling and sinking U.S. child care programs. Nearly all child care providers in an 11-state survey said the relief packages were essential for keeping their businesses open during the pandemic. Child care providers used relief funds to pay for staff, rent or mortgage, facility maintenance, and personal protective equipment. The funds also allowed them to integrate competitive hiring strategies, such as retention bonuses and flexible schedules. The survey represents a random sample of over 1,100 child care centers and over 1,200 family child care homes across 11 states. The random sample was selected from lists provided by the states of all licensed child care centers and family child care homes, and the data were weighted by state and licensed capacity to ensure an accurate representation. (author abstract)