Scranton-area families spotlight rising care costs

More than 75 voters gathered in Scranton last week as MomsRising Together launched a Pennsylvania campaign focused on the rising cost of child care, health care, paid leave and senior care. The group says families are being forced to choose between essentials while pushing lawmakers to act this fall.

Why it matters: - Pennsylvania families are feeling pressure from rising care costs and other essentials. - The campaign is focused on child care, health care, paid family and medical leave, and in-home care for seniors and people with disabilities. - The issue affects household budgets directly, especially for working families trying to cover basic needs.

What happened: - More than 75 Scranton-area voters gathered last week for a community conversation on the cost of care. - The event brought together multiple organizations and launched MomsRising Together’s “Moms Feel the Squeeze” campaign in Pennsylvania. - Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, spoke at the event. - The campaign will hold gatherings across Pennsylvania this fall to highlight family struggles and policy solutions.

The details: - MomsRising Together says it has 3.7 million members nationwide and 50,000 in Pennsylvania. - Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, the group’s executive director and CEO, said families are being forced into choices between health care and groceries, prescriptions and rent, or gas and a doctor’s visit. - Rowe-Finkbeiner said Republican leaders in Washington are prioritizing other spending over emergency rooms and care programs. - Deluzio said families deserve dignity across every stage of life and argued that Congress passed a bill that cut health care and food stamps while adding trillions to the debt for corporate and wealthy tax breaks. - Pennsylvania’s median wage is $49,690. - The average annual cost of in-home senior and disability care is $77,792, according to CareScout in 2026. - The average annual cost of child care for two children is $28,083, according to Child Care Aware in 2026. - A worker paid the median wage would lose $13,792.68 over 12 weeks without paid family and medical leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2026. - The Scranton event was sponsored by MomsRising Together, Affordable Pennsylvania, Pennsylvanians Together in Action, SEIU PA State Council, Care Can’t Wait Action, the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, Action Together NEPA, and Economic Security Project Action. - The release listed Lisa Lederer of MomsRising as a contact.

Between the lines: - The campaign is framing care costs as a kitchen-table issue rather than a policy abstraction. - The wage-and-cost comparisons show why even full-time work can still leave families short on essentials. - The fall events suggest the group is building pressure ahead of future legislative fights in Pennsylvania and Washington.

What's next: - MomsRising Together plans additional gatherings across Pennsylvania this fall. - The campaign will continue pushing lawmakers to support policies that lower care costs and expand family support. - Organizers are aiming to keep the squeeze on families in the public conversation as the debate over care and affordability continues.

The bottom line: - For many Pennsylvania families, the cost of care is now outpacing what typical wages can cover.