Children’s advocates in Monroe County say they were pleasantly surprised to find that the state’s 2013 to 2014 budget contains funding for a local child care subsidy program. The recently passed budget sets aside $1.1 million for the “facilitated enrollment” program, which provides subsidies to working parents earning between 165 percent and 275 percent of the federal poverty level.
That means a family of four, for example, would have to earn between $38,857 and $64,762 annually to qualify for the subsidy.
The program was first funded in the 2004 to 2005 state budget with money secured by former Assembly member Susan John. But the program was a trial, and local advocates thought the funding would end when John retired several years ago.
But the funding has received single-year extensions since, says Carolyn Lee-Davis, policy analyst at the Children’s Agenda.
Without the assistance, child care costs can eat up more than one-third of a low-income family’s budget, she says. The subsidies also help families afford higher-quality child care.
But the money will be accompanied by a change. Initially, the Children’s Institute administered the local subsidy program, which it called Child Care Dollar$. But this year, the nonprofit Workforce Development Institute, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, takes over.
The Children’s Institute and WDI approached some Rochester-area state legislators about the change, says Assembly member Harry Bronson. WDI administers facilitated enrollment programs in the Albany region and in Oneida County, and that experience is a benefit, Bronson says.
“There’s a sense that it’s going to work better for all concerned,” says Ed Murphy, WDI’s executive director.
WDI will conduct outreach about the program and collect applications, but it won’t make the final decision about eligibility. The county’s Department of Human Services reviews the applications and determines whether a family is eligible.
WDI staff estimate that the state’s funding will cover 250 to 300 slots, which is similar to the number of slots funded through the Child Care Dollar$ program.
Day care subsidies are important because they allow parents to work. Without the assistance, child care costs can eat up more than one-third of a low-income family’s budget. The subsidies also help families afford higher-quality child care.
This article appears in Apr 24-30, 2013.
So your hard-earned tax dollars will be going to provide handouts to people making $65k (presumably on top of their food stamps, disability checks and housing subsidies) — and oh by the way, laundered through the AFL-CIO! You can’t make up this stuff.
This is fantastic news! Many of the young women served by the YWCA have been hard pressed to continue work and school without this support! A great thank you to our state elected officials for giving low income families a chance to participate in the workforce and add their talents to making NYS a great place to live and work!
The $1.1 million would be far better spent rounding up the fathers of the little darlings and compelling these louts to man up, so that the children’s mothers can stay home to care for them.
@ j.a.m. This program is for middle class families who do NOT qualify for any other assistance. All children should have a chance at quality childcare no matter what their family makes.
Thank you to our elected officials!!!
@Melissa: Both the article and a previous comment refer to “low income families”. Also, both the article and the comment say the program’s purpose is to allow parents (presumably, both parents) to participate in the workforce. Workforce participation may or may not be a worthy goal, but don’t say it’s in the best interests of the children. The “quality environment” that the very young deserve is at home with their own mothers, not strangers.