Over 13,000 children denied by “waiting” list

In February 2009, the State began turning away all eligible families and placing them on a “waiting” (denial) list.  The Governor and legislature will turn away all eligible children until at least June 2011, dramatically reducing child care for low income working families.  As families struggle in the current economy to provide for and protect their children, the State has stopped helping low income parents who want to work but cannot afford child care.  Reducing child care support jeopardizes the safety of children and is having a serious negative economic impact: reducing employment and damaging small businesses and non-profits. 

FAMILIES WANTING TO WORK ARE BEING TURNED AWAY WITH NO END IN SIGHT.  “Waiting’ makes no sense; parents are denied child care at the very time parents need help to accept a job or keep working.  The State provides child care for families with ties to welfare and CPS, but is phasing out subsidy for new parents wanting to work to avoid welfare:

• Before the waiting list, 48,300 children received a subsidy versus 32,118 in March 2010
• With 16,728 fewer children, the total subsidy program has decreased by 34% already.
• Over 13,000 children have been placed on the waiting list with 15,000 projected by June 2010. 
• By June 2011, overall 50-60% fewer children will receive a subsidy.
• 23,000 fewer children from low income working families will receive subsidy, a 76% reduction.

 

THESE PARENTS HAVE NO GOOD OR SAFE OPTIONS.  Families only seek State help with child care when they have no other options.  Without state assistance parents have no choice but to leave their children home alone or with siblings, or boyfriends, quit or reduce work hours, use caregivers who do not meet basic qualifications, or seek other more costly State aid to support their family.

CUTTING CHILD CARE COSTS MORE.  The cuts have increased unemployment.  Parents lose jobs when denied a subsidy and fewer children in care results in the elimination of teaching jobs. Employers do not hold low wage jobs for parents with no hope of getting off the turn away list. 

• At least 2,100 jobs in child care have been lost already.
• Over 3,000 child care jobs will be lost and over 4,500 total jobs will be eliminated.

 

PERMANENT DAMAGE TO CHILD CARE IN ARIZONA. Payment rates for providers who serve poor children have been pushed back to the cost of care in 2000 and parents’ required share of costs increased significantly. The dramatic decline of public support for child care jeopardizes the entire child care infrastructure that all working parents and employers rely on.  Reduced State support will continue to result in centers closing, particularly in low income neighborhoods.

  

We call upon the Governor and Legislature to find solutions to remove children from the denial list and serve all eligible low income parents who need child care assistance to work.  Protecting essential safety net work supports, allowing working poor families to place their children in safe settings is the right thing to do for children, families, and Arizona.