Before the Governor even releases her budget proposal or the legislature comes into session, we are facing possible immediate cuts in child care funding. Basically, this state of affairs is due to the performance of the overall economy (poor revenues and increased demand for services) and deadlocks at the federal level (FMAP and TANF.) So, the Governor is considering an immediate cut of $58 million out of the pool of funds for public assistance and child care (AKA the “TANF Box”)
Child care subsidies keep Washington parents employed or give them the time and opportunity to find a job, in addition to ensuring that their children are in a safe and stable environment while parents are at or are searching for work.
In these tough economic times when jobs are hard to come by, cutting The Working Connections Child Care Subsidy could cause many families to lose their jobs and fall further into poverty. In some cases, the loss of the child care subsidy could cause families to move onto the welfare rolls requiring TANF, food stamps, Medicaid, and/or TANF child care – thus multiplying the caseload and funding problems. And in addition to the serious economic impacts, there are important concerns about the continuity and quality of care for the children. The children who receive the Working Connections subsidy are mostly under age five and are some of the state’s most vulnerable children – especially vulnerable to being unprepared for school and to long-term school failure.
Working Connections is more than just the backbone of early learning funding in the State of Washington. For many families it is the backbone of self sufficiency and educational opportunity.
Yes, the subsidies are not nearly high enough to ensure quality child care. Yes, only high-quality early education and care results in the changes we need to see in the achievement gap and school preparation. Yes, the entire system for funding early learning needs to be reformed to guarantee high-quality early learning for every child. And yes, we (advocates, parents, teachers) need to be a part of developing creative solutions to bringing in and sustaining adequate funding. But, the way to begin is not by slashing the very basic funding for child care that the forms the foundation of the whole system.
Tell the Governor (via the Children’s Alliance action alert) that now is not the time to cut Working Connection Child Care – either for our children, our working parents, or for our economy now and in the future.
