About Us
Topics
BUDGET POLICY
CHILD CARE, EARLY
EDUCATION & HEAD START
CHILD WELFARE & CHILD ABUSE
EDUCATION
ELDERLY
FAMILY POLICY, MARRIAGE & DIVORCE
FOOD ASSISTANCE, SNAP & WIC
HEALTH CARE POLICY
INCOME & POVERTY
JOB TRAINING
LEGAL ISSUES
PAY FOR SUCCESS, PAY FOR RESULTS & SIBS
POLITICAL PROCESS
PROGRAM EVALUATION
SOCIAL POLICY
TEEN SEX & NON-MARITAL BIRTHS
WELFARE REFORM
Child Abuse Training
International Activities
Rossi Award for Program Evaluation
UMD Capstone Courses
Publications
Mailing List
Contact Us




States' Efforts to Expand Child Care Programs

Mark Nadel

Funds Provided for Child Care

    • $4.4 billion of federal and state CCDF available in FY 1997
    • About one quarter of federal funds require state match, including MOE
    • Up to 30% of TANF allocation can be used for CCDF

GAO Child Care Study

Welfare Reform: States= Efforts to Expand Child Care Programs (HEHS-98-27)

    • Objectives: Determine expenditures, supply building efforts, and changes in standards
    • Reviewed in depth California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin

States Expanding Child Care Subsidy Programs

    • Expenditures increased to meet current needs
      • The states are drawing down all available federal funds
      • Almost half of states planned to spend more state funds than required for full federal match
      • Caseload declines allow Wisconsin, Oregon and others to use TANF funds for child care
      • Number of children served has increased by average of 17%
      • States expect to meet needs of TANF families and those transitioning off welfare. Nonetheless, states still unable to provide subsidies for all families needing child care who meet eligibility criteria
      • Long run funding ability still unknown

 States Initiating Efforts to Ensure Adequate Supply of Providers

    • Demand Increases Under Welfare Reform
      • In 7 states, demand for transitional child care already increased 31% under previous reforms
    • Some Types of Child Care in Shorter Supply
      • Infants
      • Nonstandard hours
      • Rural areas
    • Supply Building Initiatives
      • Training and aid for child care workers
      • Assistance to child care businesses
      • Collaboration with early childhood development and education
    • Importance of Informal Providers

Regulatory Standards

    • States maintain or strengthen standards by incremental changes
    • Differential standards for different types of providers


Back to top


HOME - PUBLICATIONS - CONFERENCES - ABOUT US - CONTACT US