159282~A crisis in child care for the working class ahead—Dear
Editor,
As a licensed Family Child Care Provider for the past five
years, I would like to urge the community to examine the proposed
budget presents by Gov. Schwarzenegger, especially the proposed
cuts and changes to the child care subsidy programs.
I’m from the state of Ohio and own a child care center. I know what you are all feeling, Govenor Taft done the same thing in 2003. Ohio has since then change regulations of qualification and lowered the current percentage of parent co-pays. Governor Taft lowered the eligibility poverty level to 150% below poverty level. I alone lost 12, title XX families almost immediately when the new law went into affect. Govenor Taft is now proposing to cap in-home providers at 25-50 hour pay weeks. This would be the most sensible thing he has done toward child care expense. As a center owner-president, I get paid less than the in-home providers do and I have overhead and I am barely making it. I am now 6 months behind on my rent on the childcare center, luckily the landlord understands the economy hardship. Please if this helps, I can give better statistics if needed to help you all in California. Cutting childcare assistance elibility will only make cash assistance go up in cost, I saw the effects in Ohio. Welfare Reform will only work if and only if the Govenors will understand that childcare assistance programs are what will keep these parents in the work force not cash assistance.
If I can help any further, do not hesitate to contact me through my e-mail address.
Hope this helps,
Michelle Argabrite
