Child Care Subsidies – Hawaii

Posted on November 23, 2009 by townsend

• Hawaii may cut back preschool tuition subsidies to families, By Mary Vorsino, November 21, 2009, Honolulu Advertiser: “The state is considering drastic cuts in subsidies for preschool care for thousands of children from low- to moderate-income families, which in some cases would result in parents having to quadruple what they pay for care. The changes would affect subsidies that cut preschool tuition costs for the families of about 2,500 kids in licensed preschools and about 6,000 children in licensed-exempt care, according to the Good Beginnings Alliance. The decrease in subsidies is being sought as the state faces a worsening fiscal crisis, and as demand for the subsidies is increasing because of the economic downturn…”
• Child care crunch, By Gary T. Kubota, November 21, 2009, Honolulu Star Bulletin: “Makiki single parent Tara Berry said she fears she might have to leave her job as a social worker if she is unable to afford a preschool fee and has to care during the workday for her 2 1/2-year-old son because of cuts in state child care subsidies. Berry said her pay has been cut by state furloughs. ‘I can barely afford to pay what I pay right now,’ said Berry, who also is raising a 16-year-old son. ‘It’s going to affect me greatly.’ As the state Department of Human Services considers major cuts in preschool subsidies affecting several thousands of children, parents are worried how they will get more money for additional child care expenses in a sour economy…”