Child Care Subsidies – Hawaii, Ohio

Posted on June 3, 2010 by townsend

• Hawaii cuts result in 10% fewer families taking preschool aid, By Mary Vorsino, June 2, 2010, Honolulu Advertiser: “The number of families receiving state subsidies to cover preschool tuition costs has dropped by about 10 percent after the state’s decision to decrease the amount of help families can get, and providers say parents appear to instead be opting for cheaper, unlicensed care or leaving their children with relatives. The subsidies, which cover a portion of childcare costs, are provided on a sliding scale based on income. In certain cases the reduction in subsidies meant parents who were paying $120 a month for one child’s care now have to pay $540. Providers also say they’re expecting more decreases in families getting subsidies, which were cut in February, as programs set up to help residents tackle the new financial stresses of lower subsidies end or run out of money…”
• Fewer parents eligible for child care subsidies, By Meredith Moss, May 29, 2010, Dayton Daily News: “To earn more money to support her family, 22-year-old Clarrissa Moore took on a second job. That decision turned out to be a disastrous one for the Dayton mother and her 3-year-old son, Jaiden. Not only did the extra job put her over the limit for child care help, but it was simply too exhausting. By the time she resigned, and then reapplied for the child care subsidies she needed, she was turned down. The state income requirements had changed and Moore was no longer eligible. Moore is just one example of Ohioans being impacted by state budget cuts that took effect in July 2009…”