Our public policy director testifies for working parents
Carol Wood, United Way of King County’s Director of Public Policy, recently spoke at a Department of Early Learning hearing on proposed rule changes to Working Connections Child Care, a program which provides working, low-income parents with quality, affordable child care. Changes to WCCC made in the last legislative session increased the amount of time low-income families are authorized to receive state subsidized child care to a full 12 months (instead of 2-6 months), initially focusing on children enrolled in ECEAP, Head Start and Early Head Start. The rule changes proposed by the Department of Early Learning do not go far enough toward meeting the intent of the law. Below you’ll find Carol’s testimony.
Hearing on Proposed Regulations for HB 3141
June 24, 2010
Delivered by Carol Wood
United Way of King County was a strong advocate for HB 3141 because we saw the connection between stable child care and our priorities of ending homelessness, meeting basic needs, ensuring every child is ready to succeed in school and strengthening the community. United Way allocates about $40 M /year to community agencies to achieve these outcomes and any factor that affects family stability will have a significant impact on everyone’s efforts to create a strong community.
We applaud the Department of Early Learning’s implementation efforts but feel several provisions fall short of meeting the intent of the law.
Disruptions in child care caused by more frequent eligibility determination affect child development, family self-sufficiency, child care provider stability and productivity in the work place. As a funder, agency responsible for doing community needs assessments and describing service gaps, and member of the Early Learning Action Alliance we ask that:
- Family income be allowed to rise or fall by up to $250/mo. Families should not be penalized for fluctuations in income particularly if it is in a positive direction leading to greater self-sufficiency.
- Extend child care subsidies to 6 months when a parent looses a job instead of the current 28 days. In difficult economic times, we need to be realistic about how long it may take to find a new job. Certainly, we would not expect any one of us to find, let alone begin a new job in less than a month.
- Provide homeless and foster children with 12 months of child care without going through additional eligibility determinations. These are our most vulnerable citizens.
Stronger families, stable child care, and opportunities for work and advancement contribute to an economically strong community—something we are all striving to achieve.
I would like to suggest or recommend that when the family income increases to the next eligibility criteria, to keep the co-pay for the family provider at the current level for at least a year. This gives the parent(s)/family some discretionary funds that could be put in savings (example) and assist them in becoming self supporting.
This should be proposed, discussed and approved for the benefit of the children. These are hard times as mentioned above and when this is enacted, the extra income (raises) the family receives will add to the self esteem of the children/family.
And, I would also add that addtional monies for dental care should be allocated for the children and their families. Generally, health care insurance is at the forefront of legislative agenda and seems like providing funds for dental care is an aside issue and/or maybe not even addressed. As a member of the Pierce County Oral Health Coalition, involving various agency advocates for dental care, this has been an ongoing issue for low income children and families. A child’s self esteem is brighten with a healthy smile.
Please advocate for more funding for their dental health. Thanks for my nickel!(inflation).
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