The cost of child care rivals the cost of college, Logan Stenseng, an advocate with Thrive Allen County points out.
Plenty of effort is made to help families understand how scholarships, grants and other assistance programs can help them afford college. So why aren’t more families aware of a program that provides financial help to pay for child care?
A report from Child Care Aware found that Allen County families with a toddler pay an average of $7,193 per year for child care.
“I think we associate K-12 education as the time when the public gets involved. But when children are between the ages of zero and 5, there’s still a social stigma that child care should be entirely on the family — and that’s not true,” Stenseng said.
“There are programs that we as a community agree should exist for young families.”
Stenseng points out a couple of facts about the Child Care Subsidy Program, administered by the Kansas Department of Children and Families:
∙ A family of four can earn up to $75,000 a year in income and still qualify for financial help to pay for child care.
∙ And if a family qualifies for a child care subsidy, it can be used to pay not just a licensed daycare or preschool center but also a grandparent or other family member who is approved by the state.
The child care subsidy helps a variety of families pay for child care, particularly lower-income families who are working. However, the child care subsidy has much higher income limits than other types of public assistance programs, which means more families qualify. Eligibility increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and, unlike other pandemic-era assistance programs, it remains at the higher level.
How much assistance is provided will vary depending on the size of family and number of children in daycare or preschool. The subsidy may cover just a portion of the cost of care.
“It’s surprising how many people are just absolutely not aware that the program and assistance exists,” Stenseng said.
And it’s not just parents.
Providers also may not realize they qualify for the program.
Stenseng offered an example of an area church that operates a daycare program: “They thought because of their religious affiliation, they weren’t eligible. So it’s really important to educate providers as well as families.”
Even those who watch children for a family member might be eligible. An example could be a grandparent who wants to help loved ones by providing free or low-cost child care. That grandparent and the family could both apply through the state program. If approved, the grandparent could be compensated for their time.
“Grandparents love spending time with their grandkids but they should also be compensated for the care they’re delivering,” Stenseng said.
