The website that I
chose was childtrends.org. This site is a useful source of research, data
analysis and important information about the childhood field. This site serves
as a resource for parents, ECE professionals, economists and policymakers. I
navigated through the site and searched through the Our Research section of the
website and I reviewed the list of articles under the Early Childhood Development
tab. It was a number of articles that I took an interest and one in particular
was the article titled, Continuity
of Subsidy Participation and Stability of Care in the Child Care Subsidy
Program in Maryland. This article discusses the participation of
families in child care subsidies and the stability in the care they receive. It
discusses how the inconsistencies in subsidies cause children to have unstable
child care arrangements which in turn hinder their growth and development. This
article interested me because in my experience with working with families who receive
subsidies had quite a few challenges with the Child Care Subsidy program.
In Maryland there is an extensive
waitlist for working parents to receive subsidies. “Vouchers” are typically
offered to parents that are homeless or in work training programs through the
state. It really does not benefit parents who work full time jobs and need
assistance with affording child care. Many parents who need it most are the
ones who get the run around or get stuck on a waiting list for years. On the
other hand, parents who are unemployed, receiving TCA and enrolled in a work
program will receive vouchers right way. I do not understand the logic in that
at all. The program would be more effective and less inconsistency would occur
and stable child care would be maintained if it was given where the need is
higher. It seems as if the “working poor” class children still suffers
tremendously because they are not being
afforded equal opportunities and access to
affordable quality care.
Also in my experience with
subsidies, it was a challenge to receive payment on the Child care providers
end. It could take up to 60 days or more to get placed in the system and get
the paperwork processed when accepting a new child in your program with
vouchers. It is practically like you are working for free until you get paid
from the state. When parents loss their vouchers it was even worst. I had a
situation where a parent loss their vouchers and I still was waiting to get
paid from when the vouchers were valid. It was very frustrating for me and
other Childcare providers who had similar experiences. Sometimes as providers
we felt like it was a hassle with dealing with families with vouchers and at
times we would not want to work with those families. It is unfortunate
situation across the board we are denying children of quality care just because
we do not want to deal with all the issues and headache it comes with.
