Child care subsidies ought to continue in downturn

There are 13 million children in the United States in child care.

In the spring 2006, an estimated 166,980 children in Washington state were in licensed child care and 60,820 of those children's families received state subsidies.

Child care is a part of every community's economic infrastructure. In fact, child care employment accounts for about 18 percent of the labor force in the U.S. Child care employs twice as many workers as the entertainment and food service industries.

So child care is affected by the economic downturn.

While, many of us feel the effects of the economic downturn — layoffs, 401(k) losses, perhaps problems with our mortgages — young children also are adversely affected. Imagine a single mother with two children younger than 5 getting laid off from a minimum wage job. Consider that she has no savings or medical insurance. The Working Connections child care subsidy from the state helps low-income working parents pay for child care.

However, once laid off they will no longer qualify, so the children will be pulled from child care. Their relationships with teachers and friends, their routine of playing and learning throughout the day are suddenly over.

The children don't understand; they may feel confused, sad, angry or unhappy.

The parent worries about how to pay for rent and food. Should she apply for welfare? All this will cause the family an immense amount of stress.

We often hear from mothers like this at Keystone Crisis Nursery, and sometimes we can help by providing a half-day of child care so the parent can get to an interview. However, we know that it is a Band-Aid to a much larger problem.

The economic downturn also affects the business of child care. When parents are laid off, a child care center loses revenue that they need to pay teachers, buy food and cover operating costs. When this trend continues, the center has to lay off teachers and possibly close. Then the teachers working in the center, who often have young children of their own, also are without a job.

It is possible for some families to have a parent stay at home, but for many that is simply not an option.

The Early Learning Action Alliance, a coalition of statewide organizations that advocates for early learning, is proposing a solution to this dilemma.

They recommend maintaining the child's eligibility for a state subsidy until the end of the year, regardless of changes in the parent's employment status. This would maintain the child's stability in child care while the parent looks for and starts another job. This creates a win/win situation.

The children continue to receive quality care, the parent has the time to get another job, the child care center remains in business and the economy remains stable.

Rigorous, ongoing research continues to show that investing in our children strengthens our economy. As a community and a state, we need find ways to support quality child care.

Annie Cubberly, executive director of the Child Care Action Council, is a member of The Olympian's Board of Contributors. She can be reached at annie@ccacwa.org.