Working and paying for childcare versus staying at home; which is feasible? For most working parents, child care is by far their greatest expense. In 2010, the cost of putting two children in child care exceeded median annual rent payments in the state, according to a report by the Child Care Aware of America. Many single parents are raising kids without financial assistance from the other partner, creating a financial strain on an already-slim pocketbook. People need to take a stand and help out these families, especially our single mothers. We are not only putting our children at risk by making them latchkey kids but we are making it harder for families to transition from welfare to self-sufficiency.
Child-care cost in our region has grown so astronomical. A family of three which includes one adult and two children, they are living off the national poverty guidelines which are $19,530. Child- care centers for infants cost an average of $18,200 annually, and for older children, an average of $14,500, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies ( NACCRRA). The numbers show us that there is no way possible for a parent to work . Most of the time they are on a waiting list for subsidized childcare or they make a little over the guidelines and do not qualify for the services. This means that we are setting families up to fail. The numbers show that it only leaves a few hundred dollars to pay bills for the year. This is why a single mother cannot work she will not make enough to pay for the child care.
Single mothers cannot afford to transition from welfare. Our local coalitions provide childcare for welfare recipients to look for jobs and to do 20 hours of community service. Then we have a single mom or dad that is struggling trying to pay the bills, gas, insurance, and other bills but they may make a little over the guidelines and we give them nothing. I feel like the system is backwards and so there should be a way that we can start a movement to help out the +9 working poor. I would rather my tax money go to help someone whom is trying to help themselves than dishing out to the ones that do not have any goals in life. Our main goal should be to get them off welfare and keep them off. Most of the times there is no help after the transition and they fall back in the cracks and the cycle starts all over again. Therefore, the government is not saving money in reality they are spending more. There has to be a middle point where you can meet so the needs are met.
The children are missing out on quality care during the most important years of their lives. Affordable childcare may be attainable for some but it lacks in quality. There are some parents that cannot afford certain daycares. . This should not mean that their children do not deserve a quality childcare. One of the programs is Head Start it is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to 5. This is a quality site for low-income families. They provide quality by enhancing the children’s cognitive, social and emotional development.
beyond to know each child as in individual and to work in partnership with the family to know, understand, and plan appropriate learning experiences for each child in their care. (School
Readiness Program).
A warm, caring relationship between teachers and children is the foundation of the program. This creates a nurturing classroom community where children respect, care for and learn from one another. In all reality if you don’t have some help from some kind of subsidy a single parent cannot afford to pay this much and still pay their bills.The Early
Coalition makes certain that children and families have access to the quality, affordable early learning programs and services necessary to better ensure their successful futures.
They work hard to maintain a quality early learning system with programs that respect families’ individual