Congregations Caring for Children

Why Might a Congregation Choose to Support Child Care Services?

Why Might a Congregation Choose to Support Child Care Services?

Why Might a Congregation Choose to Support Child Care Services?

Why Might a Congregation Choose to Support Child Care Services?

Why Might a Congregation Choose to Support Child Care Services?

Congregations may want to undertake a child care related effort because of the

shortage of affordable, quality child care, especially for low income children, in

their communities. Below is a picture of the current state of child care in Califor 

nia.

Child Care Availability

Even before welfare reform, there were not enough child care spaces, especially

for low income children. It is estimated that at least 280,000 children from low 

income families in California are on waiting lists for child care subsidies   assis 

tance they are eligible for but may never receive because of funding shortages.

Prior to welfare reform, there were already differences in child care and pre 

school availability which depended on the community families lived in, their

income, and whether or not they were Latino. An Unfair Head Start, a report from

the Growing Up in Poverty Project, noted that:

A California family's opportunity to enroll their youngster in

a preschool or child care program depends largely on their

income and where they live.  In some counties, most notably

Los Angeles, affluent families are twice as likely to find an

operating preschool or child care slot than are parents resid 

ing in low income communities. ... Latino children are hit

hardest by this disparity.

With welfare reform and the movement into the job market of many single moth 

ers with preschool age children, even more children are needing long term child

care.  Professionals are reporting a crisis in the availability of licensed/licensable

facilities and trained staff.  Licensed child care meets only a small fraction of the

need in California.  According to the 1999 Child Care Portfolio, there are 4.7 times

more children ages birth to 13 with working parents than licensed spaces.

It is unlikely, without help from congregations and others, that the government

and for profit providers will be able to provide enough child care, and especially

non traditional care: for infants under age two, after hours and weekend care,

and care for children with disabilities or illnesses.  The state's Little Hoover

Commission, in a report called Caring for Our Children, recommended creating

more child care by using public school sites.  But class size reductions have

meant that many schools do not even have adequate classroom space for school 

age children, let alone for new child care programs.

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