Advocates urge state and federal officials to find solutions now

As of this morning, July 1, 2010, thousands of Arkansas children have lost access to child care.  Funding for child care from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has not been renewed, and 4,588 children will now be added to an already bloated waiting list for the program.  The subsidized child care program in Arkansas allows parents to put their children in safe daycare facilities while they work.  Without this funding, many parents will no longer be able to afford child care expenses, potentially risking their employment status.  Another likely outcome is that parents will be forced to leave their children with low-quality care, risking the health and wellbeing of their children.  No parent should ever be forced to make that decision.

The state already has a waiting list of 5,697 children for the subsidized child care program.  The children being moved off the program today will be added to the waiting list, sending that number to more than 10,000 children.  At this point it is unlikely that the state will be able to find the funding necessary to replace the lost revenue from the federal stimulus plan.

It is now more important than ever that we work together with state and federal officials to find solutions here in Arkansas.  We need to find new ways to fund this vital program that allows parents to work, knowing that their kids are in a safe, secure environment.