Thursday, January 3, 2013

Child Care in Alexander County-Get the Facts!

Did you know that....
     approximately 1,621 children under six in the county live in families where their sole parent or both parents are working? The need for child care is critical to the economic viability of these families.
     the county received and spent $1,013,577 (not including Smart Start funding) to help parents pay for child care in fiscal year 2010-11? In December 2011, the county served 266 different children with child care subsidy and had 0 eligible children on the waiting list for subsidy.
     Alexander County has 26 licensed child care programs? Of these, 18 are centers and 8 are family child care homes. Of all the licensed programs in the county, 28% of centers and 38% of homes have a 4 or 5 star rating. These businesses employ 138 people directly, and also contribute to the economy through purchases of goods and services provided by other businesses in their communities and state.
     there are 579 birth to five year old and 308 school-age children currently enrolled in these child care programs.
     among birth to five year old children enrolled in centers in Alexander County, 75% are in 4 or 5 star licensed centers. Among birth to five year old children enrolled in homes in Alexander County, 33% are in 4-5 star licensed homes.
     13 teachers, directors and family child care providers living in Alexander County participated in the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project in fiscal year 2010-2011 with 8 child care programs supporting their employees returning to school through this scholarship program?
     using federal guidelines for setting subsidy payment rates and data from a 2010-2011 market rate study, the 4-star center market rate for two year olds in Alexander County is $616 per month?
     most families in Alexander County cannot afford the full cost of child care? Low-income families and families with more than one child have to pay a high percentage of their income for care. A single mother with one child earning $34,668 or less per year can receive child care subsidy as funds are available. If funds are unavailable or if this parent’s earnings exceed the income eligibility limit, a parent would pay 21% of her gross income (see chart) for child care offered at the county rate. Little is left in the family’s budget for food, medical, clothing, travel or other basic living expenses. Due to the high cost of child care, parents such often make difficult choices. Some maybe forced to seek TANF. Others may seek cheaper, often inadequate child care or leave their children unattended.
 
© 2012 Child Care Services Association. Figures derived using the most recent available data from Child Care Services Association, Internal Revenue Service, N.C. Budget and Tax Center, N.C. Division of Child Development, N.C. Division of Social Services,
N.C. State Data Center and U.S. Census Bureau, and the Department of Public Instruction.