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.
