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R2LP Study Finds that Child Care Subsidy Cuts have had Ripple Effect on Small Businesses, Families, and Children Between February and June 2008, R2LP conducted a survey of 482 licensed center- and home-based providers throughout Rhode Island to investigate the impact of the revised eligibility requirements for the state's Child Care Assistance Program. R2LP also interviewed 95 families who lost part or all of their child care subsidy. The 2007-2008 state budget restricted eligibility for child care subsidies to families falling below 180% of the federal poverty level - down from the previous threshold of 225%. The new requirements disqualified about 1,500 children statewide. Download Related Appendices: Download the Executive Summary (January 2009) Findings of this survey are consistent with a similar survey conducted by R2LP in 2007 in anticipation of the proposed cuts. Child care provider respondents, including center directors and family child care providers, family focus group participants provided similar perceptions as to how child care cuts would impact Providence. Nearly every participant viewed the proposed cuts as being highly detrimental to programs, families, children and the community. Most participants predicted that without affordable child care, working parents will have few options and that many will be forced to leave work and go on public assistance. Read more in the Report and Executive Summary released in May 2007. Partial funding for the survey was provided through the School Readiness and Success Cross Site Initiative sponsored by the Urban Institute National Neighborhoods Indicator Partnership and Annie E. Casey Foundation. |