At noon on Tuesday March 4 the League of Women Voters will hold a community dialogue on Child Care. Speakers are Kristin Szakos, member of the Charlottesville City Council, and Gail Esterman, manager of Child Care Quality at Children, Youth and Family Services. The emphasis of this meeting will be on the actual finances/subsidies involved in paying for child care, in particular to those who have employment at minimal pay and limited hours.
Come to Room A at the African American Heritage Center in the Jefferson School on Tuesday and learn about the cost for care and what those costs will buy. Learn about Virginia child care subsidies and when a subsidy really isn’t one. Learn where our State stands, e.g., Virginia with the eighth highest per capita income in the US has the 40th lowest maximum child care provider reimbursement rates. Learn the role businesses play in this endeavor. Discuss options that may help: reduce State mandated copays, increase providers’ reimbursements, increase subsidies.
Obviously our League will not solve this problem, but we are attempting to be part of the solution by bringing together those in business with those in child care services and those in government to see the challenge as a whole. The League of Women Voters supports all community based efforts to improve the quality, affordability, and accessibility of child care in our community. Join us March 4 at noon.
The following is an example of what for many in our community is a dilemma (link to PDF).
Please note that the above scenario speaks nothing to the costs of getting to and from work and to and from day care and the fact that care centers charge by the day not work hours offered.
Would you take a 29 hour a week job that paid no benefits and netted you $807 a month and left someone else raising your child?
Would you make the same decision if you knew the State would give you $609 if you remained at home?
