Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
CURRENT SOLUTIONS <br />Day Care Subsidy Resources Available to Help <br />Children and Families in Orange County <br />The need for day care subsidy has existed for a number of years in Orange County. As a result, the community <br />has more resources available to help low income families than anywhere in North Carolina_ 'These resources come <br />from both the public and private sectors, but still are not enough to help families needing assistance with the <br />paying the cost of child care. Below is a description of the resources that currently exist, as well as a description <br />of the expected impact of the new federal child pre legislation. <br />1. Subsidiztd DiLy_CaLre Program <br />How much money -.is available? <br />$251,612 is allocated from federal/state funds and $95,333 from county funds. <br />Who is eligible? <br />This program is available to help low income parents pay the cost of child care so they can work, finish high <br />school, or attend technical college. Families who are in crisis, perhaps because of serious illness or spouse or <br />child abuse, may also be eligible for help with child care costs. Children who are developmentally delayed <br />and need child care to help meet their special needs may also be served Priority is given to children needing <br />day care for protective services or teen parents and is otherwise awarded on a first come, first serve basis. <br />What is the current status of this program? <br />About 125 children are being served .each month; 622 children are on the waiting list A decline in funds has <br />caused a severe financial strain on families, as well as on nonprofit providers who are serving low income <br />families in our community. <br />2. Family Sun2Qrl Act- Child Carp <br />How much money is available? <br />The funding for child pre support services is unlimited. <br />Who is eligible? <br />Under this Act child care subsidy can be provided (1) for one year, to families who are worldng and no longer <br />receive AFDC, (2) to families who are working and continue to receive AFDC, and (3) to parents who are <br />enrolled in the JOBS prograrin, as they restive job and life skills training. <br />What is the current status of this program? <br />Payment for child pre for families in the first category described above began April 1, 1990. Only a few <br />children have benefited from this program to date. Payment for child care for families eligible in the last two <br />categories began October 1, 1990. This program is currently in a start-up phase, with only a few families <br />currently receiving full benefits. The Family Support Act is designed to help families dependent on public <br />assistance, = low income, worldng families who are trying to maintain self - sufficiency. <br />3. 12av Care Serves Association <br />How much money is available? <br />in 1990 over $ 120,000 will be spent on direct day care subsidies. <br />Who is eligible? <br />Low income families who need child care to work or attend school are eligible. Most families who receive <br />subsidy earn less than $12,000 a year and are eligible for government subsidy described in the first section. <br />What is the current status of this program? <br />To help alleviate the current funding crisis, DCSA has recently awarded scholarships to 34 children enrolled in <br />area centers. The Board has authorized 75% of the scholarship funds for 1991 to be spent in the first six <br />months of 1991, in anticipation of the availability of new govexnmensal funds, No new families will be served <br />in 1991 until families currently on DCSA subsidy are subsidized by government funds. <br />4. Child Care „Providers <br />How match money is available? <br />No information is available about the total financial corm=tment made to day care subsidy by providers in our <br />community. <br />Who is eligible? <br />Eligibility varies from center to center, based on each of nh is criteria and file availability of funds. <br />What is the current status of this program? <br />A recent statewide survey indicates that Orange County day care providers offer more subsidy to families than <br />in any county in the state, with over 400 children receiving some type of assistance. However, because of <br />increasing costs, the number of children and the amounts of subsidy offered have beta declining. <br />5. <br />How much money is available? <br />About 22 million dollars will come to North Carolina each year far the next thine years. Funds for 1990-91 <br />fiscal year will not be awarded to the state until early September, 1991. It is mandated that 75% of time funds <br />be spent on child care subsidy. <br />Who is eligible? <br />Priority will be given to very low income worldng families and families with special needs children. <br />What is the current status of this program? <br />The President recently signed this legislation. A federal agency has to be designated as the lead agen to <br />administer this program. Rules must be developed by this agency befam .implementation_can,begegin.. Ytates <br />must also designate lead agencies and develop a plan on how the money will be used. This process has <br />already begun in North Carolina. It is hoped that counties will be able to increase spending in July, 1991 in <br />anticipation of the receipt of the federal funds in North Carolina. <br />