Agenda - 11-14-2006-7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 demands of child care. Without available child care, aparent/guardian may be in danger of losing a job or forced to leave a clvld in less than ideal conditions. For the majority of families there are relatively few options for safe and secure child care. Fanvlies map utilize relatives, babysitters, and neighbors, but most tend to seek more permanent solutions in the form of licensed child caxe homes or centers. COSTS OF PRIVATE CARE There are several types of licensed child care available; the type of care appropriate for one family map not be the best for another. A child care home is licensed to care for five or fewer preschool age children, and an additional three school age children. Licensing as a center is required when six. or more children are cared for in a residence or when three or more children are in care in a building other than a residence. Additionally, many schools, both public and private, offer before and after school care. In order to increase the quality of child care in North Carolina, in September 2000, the Division of Child Development issued star rated licenses to all eligible Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes.l The star rated license is a voluntary licensing system where a child care program can earn points in two different areas: ^ Program Standards ^ Staff Education Programs that are meeting higher standards can receive recognition for their efforts; and families can use this information to search for a clvld care program. The increased focus on quality has led costs to rise sharply in the last fifteen years. In 1991, the average cost for a clvld to attend private dap care was $239. In 2001, monthly clvld care costs for an infant, the most expensive children to care for, was in the neighborhood of $700. Today, parents can pap over $$1100/month for an infant to receive full-time dap care. Care for preschool and school-age (part-time) clvldren is less, although it is important to note drat in Orange County the monthly cost of clvld care for all age groups, on average, ranges from X800 to $1,100. These costs put private care out of the reach of most low and middle-income families. FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY SUBSIDY RESOURCES The subsidy programs, offered by all North Carolina counties and financed with public money, are the only hope dzat low-income families have of secw.~ing dais quality, cosily care. Parents making less dean a prescribed income, currently based on 75% of state median income for most funds, and meeting certain eligibility criteria maybe eligible for help to pay part of d7eir clvld care costs. The amount of funding allocated to each county in Nortlz Carolina is determined by legislation and is directly affected by die amount of funding in die federal budget. In Orange County die majority of this funding is administered by die Department of Social Services. Child Care Services Association adtniu.isters 1.8 million dollars for scholarships with funding from Smart Start, LTNC, United Way and other funding sources. If a family meets the eligibility criteria for the Orange County Department of Social Services, a portion of the cost of child care will be paid for them. Parents are free to choose a child care arrangement that best fits their needs as long as the provider chosen participates in the Subsidized Child Care Program. The amount the state paps for child care depends on the family's situational criteria, dze family's income, and die cost of the clvld care provided. (See Attaclunent B for state