As the federal government debated on the fiscal matters, on October 1, 2013 was the official first day of the 2013 – 2014 a partial federal shutdown began that impacted many programs and service. The longer the shutdown the greater the impact will be upon our youngest non-voting citizens.
Here are some of the anticipated impacts for children in North Carolina.
- Federal government pays for the majority of child care subsidies. The funds come from two sources, the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Neither of these programs authorized beyond September 13, 2013. The NC Department of Health and Human Services has indicated that both CCDBG and TANF funds will run out before the end of October.
- Child Care Regulators were furloughed as of October 3, 2013. These are the persons who monitor and license all child care programs.
- The WAGE$ program has been frozen and administrative staff furloughed.
- Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Programs are frozen. Programs help parents find quality child care programs and teachers in improving quality and assist organizations interested in starting child care programs.
- The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutrition education for almost 264,000 women, infants and young children each month. Initially, the NC Department of Health and Human Services stated the program would shut down in October when funding ran out.
Advocacy is important and the key to let your representatives how your thoughts and the impact directly or indirectly are having in your county, state and nationwide of the federal government. Urge them to end the shutdown immediately. If unsure how to contact them you can find your Representative at http://www.house.gov/representatives.find/ and Senator at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/sentators_cfm.cfm.
