January 18, 2010 – One of the programs on the chopping block in the current legislative session is Working Connections Child Care, a program that serves families leaving the welfare system as well as low wage working families. Cuts to this program could force some 7,000 families deeper into poverty and set them back as they try to climb out of poverty.
The new legislative session began Jan. 11. The new proposed budget included some revenue and restored some cuts even before the session began.
While the governor added almost $40 Million for Working Connections in her current budget the program still faces a nearly $50 Million cut that is not slated to be restored in this session.
According to a press release issued by Children’s Alliance, if the cut is enacted an estimated 7,000 families – about one in three families seeking child care through Working Connections – would be turned away.
Children’s Alliance is a program that advocates for kids and ensures that laws, policies, and programs work for kids.
As a result of the recession many child care providers, including those accepting state-assisted children, are struggling to keep their small businesses afloat. Cuts to Working Connections would further hurt these providers, thus reducing the quality of care available to children in Washington State.
Children’s Alliance calls Gregoire’s cuts “brutal and sweeping” and emphasize these cuts will mean that more families will be forced deeper into poverty when they can’t work because they don’t have child care assistance.
Jon Gould, Deputy Director for Children’s Alliance said, “Now is not the time to reduce child care assistance to working families. The cut would also hurt child care providers, many of whom are struggling small businesses.”
Information on the Children’s Alliance website states that during a recession the needs of families, workers, and kids rise. This recession is the worst since the great depression and the fall in revenue is the most severe our state has ever experienced. Families struggle to survive, and programs like Working Connections “are a saving grace.”
Parents, child care providers, and others concerned about the families affected by these cuts are urged to contact their representatives as soon as possible. Click here for a sample letter, keeping in mind this is a sample and your personal view and experience should be included in your letter to your legislators.
Children’s Alliance Press Release
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