Facts In Action

In the fall of 1998, The Boston Early Education Quality Improvement Project (EQUIP) conducted a survey of families on waitlists for child care in several Boston neighborhoods. The findings (some listed below) shed more light on the situations of low-income families who are waiting for child care assistance compared with low-income families who are currently receiving assistance with child care:

• Parents receiving subsidized care had higher participation rates in school and training than did parents waiting for subsidies;

• Families on the waitlist paid higher out-of-pocket expenses for child care services than did families receiving assistance;

• Families with child care subsidies had significantly higher annual incomes than families on the waitlist;

• A majority of families on the waitlist for subsidized care reported that they would change their youngest child’s caregiver if they could;

• Most families on the waitlist reported using their parents or grandparents to care for their youngest children, while those with subsidies were more likely to use licensed family child care or group care facilities for their children.

Source:
Making Tough Choices, Making Ends Meet, Associated Early Care and Education, Inc., 1999.

For more information:
on Making Tough Choices, Making Ends Meet, contact Christine Johnson-Staub, Associated Early Care and Education, Inc., (617) 695-0700 X229, cjstaub@AssociatedEarlyCareAndEducation.org

Facts in Action, March 2000