Indiana increases access to child care subsidies

In the 2006 Indiana Bureau of Child Care Annual Report, Governor Mitch Daniels noted that, “Access to quality child care is an important factor in economic development.” As of this month, more low-income working families in Indiana will be able to get the help they need to afford that care.  On October 1, the state Department of Family and Social Services announced that $10 million was being transferred from TANF to increase funding for the state child care subsidy program, growth that will allow nearly 2,000 more children to be served.   The new funds will also allow the state to raise the amount paid to providers by 3 percent, and will allow families to continue to receive help with their child care costs until their income reaches 170 percent of the federal poverty level.

In addition, the new funds will be a critical support for statewide implementation of the “Paths to Quality”, the new voluntary Quality Rating System designed to help improve the quality of child care for all children in Indiana through mentoring for providers and other supports, and incentives such as tiered reimbursement rates of up to 10 percent above the regular subsidy rate.