But we need help paying for his child care. State and federal funding, however, falls far short of the amount that would be needed to help all eligible families. And families transitioning off welfare today will soon join the low- income workers competing for scarce child care subsidy dollars. One Fresno County agency, Children's Services Network, has 650 families on the waiting list. Executive Director Jane Martin estimates the number countywide is more than 2,000.
Priority goes to the families with the lowest incomes.
Harrison says families at this income level are too far down the list to ever hope to receive child care subsidies. California estimates it is serving only 30 percent of families eligible for child care subsidies. The high cost of quality child care, she points out, will force them to make painful choices between child care and other necessities. In response to welfare reform, California has increased spending on child care subsidies, and the governor's proposed budget includes a substantial addition for next year. Most of that money, however, is earmarked for welfare recipients.