Even the working poor, who at least have paying jobs, teeter on the brink of unemployment when they must pay for someone to care for their children while they're at work. A combination of federal, state, local and private funds, most administered by DHS, currently subsidizes child care for low-income families. This system is designed to automatically shift families from one funding source to another according to their eligibility, so that they can receive uninterrupted child care as their employment circumstances change. But the system is slow and cumbersome, and child care vendors often experience payment delays. This in turn jeopardizes the availability of child care for many families of limited means who are struggling to become self-sufficient.
New technology makes the problem relatively easy to solve.
DHS could expedite vendor payments by using scannable forms to process the necessary information. These forms are already standard in school tests and voting, and even other state agencies use them to collect data on tax or unemployment insurance. In addition, DHS should urge vendors to opt for electronic funds transfer directly from the state, rather than waiting for paper checks to clear. Increasing federal child welfare funds. In Against the Grain , TPR recommended that DPRS study ways to maximize its federal funds.