Trends in Child Care Spending from the CCDF and TANF, June 16, 2016.

摘要

This report attempts to provide a more complete picture by reviewing trends in total child care spending from the CCDF and TANF since FY2000. It briefly describes the legislative evolution of these funding streams, with particular emphasis on the welfare reform law of 1996. This law largely established the current federal landscape, setting up a formal infrastructure for child care programs through the CCDF, while giving states the option to provide additional child care investments with TANF funds. In doing this, the 1996 law set up an interesting dynamic: the federal government determines basic program rules and minimum spending levels for the CCDF, while state governments determine whether TANF funds will be spent on child care and, if so, what basic program rules will apply. Following this discussion, the report presents detailed historical expenditure data across funding streams, as well as data on children served (where possible). The report concludes with some brief observations about what these spending trends may mean for the current child care landscape, with particular consideration given to the substantial nature of TANF contributions to total child care spending, as well as implications of the CCDBG reauthorization law enacted in November 2014.