Child Care: Additional Information Is Needed on Working Families Receiving Subsidies;Report to the Congress

摘要

Since the passage of welfare reform in 1996, child care assistance has become a principal tool for supporting work efforts among Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income families. Under programs funded by the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), TANF, and state resources, states have the flexibility to serve three groups of families: (1) TANF families participating in work-activities, (2) families that recently transitioned off TANF (transitioning families), and (3) other low-income families. States balance the limited funds available for such assistance against the demand. In doing so, states may make changes to child care policies that affect program access or the amount of assistance ( i.e., subsidies) provided to families who can enter the program. As Congress considers reauthorizing CCDF and TANF, we are providing updated1 information on the choices states have made for providing child care assistance to (1) TANF families, (2) families transitioning off TANF, and (3) other low-income families$ the extent to which states have changed policies since 2001 that could affect access to child care assistance programs and the amounts of subsidies provided to families$ and the number of children and families who receive child care assistance from CCDF and TANF funds.