By Steven Allen Adams for The Weirton Daily Times
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Providers and advocates for childcare in West Virginia are pleased funding has been found to hold off a looming shortfall in childcare subsidy funding until the end of the year, but they’re not pleased with how this was communicated.
Several childcare advocacy groups rallied Sunday in the front of the Capitol on the first day of August legislative interim meetings. The groups called on the Department of Human Services and the Legislature to work on the long-term need of expanding access to available and affordable childcare.
“Childcare providers like myself are doing everything we can to keep our doors open,” Jennifer Trippet, owner of Cubby’s Child Care Center in Bridgeport. “We are stretched thin, trying to balance skyrocketing expenses and the need to provide fair wages to our teachers who are the heart of our programs.”
“Childcare funding is a bipartisan issue that affects everyone: children, families, businesses, and entire communities,” Trippet continued. “It is essential to economic growth and workforce development. When parents can go to work or pursue education and training programs, they contribute to our economy. When they cannot, the entire community suffers.”
In April, DoHS told lawmakers the department would need $2.3 million per month, or about $23 million, to fund the Child Care Assistance program at the current rate beginning in September for the remaining 10 months of the current fiscal year. The additional funds were needed to abide by new federal rules that take effect in September requiring states to fund childcare providers based on enrollment at individual facilities instead of attendance.
