Families in Monroe County Receiving Child Care Subsidies Grow Poorer

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - May 11, 2015 - PRLog -- As a group, families receiving child care subsidies have become poorer in the last few years, according to analysis of new data by CGR.

From 2011 to 2013, the number of families receiving subsidies who had income below the federal poverty threshold increased 19%. This outpaced the 6% increase in families with income from 100-149% of poverty receiving subsidies and decline of 11% in families with income at or above 150% of poverty. Monroe was one of only 13 counties in the state in which the overall number of families receiving subsidies increased from 2011 to 2013.

The child care subsidy program operated by counties in New York State and largely federally funded aims to ease that burden, helping to keep parents in the workforce and provide access to high-quality care for their children.

Child care is an enormous expense for families with working parents, especially those with young children not yet in school and low incomes. For example, according to New York State, a family needing full-time care for an infant under 18 months that selects a day care center can expect to pay $246 a week, or nearly $12,800 a year.  That comes close to consuming the entire paycheck of a minimum-wage worker, who will earn (before taxes) $16,640 in a year.

CGR and the League of Women Voters of the Rochester Metropolitan Area chose child care subsidies as the focus of our research effort in 2014, funded out of the Beatrice Bibby Endowment. This analysis updates the original report, released in November 2014. The study found that the availability of child care subsidies in Monroe County has declined over the past 7 years and meets about one-fifth of the potential need, but also that Monroe outpaces similar counties in providing this support to low-income working families.

To read the updated report, visit http://reports.cgr.org/details/1748.

About CGR
Founded in 1915, CGR is an independent, nonprofit management consulting organization delivering expertise in government and education, economics and public finance, health and human services, and nonprofits and communities. To learn more, visit www.cgr.org.

About the League

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Voter education is one of the League’s most important functions, and the League encourages all citizens to register and to cast an informed vote. The League does not support political parties or candidates, but does take stands on important issues after careful study and research. Membership in the League is open to all citizens of voting age.