After observing the effects of expanded eligibility for over a year, the most noticeable outcome observed is that unstructured, unlimited job search as an approvable activity for child care eligibility is now preventing employed parents/caretakers from accessing care for their children. This is occurring even in areas with a relatively plentiful supply of providers. Continued eligibility, into a second year of job search, is a wasteful use of taxpayer funded public resources and is not “responsive to families’ needs and realities,” which is a stated goal of the subsidy program.
Prolonged job search also undermines other foundational program goals. It does not “ support the family goals of economic self-sufficiency ,” “ensure that the child care program contributes to the broader objective of self-sufficiency” or “ provide child care to children with parents who are trying to achieve independence from public assistance”
because subsidy applications from employed parents are now being denied due to their inability to find child care.
The emerging goal of universal Pre-K to support school readiness and child development is not compatible with the VDSS Child Care subsidy program in its current form.
Universal Pre-K calls for a different program configuration, with simplified policy and fewer eligibility criteria. Competition for a limited supply of child care spots will likely worsen, as
a number of providers say they intend to discontinue participation in subsidy when VQB5 becomes mandatory due to the additional demands it imposes.