Subsidized Child Care in Cuyahoga County: Using the System Is No Easy Matter.

N

26

Day Care; Early Childhood Education; Economically Disadvantaged; Educational Vouchers; Financial Support; Focus Groups; Grants; Low Income Groups; Parent Attitudes

A focus group study examined child care experiences of 16 low-income women living in Cleveland, Ohio to gain an understanding of these women's experiences with child care in general and with the system that assures access to child care subsidies or vouchers for supported child care. Several themes emerged from the study: (1) parents prefer placing their infants and toddlers in child care with family and friends whom they know and trust; (2) safety of children is the greatest concern of these families; (3) parents want to have choices about the care their children receive; (4) use of child care subsidies depends on adequate choice, accessibility of care, cost of care, and accurate information offered in a timely and respectful manner. Based on the study findings, the following recommendations were made: (1) the system for accessing child care subsidies must be seamless and responsive to the needs of parents regarding education and training and to those who have become employed; (2) measures to expand the supply and mix of child care arrangements in the central city should be carefully considered; (3) all parents need to understand how to shop for a care provider; and (4) mechanisms to ease the co-payment for families just beginning their employment should be considered. (Contains 14 references.) (EV)

1999

ED432381