Jim Farrelly has heard the story numerous times. A parent has a low-wage job and wants a better life. But getting a better job requires training. If the parent leaves the job to go to school, he or she loses state child care subsidies.
So the parent stays put.
"The most common request I had was for funding for families who were in training programs," said Farrelly, executive director of the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties. "Under previous guidelines, we didn't have the opportunity to serve these folks. This was a priority for me."
Thanks to federal stimulus funds, parents who are retraining to move up or because they were laid off can now get child care subsidies. So can the unemployed who are looking for work.
The coalition's board of directors budgeted $700,000 to be used for 250 child care slots.
The first program provides child care services for clients who are enrolled in stimulus-funded training programs through Career Central. A referral is generated by Career Central staff with verification of program enrollment and unemployment compensation.
In addition to clients in Career Central training programs, services will be available to walk-in clients in similar types of short term (18-24 month) training/education programs.
The second program stems from a new state rule offering child care services to clients who are not currently working but receiving unemployment compensation. Child care is permitted to be approved in 30-day intervals only.
Farrelly said the money was given with general guidelines from the feds, but the local board chose to spend it this way based on need.
"These were local decisions generated by the requests we had," he said.
The new programs will enable parents to search for jobs unencumbered by youngsters.
"I don't want someone not to go look for a job because they don't have anybody to watch their children," said Kevin Nissen, owner of Little People's Preschool in Brooksville. Plus, he said, they can also use that time to polish their resumes or shop for an interview suit.
While the programs benefit parents, they also gives a boost to child care centers, which struggled as the recession plucked parents from the work force.
"It's been rough," said Kelly Miller, owner of Cedarview Learning Center near Port Richey. Enrollment at her center, licensed for 134, is down about 25 percent. "A lot of schools have closed down because of it."
Child care centers, which typically have razor thin profit margins, depend on volume to stay afloat. "You don't get rich doing this job," said Karen Livengood, owner of Discovery World Learning Center in Hudson. The center is having a yard sale next month to help raise money for its operations and equipment. "You make money when you get to retire and turn the center over to someone else."
Those who need information about the programs can get it at the Early Learning Coalition offices or through Career Central's three locations.