another indication of Central Minnesotans’ financial struggles, the number of Stearns County families awaiting child care assistance is growing at a record rate.
At the end of July, 128 families were on a waiting list for the basic sliding-fee program that helps low-income families pay for child care while they work, look for work or go to school.
Previously, about 10-12 Stearns County families per month were requesting child care assistance, said Janet Goligowski, gateway services director for the county’s human services department.
But in the last three and a half months, the number of requests has jumped to more than 30 a month, Goligowski said. The pace has continued in August, she said, and the waiting list is expected to grow.
“It’s never been this high this fast,” she said.
Goligowski believes the growing waiting list is due to more families facing economic stress. While some parents who lose their jobs might stay home with their children, others need child care while they take retraining courses or look for work, she said.
Counties receive a specified amount of state funding for child care assistance. Last month, 533 Stearns County families were receiving child care assistance — either the basic sliding fee or through the Minnesota Family Investment Program, the state’s welfare-to-work program.
Stearns County will get about $1.31 million this year for the basic sliding fee program, Goligowski said. Once the funds run out, families are put on a waiting list until more money becomes available. The current list was started last April.
To qualify for the basic sliding fee, families must earn no more than 47 percent of the state’s median income — $32,167 for a family of three.
All families who receive the subsidy must pay a co-payment. For example, a family of three earning about $37,600 a year would pay $263 monthly for all children in child care.
Families must leave the program when their earnings reach 67 percent of the state median income — $45,855 for a family of three — or when their copayment is more than their child care costs.
The county could benefit from an additional $4 million in child care assistance funds Minnesota is receiving as part of the federal stimulus bill, Goligowski said. The amount each county will get has yet to be determined.
Benton County had 23 families seeking child care assistance at the end of July, said Janel Sczublewski, financial assistance supervisor. She expects the wait to continue at least until November.