Children made up nearly one-quarter--75 million--of the United States' population in 2009, according to the Forum on Child and Family Statistics. Of the 25.5 million children that are too young to attend school, more than 26 percent receive daily care from non-familial caregivers, at a day care center or in-home setting. While expensive, numerous studies have shown that quality care improves childhood development and learning abilities. Through its agencies, the federal government has a number of grant programs to assist families afford the cost of safe, enriching child care.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Known by its acronym CCDBG, the Child Care Development Block Grant is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and is the largest federal source of childcare aid. Congress appropriated $2.9 billion for the CCDBG in 2010, most of which supports the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. TANF funnels money to the states, territories and Native American tribes, which must match the aid and provide direct support to families seeking short-term assistance to care for their child at home. Applications for TANF funds are processed by state family assistance programs.
Child Care And Development Fund
Also funded by the CCDBG, the Child Care and Development Fund concentrates primarily on improving the quality and accessibility of child care. The CCDF makes money available for subsidies through state agencies under the Child Care Assistance Program. The Administration for Children and Families reports that families contact the state for a voucher or apply for the funding directly through a licensed care provider.
Head Start
Head Start is a nationwide program that provides free educational development programs to children with the goal of preparing them for school, this giving them a "head start." It was developed in 1995, according to the program's office, to provide children younger than 3 years old with intervention services to promote mental, emotional and physical development to low-income families. Congress appropriated $7.2 billion for the program, or 80 percent of the total cost. Head Start programs administered by states and municipalities must cover the remaining 20 percent with legislative funding, or in-kind donations of time, products or services. This combination of federal grant funding and local matches allows children to attend for free.
References
- Forum on Child and Family Statistics: America's Children-2010
- Administration for Children and Families: Child Care and Development Fund Fact Sheet
- National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies: Head Start Reauthorization
- Office of Head Start: Program Fact Sheet
- Office of Head Start: About Head Start
