A Missouri agency tasked with helping low-income families afford day care is under the microscope after the state auditor released findings from its annual audit Wednesday.
The report found that the Department of Social Services in Jefferson City sometimes approved payments for child care for parents or caregivers who were not meeting work or school requirements to qualify for those subsidies.
The audit covered the fiscal year that ended in June 2015.
Subsidized day care
Brittany Pennington is a mother of two and works more than 40 hours a week. In order to work, she has to send her children to child care, which neither she nor her fiance can afford on their own. They rely on state subsidies.
“There were multiple days where we would say how are we going to afford this or who can we get to watch [our son],” said Pennington. “Day care was really expensive.”
Now, Pennington’s children attend Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City.
“When you look at the cost of child care, for quality care, for an infant that can be as high as $300 or more per week. When you calculate that out over the course of a month, that's actually more than what most of our parents earn,” said Mary Esselman, CEO of Operation Breakthrough.
Esselman works with many families who cannot afford quality day care on their own. She said these subsidies are essential for parents who are working or in school and can affect whether they get or retain jobs.
“Having quality care becomes critical for that to happen, especially during the daytime when these positions are available,” Esselman said.
Who qualifies
Families who are eligible include those who receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), are low-income and working, in education or training activities or are teen parents completing high school or GED.
To find out more, click here.
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