TANF Transfer to Child Care

My concerns and questions are included in RED within this press release.

FSSA ANNOUNCES TANF TRANSFER TO RAISE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL

INDIANAPOLIS (October 3, 2007) - Today the Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Bureau of Child Care (BCC) announced the 2007 TANF transfer of an additional $10 million into the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF). Ultimately, this transfer will move Indiana from 49^th to 30^th in the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) served.

These dollars are targeted for TANF families – these funds are not focused on support for parents already in the workforce. How do we establish another child care funding stream?

“This funding gives our low-income Hoosiers piece of mind in knowing that their children are cared for in a safe environment while they work to provide for their families,” said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. “The extra dollars in the Child Care Development Fund will help serve nearly 2,000 additional children whose parents are transitioning out of the welfare system.”

The focus here is on parents transitioning out of the welfare system. We must shift that focus to support families who are already in the workforce and paying taxes. That would mean an increase in income eligibility. In every county we visited during the Economic Impact of Child Care public awareness tour, the issue was always the same: not enough well trained young skilled workers; the region does not attract and retain young families and not enough high quality available and affordable child care.

Effective immediately, the TANF transfer will increase the FPL from 141% to 170% and increase reimbursement rates to licensed child care providers by an average of 3%.

According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, Indiana is recognized as one of only 13 states that has done this in the past two years. In addition, starting in January 2008, the BCC will begin implementation of the Quality Rating System (QRS) for providers.

How does this increase in the FPL impact the income eligibility for the voucher program? The original purpose of CCDBG was to support working families up to 250% - Indiana assisted families to 200% of poverty. At that time, AFDC child care program or the IVA program funds supported the current TANF families. When all child care was consolidated into one grant – Child Care Development Fund, we lost child care support for families in the workforce struggling to pay for quality child care. That is why we need an additional child care funding stream and we need to adopt the refundable tax credit for low income working families. This would be another progressive step for Indiana.

“Research shows that high quality learning experiences prepare children for future success,” said FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob. “Quality Rating System’s are a vital tool for parents as they make decisions about what child care settings are best for their children.”

We certainly agree that high quality learning experiences prepare children for future success. But, in every county during our public awareness tour, we learned that there was a shortage of high quality care available and affordable. The national model of QRS always includes as a critical component that of provider financial incentives. So, how do we do what we say we believe?

In addition to an FPL percentage increase and the QRS, expected results of this transfer include: an increase in the number of licensed capacity, an increase in the number of children with vouchers and an increase in the percentage of children with vouchers enrolled in licensed child care. The funds became effective October 1, 2007.

What will ensure that more children will have access to licensed care? If the income eligibility remains at $20,000 for a family of three – how can a family afford $8 -10,000 a year for child care? The only assistance to low income working parents would be the refundable tax credit or a working family child care stream of funding. The credit was offered to the GA last session, but Senator Kenley did not hear the bill. We had House support, but no hearing by the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.

Carole Stein
The Stein Group

Is BiPartisanship Really Alive and Well in Indiana

The Indianapolis Business Journal printed the following article on Governor Daniels' spirit of bipartisanship. My experience with the Daniels' administration was very different. As I said in my response to Mr. Maurer, I am pleased that the Governor has seen the value of working together. I am sharing my views on his article and reprinting the article for your reading.

I enjoyed reading your article on “The right man for a tough job.”

I compliment the Governor on his creation of the Commission and also on the diverse composition. I appreciate his bipartisanship in this effort. But, to think he has always been bipartisan in his management is not completely accurate.

My personal experience with Judge Payne speaks directly in contrast to this philosophy. I gave testimony on behalf of the Governor’s appointment of Jim Payne. I had worked with Jim at the Juvenile Court when NCJW was heavily involved in the Guardian Ad Litem program/CASA. I thought he was very committed to the health and safety of young children. After he received the official appointment, I went to see him and offered to assist him, in a voluntary role, to bring the democrats on board with his future initiatives. He told me straight – “We don’t work with Democrats.” And that was the end of my relationship with the Department of Children’s Services. He was aware that it was under my leadership in FSSA that we developed Healthy Families Indiana – the diamond in the crown of abuse prevention. Getting the public private funding to put HFI in every county in the state took working the Rs and Ds.

And my experience with Mitch Roob also speaks in contrast with bipartisanship. When Mitch looked across the table from me with high level professionals of IUPUI schools of law, health, business research council, Solution Center and Fox 59 in attendance and told me that I was no longer in the majority and my work was not going to be supported by him. It was after that meeting that The Stein Group contract was taken off the table of the Bureau of Child Care.

Perhaps the Governor has learned that we must work together. But, in truth it was not always his operative style.

Keep writing your great articles. You and Morton Marcus certainly make the IBJ an exciting paper to read.

Thanks,

Carole

The article written by Mr. Maurer in the IBJ is below:

EDITORIAL: Leaders needed for tougher times No easy fixes for region’s problems Sat. August 25 - 2007

IBJ Staff

Mark Miles returned to Indianapolis last year to take over as CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership because he sees this as a city where leaders “can get things done.” That’s what Miles told reporter Peter Schnitzler in a profile that ran in IBJ last week. We hope the city doesn’t disappoint. Much has changed here since 1990, when Miles left Indianapolis and a 16-year career in politics and business to lead the men’s professional tennis tour. There’s plenty to brag about, no doubt. The transformation of downtown into a magnet for residents, tourists and convention-goers took off with the opening of Circle Centre mall and continued with more than one convention center expansion and millions of dollars in hotel and residential development. The NCAA moved here, the city’s sports star continued to shine, and the country’s largest publicly traded health insurer (WellPoint) and retail developer (Simon) now call the city home. Universities are collaborating to help build our life sciences economy. We have a lot to be proud of. Yet the seeds for much of what Indianapolis accomplished while Miles was away were sewn in a different era. Maybe this is still a city where leaders can get things done, but bold achievements have been in short supply in recent years. No one has been able to both propose and sell solutions to our most vexing problems: Our city has grown to cover a nine-county region, but the competing interests of local governments pit counties and neighborhoods against one another and stifle our ability to efficiently and fairly fund government services that people region-wide depend upon. Only strong leadership can persuade people to look beyond their narrow interests. Our region lacks the public transportation infrastructure most cities take for granted. Economic isolation and clogged roads are the result. The problem has been studied and restudied, but leadership on the issue is in short supply. Public education, especially in Indianapolis Public Schools, has continued its downward spiral. Perhaps the district is too far gone and needs to be merged with its neighboring districts, but no one of influence is willing to champion such a controversial endeavor. It’s likely the city’s inability to solve big problems is a result of today’s more divisive political climate. The gogo days of the 1970s and ’80s were nothing if not politically bland. The mayor’s office and City-County Council were both solidly Republican the entire time and the governor’s office was in GOP hands over most of those two decades. A lack of political opposition gave the leaders of that era more freedom to pursue ambitious agendas. Maybe the problem is that today’s challenges are more problematic than building state-of-the-art sports facilities. Poor public education and the high crime rates that follow are the result of myriad social ills that have stumped problem solvers nationwide. It’s clear we need leaders now more than ever. We hope Miles and other leaders get things done here in the years to come. If they do, it’ll be because of the bridges they build to get beyond politics and paralyzing self-interest—obstacles that barely existed here when Miles left. •

What do you think of Senator Dodd’s proposal?

What do you think of Senator Dodd’s proposal?

Dodd: Reform No Child Left Behind
MSNBC - USA
Dodd called for No Child Left Behind to be reformed -- not scrapped as other Democratic presidential candidates have proposed. He also repeated his call for ...
See all stories on this topic

Response from Parents and Teachers:

From Teacher in Arizona:

We know it is up for review in October. It will never go away.... we are hoping for some grandfather clause or some explanation of how they will handle so many unfilled classrooms. Of course we need these answers from the state too. They are going to be in trouble when looking for teachers appropriately certified. They ill end up with other non appropriate teachers in the classrooms... like subs or people they recruit without teaching experience. It will be a turning point for our city/state when this happens next year...whatever does happen is still a guess.

The only pathetic thing currently is that the district is offering us only us a 1% raise. They feel this is a good offer. Sick!!!! 1% does not cover the money they are taking back(repayment to the district) for an insurance error they made three years ago. In addition, still our retirement is going up so the 1% would not even cover that stuff. Another year they think is ok to have us make less than the year before...three years in a row. Sick!!!!

From a Parent in Massachusetts:

I think Dodd is pretty far off base on all his educational proposals.

His idea of eliminating the lender subsidy for federal student loans is ill-conceived. If you completely eliminate the subsidy then 75% of the federal loans which are run through private banks will no longer be booked. The direct loan program cannot be quadrupled in size to make up the difference. His proposal is purely pandering to people who don't understand anything about how student loans work. His proposals regarding private loans are equally off base.

I think that No Child Left Behind is too flawed to fix and should be scrapped. Congress can come back in a year or two and try again to get it right, this time by funding some of the mandates and setting realistic standards.

Report on Child Poverty in Indiana - July 2007

Is there a Public Will to Address this Neglect?

The Indianapolis Star presented highlights of the new Child Poverty report released by the Indiana Youth Institute on July 25th.

"We are moving in the wrong direction, and we need to find a way to turn that around," said Bill Stanczykiewicz, president of the Institute. "Poverty crushes hope. Poverty crushes aspirations. And kids stop trying because they don't see the adults around them with good jobs, educations and opportunities."

I encourage Indiana to look at the role of economic and tax policy. Last session the legislature had an opportunity to give assistance to low income working parents through a child care tax credit - but that bill did not even receive a hearing. What is the message being sent to parents struggling to go to work and give quality care to their preschoolers?

Let me say that I understand and support the major improvements being made in the city and state. I will certainly enjoy the new sports' stadium and I will enjoy the comforts of our new airport and certainly the exquisite museums. I understand the importance of schools building expanded physical fitness facilities and libraries and other up-scale projects.

But at the same time, we need to look into the lives and faces of children living in poverty to realize that we are supporting a society that is ignoring the greatest risk factor of all and that is poverty. Family poverty is relentlessly correlated with high rates of school age childbearing, school failure, violent crime, abuse and neglect and child fatalities. Low income is an important risk factor in itself and so is relative poverty - having significantly less income than the norm, especially in a society that places such a high value on economic success.

If you missed the Star highlights - just take a minute to look at these statistics on How Indiana Stacks Up!

Where we are slipping

• Percentage of low birth-weight babies increased 9 percent, from 7.4 percent to 8.1 percent. The national average is 8.1 percent.

• Percentage of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year -round employment increased 19 percent, from 27 percent to 32 percent. The national average is 34 percent.

• According to Census data, in 2005 there were 311,655 children younger than 6 whose parents had jobs. However, Institute data show there were only 138,269 lots available for children in licensed child care.
  

• According to this month's Licensing Report from FSSA, there has been a decrease in available licensed care since 2005 to 98,135.
  

• Percentage of children in single parent families rose 3 percent, from 29 percent to 30 percent. The national average is 32 percent.

• The infant mortality rate increased from 7.8 deaths to 8 for every 1,000 live births. The national average is 6.8

So let's continue building a beautiful city and state - but let's stop for a moment and consider the findings in this report. Let's look at the future for the state. That future resides in our children.

I would encourage you to access the full Kids Count report funded by Annie E. Casey Foundation through the Indiana Youth Institute. For more information, call the Star Reporter Tim Evans at 317-444-6204.

I suggest you read the following excellent response to the Star coverage as prepared by Jennifer Pope-Baker of the Women's Fund of Central Indiana.

My View: Jennifer Pope Baker Help for women can lift kids out of ...
Indianapolis Star - United States
Closely related to a woman's ability to make a living wage is the availability of safe, affordable and high-quality child care. The number of child-care ...
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Carole Stein

No Child Left Behind - Where are We?

There are teachers at risk of losing their jobs and children at risk of losing dedicated teachers.

Test scores alone will not create a learning and teaching environment best suited to most children.

Continue to read the links from around the country - this is one way to learn and respond. Keep your legislators informed of your position on education reform.

Changes needed in No Child Left Behind Act
DesMoinesRegister.com - Des Moines,IA,USA
The US House Education Committee is moving very quickly to write the next version of No Child Left Behind/Elementary and Secondary Education Act before ...
See all stories on this topic

27 schools face sanctions
OCRegister - Orange County,CA,USA
These are No Child Left Behind scores that determine whether schools have met federal goals for achievement. The Academic Performance Index, STAR results, ...
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'No Child' leaves behind many vulnerable kids
The Free Lance-Star - Fredericksburg,VA,USA
The "Failing grades" editorial [July 6] commented admirably on the deficits of No Child Left Behind. For once, I was glad to see someone take on the "highly ...
See all stories on this topic

Carole Stein

High Quality Child Care - Mental Health Prevention

High-quality Child Care for Low-income Children Offset the Risk of Later Depression

This study reinforces my belief that children and families in the Indiana Healthy Families program should have unlimited access to high quality infant and toddler care. The HFI program serves the families during the period of time they are receiving home vistor services. Choices for child care as moms go to work or return to school need to become a high priority of the HFI program. These special preschoolers need every opportunity to access the highest quality child care provided by the best trained and skilled providers.

This is the reason I want to share the following research with you.

Young adults from low-income families who were in full-time early educational child care from infancy to age 5 reported fewer symptoms of depression than their peers who were not in this type of care, according to a new report. The early educational intervention also appears to have protected the children to some extent against the negative effects of their home environments.

Newswise — Young adults from low-income families who were in full-time early educational child care from infancy to age 5 reported fewer symptoms of depression than their peers who were not in this type of care, according to a new report. The early educational intervention also appears to have protected the children to some extent against the negative effects of their home environments.The report, from the FPG Child Development Institute (FPG) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, uses data from the Abecedarian Project, a longitudinal study begun in 1972 in which 111 high-risk children were randomly assigned to early educational child care from infancy to age 5 or to a control group that received various other forms of child care. The study is published in the May/June 2007 issue of the journal Child Development.
Research has shown a relationship between poverty in early childhood and an increased risk for mental health problems in adulthood. A number of early intervention programs have been found to enhance the cognitive development and academic outcomes of children living in poverty, but less is known about the long-term effects of these programs on children’s mental health.

In the Abecedarian Project, 98 percent of the children were black and all came from low-income families with demographic factors known to predict developmental delays or academic problems. As part of the study, developmental and demographic data were collected regularly during the early childhood years with follow-up assessments in adolescence and young adulthood.

The study followed up with 104 study participants when they were 21 and found that those who had participated in the child care program had fewer symptoms of depression than those who did not.

Early child care also moderated the effects of the children’s home environments on subsequent feelings of depression. For children in the control group, the more negative the early home environment, the greater the likelihood of signs of depression.

“The early intervention does not appear to have changed home environments,” according to Frances A. Campbell, a senior scientist at FPG and one of the authors of the study. “Rather, it buffered, or protected, the children from the adverse effects of less-optimal early home environments. This evidence, indicating that good early childhood experiences can make a positive difference in the mental health of individuals born into poverty, underscores the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood experiences for poor children.”

The study was funded, in part, by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the National Institute of Early Childhood Development and Education, and the Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

© 2007 Newswise. All Rights Reserved.

FSSA's Quality Rating System - Who Pays?

"Recognizing the positive impact of Paths to Quality, a rating system for child care, Mitch Roob, secretary of Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration, has announced the program is going statewide next year.

Paths to Quality helps parents identify and select the best early care for their children by establishing four levels of quality for early care programs. 1: health and safety needs; 2: an environment that supports children's learning; 3: a planned curriculum that fosters optimal development; and 4: national accreditation indicating the highest quality for children.

Paths to Quality was launched in Allen County in 2000 and has since expanded to five more counties in northeast Indiana and 12 counties in southwest Indiana. This program grew out of a Foellinger Foundation grant invitation and is funded by the Child Care and Early Education Partnership, which includes the Foundation, the Early Childhood Alliance, and several other foundations and organizations with a vested in interest in early childhood development.

Reaching these quality levels will definitely improve the quality of care. But, how do we expect providers to reach these levels without additional private partnerships or without government investment?

Let's consider the following:

Facts:

• Out of nine major industries in Indiana, child care employment is 4th from the bottom at $25,204 annual salaries - that is less than gasoline attendants, and personal and laundry services.
• There are over 400,000 children in out of home care for working parents with only 100,000 high quality licensed spaces.
• Business and economic development leaders throughout the state have expressed concern that there are not enough well trained young workers in the state; there is difficulty in attracting and retaining young workers; and, there is a child care shortage, especially for infants and toddlers.
• Each region of the state expressed a desire to improve the workforce and the child care situation.

The challenge to expand Paths to Quality to a statewide program requires a financial commitment by FSSA to directly assist the child care industry along with an aggressive effort to build additional private partnerships.

If we do not rise to this challenge, the child care industry will remain an unrecognized and undervalued industry - families will continue to be forced to confront the challenges of family time, the growing conflict between work and home and a pervasive anxiety about the future of their children.

It is also a challenge to Indiana to decide how our culture will participate in the reshaping of childhood.

ARE WE LEAVING CHILDREN BEHIND?

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

The Indianapolis Star's study of June 7th asked the question "Are Indiana Schools Passing or Failing? And the answer depends on whom you ask! Data suggests states satisfy NCLB law by expecting less from their students. If that is the case, then we are leaving children behind. It is yours to study!

Even before the NCLB Act raised the stakes in 2002, The Stein Group team was exploring how and if schools, parents, providers, and teachers were meeting the needs of young children. Early childhood education research has captivated the country during the last decade.

Introduced by President Bush in 2002, NCLB stresses accountability in public education, and instituted a slew of requirements around school testing and performance. The Act is up for re-authorization.

But critics have pointed to how NCLB mandatory testing, and penalties for not meeting certain bars, has schools more focused on preparing for these exams than on teaching children to think about what they are learning. The NCLB fails to look at the gains a student has made, and is instead focused on statistics.

One example is the required testing of students who have been in the United States for at least a year. This includes students who are limited English proficient. While the progress of English Language Learners should be regularly gauged, it doesn’t take an expert to guess that it takes more than one year to achieve English proficiency, especially for high school aged students.

A new NCLB should change the one-year requirement for English Language Learners.
It should also include “value-added” measures for teachers, as recommended by a bipartisan commission that has studied NCLB, and resources for drawing quality teachers. NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein has emphasized the critical difference that NCLB-designated funding would make in providing incentives to attract and keep quality teachers in the schools that need them the most.

The NCLB commission recognized that the U.S. educational system was not only leaving students unprepared for a globalized, high tech economy but not even helping them achieve proficiency in reading and math. While a good step toward remedying this deplorable status, NCLB needs tinkering that will further accountability without crucifying schools.