Child care programs could see cuts

KENNEWICK -- Natalie Manning of Kennewick fears a proposed cut in government child care subsidies could force her to quit her job and go on welfare.

The 33-year-old mother of two barely could control her tears Thursday as she talked at a Kennewick home day care about the threatened cuts to the Working Connections Child Care program as the state looks to trim its budget.

The program supports 65,000 Washington families annually, said Amy Blondin, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Early Learning.

Perhaps as many as 15 percent of those families could be affected by the potential cuts.

Manning said she fears the proposed cuts could force her to choose between caring for her children full time and going to work.

"I'll be forced to go on welfare. What other options do I have?" she said. "Working Connections helps families like mine to keep their jobs."

The program, which helps low-income families pay for the child care, would lose about $49 million as part of the budget-cutting measures proposed by Gov. Christine Gregoire. Her initial proposal was to chop $88.5 million from the $300 million program that relies on both federal and state money.

Cuts to the program would affect families, mostly single mothers, who are dependent on the program, as well as small-business child care providers in the Tri-Cities and across the state, said Debbie Knighten, a home child care provider in Kennewick.

Of the 18 children Knighten cares for, eight rely on state support and one of those has special needs, Knighten said. She said the cuts may force her to shut down her business, which she has operated for 17 years.

"The governor is very well aware of the benefits of the program," said Blondin.

Blondin said she hopes the program still would be able to support families now on the program while limiting new enrollments. But a lot depends on the final budget that the Legislature passes, she said.

Concerned parents, owners of small child-care businesses and community groups have been calling on state legislators to save the program, said Knighten, who recently went to Olympia with a group to draw attention to the issue.

"The cuts put our children at risk," she said.

Child-care options already are restricted for working parents, she said.

About 10,000 to 12,000 families statewide would lose coverage, said Tricia Schroeder, director of politics and communications for Local 925 of the Service Employees International Union.

That means about 20,000 children would lose safe, stable care and a stable learning environment, she said.

Schroeder also estimated about 1,000 small child-care businesses and about 300 large child-care centers, both of which provide jobs to many, may have to close or downsize. She said that could include about one-third of the 470 child care providers in Benton and Franklin counties.

Families now can stay on the program as long as they meet income and work activity eligibility requirements and have a child under the age of 13. Families make a monthly co-payment to the program.

-- Pratik Joshi: 582-1541; pjoshi@tricityherald.com