Some child-care centers giving struggling parents a break

[rainbow4321]

Yet another thing those layed off are dealing with....

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-daycare_01met.State.Bulldog.1b0474a.html

Twice as many parents left the center for financial reasons in 2008 compared to 2007, Paul Huff said. "We've had a lot of parents who've gotten pay cuts, too."

For four weeks, parents get a discount on tuition as they search for a new job. After that, the center offers drop-in child care and holds a full-time spot for them for six months. The idea is popular with parents and is catching on: Nine other Kids R Kids sites in North Texas are participating in the program the Huffs started.

(snip)

Susan Hoff, CEO of ChildCareGroup, a Dallas-based nonprofit that operates child-care centers and manages the federal child-care subsidy program for Dallas County, said eight child-care centers that work with the group closed in December because of the economy. "My guess is there will be more child-care centers closing," she said.

The predominantly low-income, single mothers who use the group's services are in equally bad shape, she said. They must work 25 hours a week or be in work training programs to remain eligible. "A lot of parents are having to drop out of the program because they're losing employment," Hoff said. While hundreds have dropped out, a new trend has emerged: Parents who have never accessed public services need help.

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. I like that businesses are adjusting to the new economy but I suppose they have no choice

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. That is wonderful but

I am wondering who is paying these centers to make up for the loss of income?

Did they get a grant or increased state funding?

[rainbow4321]

3. Per the article, for the daycares for the lower income parents:

The state pays child-care costs for four weeks while eligible parents search for employment, she said, but "most parents are not being able to find employment in a year," Hoff said.

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I believe the first daycare mentioned in the article (Kids R Kids) is a privately owned daycare with several sites--so the businesses are not being reimbursed by anyone when they give the unemployed parents a discount.