HomeMy WebLinkAbout20031594 Colorado Child Care Association
A Professional Association of Licensed Early Chi/dhood Education and Care Centers
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1370 Pennsylvania Street, Suite 410 • Denver. CO 80203
June 11, 2003
Glenn Vaad, County Commissioner
Weld County
P. O. Box 758
Greeley, CO 80632
Dear Mr. Vaad:
On behalf of the Colorado Child Care Association, I am writing to urge you to take action
to insure that the portion of Colorado's $19.8 million TANF out-of-wedlock bonus
received by Weld County is used to fill funding gaps in child care assistance for families
participating in the Colorado Works welfare program and other low-income Colorado
families.
As you know, counties across Colorado are facing a crisis in funding child care for
children in families participating in the Colorado Works welfare program and other low-
income families. The need for child care has gone up while available funds have
decreased. Counties have had to take steps that mean less child care assistance for
low-income families.
As an expense, child care can be one of the most costly for a family, particularly as
parents are trying to become stable in their jobs. For a family with two young children,
child care costs can amount to $800 per month or more. There must be adequate child
care support, so that parents can meet their responsibilities at home and in their
workplaces. Failure to adequately fund child care support will force families to return to
the welfare system, thus defeating one of the major purposes of welfare reform.
Please use Weld County's TANF Bonus funds to meet the real needs of Colorado's low-
income families, starting with child care.
Best regards,
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Katf�an>ilierbeck
Executive Director
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(303) 860-7174•(800) 870-7174 email: cccanet@earthlink.net Fax (303) 831-7830
2003-1594
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