For parents with low incomes to succeed in the world of work, assistance with child care is often needed. To achieve self-sufficiency and financial independence, job earnings cannot be completely consumed paying for the care of children during working hours.

Lawmakers who crafted federal welfare reform recognized that affordable quality child care is necessary if people on public assistance are to move into the work force. They provided an increase to states for child care funding with the welfare reform bill. Families leaving public assistance and moving into employment often begin that journey with low-paying jobs. They cannot hold these jobs without child care assistance.

Lawmakers and policy makers in Kansas have also recognized it is not just people on public assistance that need child care assistance in order to succeed with employment. There are many working families that live close to the edge financially who could use child care assistance to succeed.

For low-income families, the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) has financial help available for child care. The assistance is available to families with incomes within 185 percent of the federal poverty level. A family of three persons -- a mother and two children, for example -- with a gross monthly income at or below $2,002 would qualify for child care assistance. The financial assistance is provided on a sliding scale, with the family responsible for a monthly fee based on income and family size.

Currently, there are no waiting lists for child care assistance from SRS anywhere in Kansas. Every SRS Area Office has funding available to provide child care assistance to eligible families.

"Whether its people who have been on public assistance trying to move into the work force or families who have never been on welfare but are trying to make it on a low income, financial help for child care is available," said SRS Secretary Rochelle Chronister. "For the increasing number of families with mothers working outside the home and the increasing number of single mothers, child care is a vital need."

By far, the largest percentage of people receiving public assistance in Kansas are single-parent families, the vast majority headed by women.

SRS is serving an average of about 12,000 children a month with child care assistance. These include children from low-income working families, families on public assistance, and families moving from public assistance into the work force. In addition, families receiving family preservation services, children at risk of abuse or neglect, and children with disabilities are served.

For families interested in information about child care assistance or to determine eligibility, contact the child care section at your local SRS office. SRS has an office in every Kansas county.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001