Parents who work or attend school can seek help in paying for childcare by applying to a child care assistance program.
A child care assistant program helps low-income families pay for child care while parents are working or in school.
Cynthia Cage, the Early Childhood Resource Center Director at the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, explained that parents only need to provide four consecutive check stubs or proof of taking at least 20 hours in school in order to learn if they qualify for a child care assistance.
According to a study done in 2019 by Child Care Aware of America, center-based infant care cost an average $8,580 and home-based care cost an average of $7,540 in Louisiana.
According to the same study, single parents pay 42 percent of their income for center-based infant child care. Married parents of two children living at the poverty line pay 65 percent of their income for center-based child care, and the average price of center-based infant child care in Louisiana is less than the average annual tuition and fees at a public four-year college or university.
Cage explained that parents are often eligible for assistance, but they are sometimes hesitate to apply.
“The only way to see if you qualify is to come in and look at the income guidelines and some families will qualify based on that alone,” Cage said.
Cage explained that families can experience positive outcomes to participating in the program.
“Positive signs for receiving assistance are that the child is in a safe quality run center and it goes a lot towards their social emotional development,” Cage said.
The Child Care Assistance Program at the Louisiana Department of Education decides a family’s eligibility once they apply for child care assistance, according to Cage.
"Time to Talk" is produced with the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana and BayouLife Magazine.
