Dependent Care

Summary

Both the high cost of care for young children or frail elderly dependents and the limited availability of resources constrain an individual’s ability to support a family. Further, the limited availability of supervised after-school care leaves vulnerable children with unstructured time and less opportunity for physical recreation and extracurricular activities. Relative to the population of pre-school aged children, Chatham County has a reasonably good supply of licensed or regulated child care openings. The issues for most low-income parents are affordability and quality. The average monthly cost for a pre-school aged child is $360. Subsidized slots are limited and waiting list is long 532 families sought assistance since May 2004 when are openings were filled. In addition, eligibility for subsidies is restricted and complex, which leaves gaps for those seeking to improve education. Before April 2004 there was a two-year wait for families seeking childcare subsidy.

Concerns about the quality of child care centers on the high rates of turnover and low wages for child care workers exists. Also, of the approximately 10,000 children in day care, 24% are served in registered home care settings that range from extremely high quality to very poor quality. Due to the sheer number, 398 homes, there is no on?site inspection or quality control mechanism for these facilities.

Policy Agenda

• School system: E-SPLOST to include facilities for child care
• Legislative quality regulations that include minimum standards for quality care

Projected Measured Outcomes

• A childcare symposium, focusing on improving quality, is planned
• Families have access to new central directory for dependent care facilities and care assistance
• A directory of childcare services is being created that will be accessible through the United Way of the Coastal Empire’s 2-1-1 information system
• The team is working with employers to open a childcare facility in downtown Savannah
• The team also is working to link childcare as an essential component of poverty reduction with funders

Contacts

Champions

Beth Parr

Wesley Community Center
912-236-4226
elizaparr@comcast.net

Laurita Taylor

Green Briar Children’s Center
912-234-3431
ltaylor@greenbriarchildrenscenter.org

Team Member Organizations

Georgia Power, Senior Citizens, Inc., City of Savannah, Synovus Corp., Community Care DCH, Memorial Health, Youth Futures Authority, Economic Opportunity Authority, Housing Authority of Sav., Greenbriar Childrens Center, Armstrong Atlantic University, Wesley Community Ctr., Eastside Concerned Citizens, Department of Family and Children, Union Mission.