The Times West Virginian

Local News

July 21, 2012

Child care assistance could be in jeopardy

State to freeze enrollment Aug. 1; funding to be cut for low-income families

FAIRMONT — An upcoming freeze on child care assistance may put working families, and the centers their children attend, in jeopardy.

On Aug. 1, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will freeze enrollment in child care assistance programs. And as of Jan. 1, 2013, the state will stop payments to families who are at or above 150 percent of the federal poverty level. The program currently assists families up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

“If someone got a new job now and needed the extra help, they wouldn’t be able to apply for assistance,” said Helen Brown of Sunbeam Early Learning Center.

“Folks already on child care assistance, the daily fees they pay according to income is being doubled as of Jan. 1, 2013,” she added.

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