Spells of subsidized childcare arrangements and subsidy non-use

Abstract

Programs supported by the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) help families with low incomes and in vulnerable circumstances obtain high-quality childcare at a reduced cost. Stable childcare arrangements are an important aspect of quality, but stability depends on families maintaining eligibility, using their subsidies, and staying with a provider. This study uses records from Georgia’s CCDF-supported Childcare and Parent Services program to investigate children’s spells of receiving subsidized childcare from the same provider and of holding subsidies but not using them. It finds that subsidized care arrangements are relatively stable but frequently interrupted by non-use. Only 37% of children are ever observed to change providers, and the median length of spells of continuously receiving care from the same provider is 16 weeks. However, 17% of subsidies go unused each week, and 66% of children have spells of not using their subsidies. The median length of spells of having an available subsidy but not using it is three weeks. Many spells of care arrangements end on annual eligibility renewal dates. Children in smaller settings, before-/after-school care, Quality-Rated care, and settings close to home have more stable care arrangements than other children.