Untapped Potential? How States Contract Directly with Providers to Shore Up Child Care Choices for Low-Income Families

Publication Date: April 2003

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Mark H. Greenberg; Kate Irish; Rachel Schumacher

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

States currently have the flexibility to contract directly with providers to make child care available to low-income families. According to this first national study of state child care contracting policies, states are using contracts to increase the supply of child care in certain high-need areas, to provide child care to special populations, and to improve the quality of child care program standards and services. Although nearly half the states use contracts to shore up child care supply for low-income families, the full potential of contracting has not yet been tapped.

Supplementary files include an 8-page policy brief, and a PDF version of slides presented at the Region X State Child Care Administrators Conference in July 2003.