Child-Care Conundrum

A punishing day-care shortage straps many families, though none more severely than those in which mothers are leaving welfare. In addition, the struggle of these new work-force entrants brings more competition for spaces in facilities serving middle-income families. The state is increasing its effort to expand child care, but it is far from enough.

California has raised by 50% the number of subsidized preschool spaces, allocated $260 million for the children of low-income families shifting from welfare to work and increased funds to train preschool workers in early literacy skills. Gov. Gray Davis can put more money in the pipeline by signing SB 1703, which state Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Whittier) rescued during the final hours of the legislative session. It would provide a $42-million boost for child-care expansion.

The worst shortfalls are in Los Angeles County, which needs an additional 200,000 licensed after-school spaces for children 6 and older and more than 100,000 spaces for infants from 6 weeks to 2 years, according to the L.A. County Child Needs Assessment study, released last month. The study also found that even when day care is available, many working families cannot afford it.

Poor families leaving public assistance are entitled to subsidized day care. Yet thousands are on a waiting list even though some providers have vacancies. Advocates for low-income children blame this on a lack of information and on a sometimes dysfunctional county child-care system.

To help working parents find child-care facilities, the county social services department has established a Web site (https://childcare.co.la.ca.us) that lists day-care centers and larger state-licensed family-care homes by city or ZIP code. The site also includes information on how to become a licensed child-care provider--one more effort to increase the supply as low-paid day-care assistants abandon the field for better offers.

Reducing the child-care crisis will require additional state and local efforts to put available spaces together with families in need and to make sure that those eligible actually get the aid.