The shutdown and child care
Posted at 3:00 PM on July 8, 2011
by Bob Collins
(19 Comments)
Filed under: Politics
After MPR reporter Sasha Aslanian's story aired today about the problems being faced by people who depend on a child care subsidy, we received several stories from people who have described the impact of the state shutdown.
The most compelling comes from Leslie Eck of Saint Paul:
I am a single mother of a soon-to-be-three-year-old girl. I had my daughter during my junior year of college and her father abandoned us when she was two weeks old. I graduated from the University of Minnesota just over a year ago with a B.S. in microbiology; however, I couldn't have done it without a little help from Minnesota.
I used public assistance including WIC, food stamps, Medicaid, and childcare assistance to help subsidize my family's cost of living while finishing my degree. I have been employed as a contract laboratory worker at 3M now for a year, and I am almost completely independent from any form of state assistance, except for child care.
As a contract worker, I only make 50-60 percent of what 3M pays the contract house toward my hourly wage. In other words, I don't make a lot. I work 50+ hours a week without receiving overtime pay in hopes that I will earn my keep and a permanent position within the company.
Because of the extensive hours I need to work to pay my bills, I use a daycare center with longer hours rather than home daycare (which would be much cheaper, but couldn't meet my busy work schedule needs).
Now, with the shutdown darkening our doorstep and no more child care assistance coming in, I will have to pull my daughter from her center (which I love and she has been going to for over two years. Other mothers will understand how painful this is!), and count on my mother, who is on unemployment and laid off from her job, to help me with the cost of care.
I find it infuriating that so many people accuse working families using childcare assistance as being "free-loaders" and using other citizens' hard-earned money via income taxes to subsidize our lives. Without child care assistance. I couldn't even work to pay my fair share of taxes, let alone contribute to the economy by paying my bills.
Think of it this way: the taxes I end up paying from my paycheck go right back into my own child care costs.
I am working diligently towards my goal of a non-contract, full-time position so I no longer need any form of assistance to pay for my living expenses. But in the meantime, I could use a little help from my neighbors in the great state of Minnesota. I try hard to give back to my community in so many ways. I am a volunteer at clinics and nursing homes through my church. I plan events in my neighborhood, and I am doing my best everyday to make ends meet for my family.
So I am asking people in Minnesota who still care about these issues to stand up for your neighbors, family, and friends who need help. My family is not the only one suffering through this shutdown.
We heard from another listener from East Bethel on the shutdown coverage:
I hear over and over about people that are angry about the state shutdown. Why do I never hear from those that are happy the state isn't able to spend its taxpayers' hard-earned dollars? I hear from only those grabbing money from their neighbors' pockets, why aren't we hearing from those who resent being statutorily thieved from?
And that's where we are in the shutdown debate.
Comments (19)
"Now, with the shutdown darkening our doorstep and no more child care assistance coming in, I will have to pull my daughter from her center (which I love and she has been going to for over two years. Other mothers will understand how painful this is!), and count on my mother, who is on unemployment and laid off from her job, to help me with the cost of care."
Is it just me or is Sasha's answer right there in her own letter...mother, unemployed...maybe her mother is to far away...
Thank you to Leslie for sharing. My story is very similar, and I am touched by her willingness to be open about her experience. Leslie: I don't know if anyone has told you that you are doing amazing things, but you are. It is hard work to parent and finish college at the same time. Hats off to you.
My son was born the summer between my Freshman and Sophmore years of college when I was 19. I worked full time and went to college full time at Augsburg. College grants, child care assistance, and MN Care were the supports that empowered me to achieve in college. Because of those programs, I was able to work, graduate college, and build a career. Today I receive no assistance and am able to give back to the community.
The struggle to raise a child on my own at that young age was one of the most difficult experiences of my life (so far). I am not referring to the financial stress or the actual act of parenting, but the stigma I experienced. It was very lonely. To be honest, I took (and still take) the impersonal words and actions of politicians too personally, as they often seem to forget we are human, and that their actions are hurting our most precious resource: Minnesota's children. Regardless of how one feels about the mother, how can we not value all of our children? How can we treat children as "inessential?"
The loss of child care subsidies disproportionately impacts our children and women, as women are typically the primary caregivers both as parents and as child care providers. This is unjust, and the impact will be felt for a long time.
The child care subsidy program is one of my absolute favorite welfare programs (and I have a lot of favorites.) It pays for itself by getting parents working, kids in safe learning environments, and child care workers income. I'm sad that this hasn't been deemed critical because I believe it is just as critical as the home nursing care that has been deemed critical. It is the same thing, it lets people live their lives.
This isn't the 1950s where one parent can stay home. Child Care costs are incredibly high for low income families. Without child care subsidies parents will have no choice but to put their children in substandard, or even dangerous, situations, or lose their job. It is a sad situation.
What is even more frustrating to me is that Judge Gearin ruled that former constitutional officers such as Gov. Carlson and Gov. Anderson will continue to receive retirement benefits during the shutdown - I read in the Star Tribune that they each get between $4,500-7K+ in pay per month. Although I feel they deserve to be compensated, I think those folks could survive a couple months with a freeze and backpay, whereas people receiving child care assistance simply cannot afford to have funds frozen. Why are the powerful and wealthy being treated as essential while our children are not? I have much respect for our former leaders, but I am truly appalled at this decision. Feels very patriarchal.
Kassie, you probably know more about this than I do because I'm going from memory, but I vaguely remember the child care subsidy being a part of the Republican agenda to cut the cost of welfare and require people to look for work.
I'm pretty sure I remember it being framed as a promise to make the process easier by providing a means for child care, thus allowing people to work.
Given that people went to work, began the process of making a more independent life for themselves, and the cost to the state were reduced, isn't this a program that worked?
It wasn't a "Republican agenda to cut the cost of welfare..." that created the welfare reform program in the '90s if that's what you're talking about. Bill Clinton was the one who spearheaded that effort, and if I remember correctly, Democrats had to fight to get some beneficial elements into the reform, and I'm thinking that child care subsidies were one of those elements. If my memory is incorrect and it was Republicans who were responsible for the child care subsidies, it would have been a very rare instance of Republicans doing anything that had long-term benefits for regular people.
You're talking feds; I'm talking state.
Matt--
Thing is, her mother is ON unemployment. She is currently out of work and to collect her unemployment check (which she probably needs to get by herself) she needs to be actively looking for a job. And if she gets one, suddenly there's no child care again.
My view is that nobody, nobody "choses" to need assistance of any kind. There is far too much stigma, hassle, etc... Child Care Assistance is a program that reaps enormous benefits for the parent and the child. Like most programs, it is short term and folks are able to move on with their lives.
I have been at my job for over four years, and I raise my two children by myself. Last year I found out my eleven year old has a progressive disability, and my other son who is five attends daycare full-time so I am able to work. Since my oldest is no longer able to go to a daycare setting because of his disabilities I have had to cut my hours at work to be home when he is home, and still try to work a couple days a week to barely make ends meet. My youngest goes to daycare those days because I have no one to watch over him while I am at work, now I have to eliminate my job because I can't leave my youngest with my disabled son so I can go to work. Now I have no money to pay my bills, being the self sufficient single parent I once was and going to college full-time trying to make our lives better! I am in poverty as it is, 9.00 an hour did not get me far as it was, and now we have nothing. What kind of clowns we have running our state! If I had half of their money, my kids wouldn't have to go to the salvation army "god bless them" to go grocery shopping!
I have been at my job for over four years, and I raise my two children by myself. Last year I found out my eleven year old has a progressive disability, and my other son who is five attends daycare full-time so I am able to work. Since my oldest is no longer able to go to a daycare setting because of his disabilities I have had to cut my hours at work to be home when he is home, and still try to work a couple days a week to barely make ends meet. My youngest goes to daycare those days because I have no one to watch over him while I am at work, now I have to eliminate my job because I can't leave my youngest with my disabled son so I can go to work. Now I have no money to pay my bills, being the self sufficient single parent I once was and going to college full-time trying to make our lives better! I am in poverty as it is, 9.00 an hour did not get me far as it was, and now we have nothing. What kind of clowns we have running our state! If I had half of their money, my kids wouldn't have to go to the salvation army "god bless them" to go grocery shopping!
Capitalism requires the contribution of a large low-wage workforce. We spend tax dollars on services for the working poor not because we altruistically want to give them a hand, but ultimately because if we didn't they would be rioting in the streets demanding economic justice. Social Services benefiting the working poor is back door corporate welfare designed to prop up profits. Those who receive these benefits need to reframe their thinking and stop feeling ashamed. By being paid less than a living wage they are helping to make the companies they work for profitable and contributing to America's vast wealth - wealth that only dribbles down to them tangled in strings and reeking of misplaced contempt. In reality it is corporate America that should be ashamed.
Like many other families that are affected from the government shutdown, I am also struggling.
I deicided to go back to school 2 yrs ago in hopes that continuing my education would allow me to provide financially more to my family. I do recieve child care assistance to pay for 3 of my children ( 11 mos, 3 & 4 yrs) in childcare while I am in school. That has been cut, school is still in session and I do not have family or friends available to watch them. I have had to leave them with my oldest who is 13 (and worry about them the whole time while I am in school, its stressfull). I am going to school with a scholarship, so grades are very important.
Yes, I do work! I am a childcare provider and have lost half of my families and income from layoffs DUE TO THE SHUTDOWN. My mortgage, bills are the same every month and I cannot afford to lose income!
My husband was deployed overseas last month for the second time in the five years.So I am rasing 6 of our children ages 13 to 11 mos by myself! He does this to fight for our country freedoms and liberties that we are very blessed to have. I feel the shutdown and families suffering from loss of or from childcare is an injustice.
I do not understand that the MN Zoo is allowed to open and operate but not childcare; allowing working and schooled families to continue to pay for living expenses that is a necessity...where are the priorities?
Hi Anonymous,
These people might be able to assist you.
http://www.minnesotamilitaryfamilyfoundation.org/
Go to Frequently Asked Questions tab and there is a link to apply for help.
I am a single mother with a Master's degree. I have not been able to find full time work, so I have been working 2 part time jobs. I have no benefits because of this and the Child Care Assistance was really important for us to make it work. Luckily the child care center I send my son to, is going about business as usually unless this drags on to long, then there will be other options for those of us with CCA, so it's still nerve racking. Do I take him out of preschool/Chilc Care, do I cut back on hours in the even that I have to pay the center back the actual cost of care...which is more then my rent??
Matt insists daycare assistance is thieving from neighbors? how about a little input on how we can conquer this...such as taking that money and putting all the deadbeat fathers who have run off to fulfill their new lives and new families in jail for not helping to pay childcare for their children and other expenses, you blame working struggling people for something they have no control over, i too am working 50hrs per week with the help of daycare assistance for my 3yr old twins, because nobody can help me get the father who left to start a new family to pay his share, when he does i will no longer need this help.
p.s. Matt i would like to know if you and your friends would like to take care of keeping the small business in business by taking these low paying jobs since the low-medium income families who depend of child care would now not be able to do this for the state? We too are doing what we can, we pay our taxes which go towards the child care assistance i receive. Just a thought, i have to wonder if you have thought about this much??
Darla,
Not sure where you got that (childcare is stealing from neighbors) from my post. I pointed out that she says her mother is unemployed - why not have her mother watch the children. John points out that her mother would likely be looking for a job but that is not a full time out of the house process.
As for deadbeat fathers I have no easy answers, I have correct answers but they suck because having children has to do with love and lust not contractual obligations. My dad walked out on my mom and 3 kids, skipped the state and didn't send a penny unless the state garnished him. My mom received welfare during that time and I actually fondly remember the taste of welfare cheese. Never in any of my comments here have I belittled those who are in need nor doubted their will to work, I simply advocate for a non-state solution to those problems. I will argue that by relying on the state for child care assistance as the letter writer does the chances for systemic failure (in this case state shutdown) are greater and can leader to even greater emotional, social and financial costs. A system of small non-governmental resources can respond much better and are less likely to become paralyzed (see hurricaine Katrina).
Hi Everyone!
I am a single mom of four. I know from experience how difficult life can be for single moms. In order to help other single moms, grandparents raising their grandkids, single dads, etc. I founded and run a 501c3 non profit called Families Helping Each Other. We collect reusable: clothing, shoes, toys, books, household goods, etc. from families and then we pass the things out to families in need for free. I also run a single mom support group called Alone Together. The link to the support group is on the website. www.familieshelpingeachother.org
I wish the best to you all!
| July 2011 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | ||||||
Master Archive
Recent Entries
- Let's be careful out there!
- What 'civic leadership really is'
- Math we can't do
- Foreclosures: Better but still not great
- Minnesota kid falls short in Geographic Bee, still a winner
- The best bee
- When the high school prank isn't so bad
- How to kill a wolf
- Is your appetite killing the ocean?
- Getting the Busy Signal
Categories
- Add category
- Art or Eyesore?
- Arts
- Aviation
- Bridges and roads
- Coffeeshop Chronicles
- Crime and Justice
- Disasters
- Economy
- Energy
- Five by 8
- Floods
- Floods 2011
- Fresh Eye on the Radio (with Mary Lucia)
- Health
- History
- Icons
- Life
- Marketing and advertising
- Media
- Music
- News
- News Cut on Campus
- Northwest Airlines
- People doing good
- Politics
- Race
- Regional history
- Religion
- Schools
- Science
- Sports
- Surveys and trivia
- Tech
- The jobs we do
- The political conventions
- The Quiz
- The Unemployed series
- Things that are puzzling
- War
- Weather
- What's the Story Here?
- When people do good
- wildlife
- You Should Meet...
Services
In The Spotlight
-
Sound Learning
Looking for ways to ensure your students are doing quality research from credible sources? Sound Learning is a launching point to Minnesota Public Radio's content on the Web. -
The Current Music Blog
Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock