ARRA-Funded Voucher Initiative: Summer 2010

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Summer Only Voucher Extension Proposal

Extend the period for using the $2.25 million of CCDBG ARRA Funds appropriated for “Summer Only” child care financial assistance in fiscal year 2010, through fiscal year 2011 to continue the initiative in summer 2010.

The initiative helps low income working families retain jobs by providing up to full time school age child care/summer camp access during the summer months, a period in which many families struggle to find full time care for their school age children.

If these families are unable to locate care during the summer, they are often put at-risk of losing or reducing their employment.

Background

EEC subsidizes care for 24,270 school age children across the state.

Currently an estimated 22,000 children across the state are on the waiting list for an EEC subsidy for child care.

Of these, 7,784 are school age children.

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2009 Summer Only Initiative Data

In summer 2009, ARRA funds supported 701 school age children were placed in 275 school age summer programs across the state through this initiative.   

Will include geographic spread of programs.

Total expenditures: $636,000

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2010 Summer Only Voucher Priorities

The Summer Only Voucher Initiative: 2010 would continue to be subject to the following policy objectives: •Families/children attending Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) “Commissioner’s Districts”

• Ten districts: Boston, Brockton, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester

•Children whose siblings are already enrolled/receiving child care financial assistance from EEC

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Eligibility

Program Eligibility: To be eligible to accept these vouchers, the summer-only programs must agree to provide a specific program component or focus that addresses summer learning loss.

  Family Eligibility: To be eligible to receive a

Summer Learning Promotion Voucher families must be working or participating in education or job training. Families who are currently seeking employment and those with special needs or with children with special needs who are not also working would not be eligible for these vouchers.

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Implementation

Voucher Allocations: •$1,613,285.51 available•Average cost of 2009 summer vouchers: $1010•Estimated 1,454 children can be served in summer 2010

Period: •Enrolled on or before May 30, 2010 •Place families by June 28, 2010 •End date of September 5, 2010 •Eligible families would sign a voucher that stipulates the one-time nature of the ARRA funding and underscores that the voucher will expire in September 2010