1. Texas Subsidized Child Care Utilization Patterns and Outcomes.
- Author
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Texas Univ., Austin. Center for the Study of Human Resources., Schexnayder, Deanna T., Schroeder, Daniel G., Faliski, Katherine, and McCoy, Jody
- Abstract
To learn more about families and children who have been served by the Texas Child Care Management Services (CCMS) system, this study investigated four primary questions: (1) What are the demographic characteristics of Texas families and children who have received subsidized child care services? (2) What are the subsidized child care utilization patterns for these families? (3) What are the labor market and Aid to Families with Dependent Children/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (AFDC/TANF) outcomes for families who have received subsidized child care? and (4) How do the characteristics and outcomes for eligible families who applied for but who did not receive subsidized child care differ from those of families who received subsidized care? A longitudinal dataset was developed by linking a number of administrative data files across programs and over time; these files included CCMS data from both the Texas Workforce Commission and local CCMS offices, employment and earnings data, and AFDC/TANF recipient data. Findings included the following: (1) most child care subsidies were provided to children in five major categories--JOBS/Choices, transitional, food stamps, income-eligible, and child protective services--and children in the income-eligible group experienced the most dramatic increase in total subsidies from 1994 to 1997; (2) most children received care so that their parents could work or attend school or training, and most received their care through day care centers; (3) child care subsidies seemed to play a role in both the employment of low-income families and the decision of families to leave or remain off AFDC/TANF; and (4) eligible families who applied for but who did not receive subsidized child care fared worse in all labor market and AFDC/TANF participation measures. (Contains 59 references.) (EV)
- Published
- 1999