media mention

Boosts in income eligibility mean more Maryland families to access child care subsidies

Helen Blank of the National Women’s Law Center said the gains Maryland has made are significant. According to the Washington-based nonprofit, the state’s vouchers had some of the lowest market values in the country. Maryland was also one of 20 states with waiting lists and the co-payments required from parents were the second-highest. Where Maryland ranks now is not clear, as legislative changes across the country are underway following an increase in federal funding from the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Blank said. Increases to the Maryland subsidies also are tied to the federal funding boost. “This is a big jump,” Blank said of Maryland. The state “made a lot of progress” that moves closer to building a child care system that “reflects the needs of working families and strives to provide high quality care to children.”