1. Studying the Impact of Indicators of Children's Well-Being on
Policies and Programs: An Expert Working Group
Presentation By Sarah C. Shuptrine
President, CEO
November 18, 2003

2. Southern Regional Initiative on Child Care (SRICC)
Supporting Families After Welfare Reform (SF)
Covering Kids & Families (CKF)
SF/CKF Eligibility Process Improvement Collaborative
Southern Business Leadership Council (SBLC)

3. Southern Institute on Children and Families Site Visits (1997)
Child Care Findings
Funding to meet the need for child care subsidies was inadequate.
Eligibility policies placed a priority for public child care subsidies on families with a connection to welfare leaving many non-welfare related families without needed assistance.
Application and redetermination policies and procedures presented barriers to child care subsidies.
States were engaged in limited outreach to families.

4. Southern Regional Task Force on Child Care
Southern Regional Initiative on Child Care began with the appointment of the Southern Regional Task Force on Child Care.
24 Member Task Force
17 members appointed by governors
1 member appointed by the mayor of the District of Columbia
1 member appointed by the Southern Growth Policies Board
5 members appointed at large

5. Task Force Process
Received testimony from families, child care professionals, advocates and the business community.
Conducted survey of the 16 states and the District of Columbia to collect data on subsidy system policies and eligibility issues.
Identified barriers that impede access to child care assistance.
Identified strategies to improve access to child care assistance.

7. Action Plan to Improve Access to Child Care Assistance for Low-Income Families in the South
The Action Plan calls for bold action to make child care financial aid available and accessible for low-income parents who need and seek it.
10 Goals
52 Action Steps

8. Child Care Is Costly
Child Care Costs More Than Public College Tuition In All Southern States

11. Action Plan to Improve Access to Child Care Assistance for Low-Income Families in the South
Goal 2
States and communities should broaden their child care eligibility and subsidy policies to meet the economic, work and education needs of families.
Action Step 2.1
Establish co-payments not to exceed 10% of gross family income.

14. Action Plan to Improve Access to Child Care Assistance for Low-Income Families in the South (Excerpt)

15. Action Taken Toward Goal
Goal 2 - State Eligibility Policy
Action Step Establish co-payments not to
exceed 10% of gross family income.
Action Step Completed
Action Taken Toward Goal
No Action Reported
Alabama
District of Columbia
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
North Carolina
South Carolina
West Virginia
Maryland
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Arkansas
Texas
Note: States in bold implemented Action Step 2.1 prior to the Southern Regional Initiative on Child Care.
Source: Southern Institute on Children and Families, Survey Results on the status of State Implementation Efforts, February 2002.

20. Southern Regional Action Plan to Improve the Quality of Early Care and Education
The Action Plan sets forth a “gold standard” that the Task Force feels every southern state should achieve on behalf of all children in early care and education.
7 Goals
39 Action Steps

35. Percentage of Correct Answers on the Pretest and Post Test, By Program
Recipients
Percentage of Correct Answers
on the Pretest and Post Test, By Program
Program
Pretest
Post Test
Earned Income Tax Credit
41%
86%
Medicaid
38%
81%
Child Care
76%
93%
Source: Southern Institute on Children and Families, Data collected for the Georgia Information Outreach to Reduce Welfare Dependency Project.

36. Community Organizations Percentage of Correct Answers
on the Pretest and Post Test, By Program
Program
Pretest
Post Test
Earned Income Tax Credit
71%
96%
Medicaid
61%
98%
Child Care
81%
100%
Source: Southern Institute on Children and Families, Data collected for the Georgia Information Outreach to Reduce Welfare Dependency Project.

37. Employers Percentage of Correct Answers
on the Pretest and Post Test, By Program
Program
Pretest
Post Test
Earned Income Tax Credit
38%
100%
Medicaid
61%
96%
Child Care
50%
Source: Southern Institute on Children and Families, Data collected for the Georgia Information Outreach to Reduce Welfare Dependency Project.