Child care cuts impacting kids, families

The sluggish national economy that has the Big Three automakers on life support appears to have a ripple affect and is starting to impact society's most vulnerable, preschool children, according a child-care advocacy nonprofit.

"I'm hearing a 10 to 20 percent drop in enrollment, but of course there's exceptions," Bruce Liggett, Arizona Child Care Association director, said.

The association is a membership organization that represents privately licensed profit and nonprofit child care centers and advocates on behalf of centers so families can afford child care. Liggett recalled that at recent membership meetings in Phoenix and Tucson, parents complained they can't afford child care anymore.

"Our concern is first for the child, and we hope children aren't left home alone or unsafe with unregulated care providers," Liggett said.

Preschool prepares children to succeed in school and those who don't go are at a disadvantage, Liggett said.

Arizona is facing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, he added. Although there is no proposal to cut state funding for preschool, the Legislature has prepared an option list that could slash $19 million from preschool and that means 4,700 children will not attend.

"This program benefits families who work and employers who need workers," Liggett said. "This is the worst time to cut any work support program."

But in Yuma, the economy's downturn does not seem to as serious for parents of preschool children. Melisa Espinoza, Harvest Prep Academy preschool director, said the economy has not seriously impacted families.

Harvest, which opened its preschool level in September, is at capacity and has a waiting list of about 15. Yet one family withdrew their child because they could no longer afford tuition and another asked to reduce their child's attendance.

"They asked if their daughter could go only three days and be charged for those days, but we have a policy of charging no matter how many days a child missed," Espinoza said.

But, she pointed out, a number of families get supplemental support from the Arizona Department of Economic Security's child care assistance. Also, because of the economy, some parents requested a "payment plan" where they can pay biweekly instead of weekly or a pay a deposit and then the balance due later.

Colleen Bagnell, development director of Child and Family Resources, a private nonprofit that helps adults with funding and guidance to set up their own in-home child-care centers, has seen a slight impact because of the economy.

Their nonprofit keeps nine offices across the state and recently laid off a part-time employee in Yuma because a state-funded program was downsized. They receive 98 percent of their funds from federal, state and local government and are anticipating further cuts if the budget deficit grows.

At their recent annual "Lobster Landing" fundraiser in Tucson, they were only able to raise half of the $25,000 they made in sponsorship money last year. Also, one of their private donors, Tahono O'Odham Gaming Enterprise, a Native American casino operation which has typically donated $10,000 in the past, was only able to give $1,000 this year.

Yet the outlook for Casa de Ninos, a preschool on 16th Street, voted Yuma's Best by The Sun's readers in 2007, are promising, Sabrina Seale, the owner, said. Not only does she have a waiting list of 168, but she is planning to break ground on a new location in six months.

Since she is the school director as well, Seale said, she does all the shopping for food and school supplies and does check for bargains.

"With prices of food increasing I watch sale prices and switch from Sam's Club to Smart & Final," Seale said. "But we always keep our nutrition up and our standards high."

Seale added while she has not had to cut back on staff or services, her school is at capacity. The only real impact she has seen because of the economy is those parents who prefer to take advantage of her discounts and pay monthly rates rather than weekly.


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William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.