National LCLAA 2008 Membership Convention

11. Resolution: Increase Child Care and Development Block Grant Funding (CCDBG)

WHEREAS;

The need for child care nationally has bee growing exponentially with the need for two-income families and the

increase of single head of households; and

WHEREAS;

Research demonstrates that full-time child care is necessary and that high quality care can decrease stress,

improve productivity and encourage workforce participation of parents; and

WHEREAS;

In many communities where working families total income is still only marginally able to sustain itself only if

subsidized child care is available; and

WHEREAS;

Childcare has become a growing industry in the nation and in New York City alone the early care and education

sector of the economy generates $1.9 billion, which includes parent fees, government subsidies and industry

support paid by the government, and

WHEREAS;

The childcare industry must be recognized as a vital economic engine that is necessary and an integral part of

the social infrastructure that keeps the nation working by enabling parent to work and in many places provides

social and educational structures for the nation's infants, toddlers and children; and

WHEREAS;

The childcare industry supports local and national economies, relieves parents of burdensome concerns about

their children and offers children a safe haven for children being home alone or with unqualified care; and

WHEREAS; Nationally there are millions of eligible children for subsidized child care. In New York City

alone there are some 350,000 children eligible for subsidized child care; and

WHEREAS; In New York over 440,000 women are single heads of households with children under the age of

18; and

LET IT BE RESOLVED;

That LCLAA and its affiliates charge Congress to increase $874 million to the Child Care and Deployment

Block Grant which would restore the program to the 2002 inflation-adjusted levels and assist families who lost

benefits after years of flat funding.

Respectfully submitted by:

New York City LCLAA Chapter

Albany/Capital District Chapter

Westchester County LCLAA Chapter

REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE: YOUTH TASK FORCE COMMITTEE

CONCURRENCE:________________________________________

NON-CONCURRENCE:___________________________________