Funding brings day care relief to parents, providers

STRATFORD — At one point last year, Shannon Peal nearly pulled her daughter out of Honey Bear Learning Center.

The $230 monthly payment was getting hard for this single mom of two to handle.

“It was a lot of money,” said Peal, who does secretarial work at a law firm.

With no child support, she said, she strongly considered having her daughter cared for by her mom, who was already watching Peal’s baby. She knew that would be a mistake.

Then the call came.

A new Care4Kids reimbursement rate that goes into effect Sunday will allow both of Peal’s daughters, who are now 4 and 1, to enroll in Honey Bear for a total of $110 a month.

“It’s so good,” Peal said. “I had no idea it was coming.”

The news helps families who rely on Care4Kid certificates at as many as 1,200 centers throughout the state. The $14 million in new federal child care development funds is the first boost in years.

In southwestern Connecticut, the reimbursement rate for infant and toddler care will go from $221 to $300 a week, depending on income, and the preschool rate increase goes from $175 to $210.

At Honey Bear, families, depending on their income, will save from $194 to $406 a month, according to Catherine A. Vanicky, director of the program that serves 60 children. Of those, seven slots go to separate, statefunded Bridgeport School Readiness families, which are also receiving an additional funding.

“It is definitely a good thing, a blessing,” said Nelly Claudio, a teacher at Honey Bear, who also has two of her children enrolled there.

In the last legislative session, Vanicky and others fought for several bills aimed at improving affordability and access to child care. The new funding, came as a result of the budget and the release of federal dollars.

As a result, working families will pay less and be eligible for larger child care subsidies.

Merrill Gay, executive director of Connecticut’s Early Childhood Alliance, called it great news for families and for providers.

“Hopefully it will encourage providers to open up new infant and toddler classrooms,” said Gay. “There is an enormous shortage.”