© 2024 WMKY
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Child Care Rally In Frankfort

New Beginnings Family Services

A rally Monday (August 19) in Frankfort urged state leaders to spend surplus dollars on programs that provide child care.  

Since April (2013), no new additions have been made to the list of low-income families eligible for child care or kinship care assistance.  That’s when the governor ordered cuts in both programs.  Without a restoration of funding, Michelle Sanborn with Children’s Alliance predicts more foster parents will be needed.

“It’s gonna increase the services we provide, so I have to say that’s somewhat a positive in the business way.  But, that’s not what we do.  We serve children and families; we want to serve them in the home.  We want to serve them in the community.  And we believe it’s best to serve those kids out in the community with their families, as best as possible.” –Michelle Sanborn

While Kentucky lawmakers are in Frankfort, advocates are asking them to restore funding for child care.  During the rally, Lexington Kindercare representative Kay Rue said these cuts hurt kids and their development.

“And we would not put together a program that would let children go hungry, but yet we put together a program that is gonna starve children’s brains and that’s unacceptable.  We can’t do that,” added Rue.

In a statement today from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, it noted one time funds to support subsidies dried up and income eligibility for assistance was lowered.  It goes on to state use of rainy day funds to make up the difference is not allowable