2 weeks Ago
"Is there something you want to share during circle time?" Ben, a young boy in the E Street After-School program, quietly spoke up. "I miss my dad. He's in prison.
I don't really tell anyone about it, but it makes me feel sad." In this raw moment, Ben opened a window into the emotional toll so many of Idaho's children experience daily. At E Street Community Center, we see children like Ben thrive when they're given the support they need.
But these vulnerable children, and the families who work so hard to support them, are now being left behind. Idaho is at a crossroads. The state's Child Care Program is temporarily pausing new enrollments due to a staggering $15.
5 million budget shortfall, putting the future of after-school programs like ours in jeopardy. What makes this even more disheartening is the fact that $50 million in unspent federal funds could fill this gap. Yet, these funds remain untapped and at risk of being redistributed to other states.
Idaho's most vulnerable children cannot afford to be caught in the middle of a preventable funding crisis. The pause in new enrollments affects hundreds of working families each month, leaving them without the financial support they desperately need. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on these federal dollars, which could make an immediate impact if the state would take swift action to secure them.
This issue goes far beyond budget numbers and bureaucratic delays. Without access to affordable childcare, parents are forced to make impossible decisions between their careers and their children's well-being. According to Idaho Voices for Children, the state loses $525 million annually due to childcare challenges.
These losses come in the form of reduced earnings, productivity, and tax revenue. Idaho's families — and economy — are paying the price for this inaction. The stakes are high.
Research consistently shows that after-school programs improve mental health, reduce criminal behavior, and close the achievement gap between low and high-income children. But without these programs, children like Ben lose more than just a place to go after school — they miss out on educational opportunities, social emotional support, and critical life skills. There are 137,000 children under the age of 5in Idaho.
More than half of them live in households where both parents are in the workforce. The cost of childcare is out of reach for many families, often exceeding $10,000 per year for an infant. But despite the need, Idaho's childcare programs currently only serve 15% of eligible families.
We must do better. We stand with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's recommendations in how Idaho can begin to address this crisis: 1. Use the $50 million in available federal funds to fill the budget shortfall and prevent further harm to families.
2. Delay the implementation of increased local market rates until July 2025, giving the state time to adjust its fiscal priorities. 3.
Restore payments to the 65th percentile of local market rates by 2025 to ensure providers are fairly compensated. 4. Temporarily pause new enrollments in the ICCP while protecting vulnerable populations and restore eligibility for families at or below 130% of the federal poverty level.
These solutions aren't just about saving a budget; they're about saving Idaho's future. Investing in childcare is investing in a stronger, more resilient workforce, a more competitive economy, and most importantly, in the well-being of our children. We urge lawmakers to act swiftly to secure the federal funds and implement these critical reforms.
The window of opportunity is closing, but the needs of Idaho families remain pressing. Let's ensure that no child, like Ben, is left without the support they deserve. Kara Fort is the interim president and chief executive officer of the United Way of South Central Idaho.
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