Coming Undone reveals threat to licensed child care in Alabama
Coming Undone: The State of Child
Care in Alabama documents the damage inflicted on the child care
delivery system by child care policies and regulations in Alabama.
Of particular concern is the decreasing quality of child care in the
state, as licensed child care programs close their doors and
enrollment at unlicensed programs increases. Deplorably,
Alabama policy-makers promote this dual system of child care by
issuing unfunded mandates, exempting faith-based child care programs
from meeting minimum standards for safe and appropriate learning
environments, and directing federal and state child care money to
unlicensed child care programs.
In the spring of 2005, the Federation
of Child Care Centers of Alabama (FOCAL) conducted a statewide child
care impact study. Our surveys focused on the impact of new child
care regulations on children, families, and child care programs. We
received responses from 560 owners, directors, and staff persons of
licensed child care facilities.
Two
Major Trends
The survey responses indicated two
major trends:
- The unintended result of new
child care regulations is that licensed, quality child care is
now out of reach for many working families.
- Alabama promotes a
license-exempt child care system that is overtaking licensed
care and leaves children vulnerable.
Changes Intended to Improve Child Care in Alabama Produce Unintended
Results
Child care reforms were initiated by
the Department of Human Resources, the Governor, and the Alabama
Legislature in 2001, 2003, and 2004. They were intended to protect
children and improve the quality of child care in the state.
The child care impact study revealed
the unintended results of the changes in regulations:
- Child care facilities eliminated
services and programs (most often infant care) or closed their
programs entirely.
- Facilities decreased the number
of children they serve.
- Facilities raised fees to pay
for the regulation changes.
- Unable to afford the increased
fees, parents moved children from licensed child care facilities
to unlicensed, exempt, and underground child care facilities.
- The number of unlicensed
faith-based exempt child care facilities increased, while
licensed child care facilities decreased in number.
Alabama’s Child Care System Is Coming Undone
FOCAL recommends that we advocate for
a system of child care that:
- Provides accessible and
affordable care for all of Alabama’s children;
- Upholds a minimum level of
safety and standard of care for all children;
- Is forged from a deep
partnership between child care professionals, families,
government entities, child advocates and the religious and
private sector.
Call to action for child care
providers, parents, and child advocates:
- Call the FOCAL Office
(800-300-0232) about holding or attending a community meeting in
your area.
- Learn how new child care
regulations had many unintended results—including putting
licensed, quality child care out of the reach of more and
more working families.
- Talk with others about
what’s happening to child care in Alabama.
- Join others in asking
legislators to protect our children and budget more money
for child care.
- Talk with your local legislators
and government officials about your specific circumstances and
problems.
Coming Undone: The State of Child
Care in Alabama provides a clear overview of the Alabama child
care system, comments from child care owners, and recommendations
for improving Alabama’s child care system and making it more
equitable. The book is available here and from the FOCAL Office, PO
Box 214, Montgomery, AL 36101.
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