Skyrocketing Day-Care Needs

Finding quality licensed day care resembles musical chairs. There is not enough to go around, and the shortage is expected to worsen as welfare recipients get jobs. Until supply catches up with the staggering need, somebody’s child is going to be left out.

Millions of parents depend on family day-care homes to keep their children safe. The state Department of Social Services licenses providers, and some consider the regulations overly restrictive. They’re wrong. The licensing requirements protect children from lax supervision, abuse, sexual assault and other injuries and dangers.

Enforcement depends on unannounced visits made once every three years or in response to a specific complaint. That’s not enough. The rate of inspections should be increased, particularly as day-care capacity expands in California to accommodate children of newcomers to the job market. Some are finding jobs in California’s booming economy; others are required to take work under welfare reforms.

Increasing safe, quality child care is high on the national agenda as well. President Clinton is pushing a package of child-care subsidies for the working poor that would provide tax credits, at a cost of $22 billion over five years. Clinton has also directed all federal day-care centers to become national models in education, safety and health.

Republicans prefer a tax break for middle-income working families that use day care and for families that choose to forgo a second income so that a mother or father can stay home and raise the children.

The need for day care is particularly acute in California, which must put more than 500,000 welfare recipients to work over the next few years, the majority of them single parents with at least one child under 5 years old. Providing that much day care will require a huge increase in slots, and Gov. Pete Wilson’s budget lists $377 million for state-supported care. Combined with other sources, the budget claims, that will be sufficient for the coming year.

Wilson, a leader among governors on issues regarding pre-kindergarten children, has proposed another substantial boost in state funding for day care for welfare recipients and the working poor. More money in the pipeline should result in more licensed slots, shorter waiting lists and greater peace of mind for parents. Licensed day care is required for the basic health and safety of working families with small children, and nobody should be left out.