The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) was created under President Bill Clinton, to help those who are less fortunate and give them assistance and motivation to build a better future. This was his way of changing the current welfare system while encouraging those in need to become more self -sufficient. The CCDF evolved from policies that came before it.
After World War II, there was a lot of wealth and growth in the economy, however, childcare and struggling young mothers seemed to be overlooked under the welfare policy at the time. There was mounting criticism in the early 1960s which led to two bills being passed in 1962 and 1965. These bills were passed by Congress to encourage low- income mothers to seek employment outside …show more content…
The federal government has put into place regulations to establish minimum standards to make sure the childcare for the kids receiving the funds are consistent and safe. There are also requirements to make sure there are systems in place to help those caregivers who are working with the children. These professional development systems are there to help the caregivers bring out social, emotional, physical and cognitive development in the children. They also train them on how to deal with any behavioral issues that may arise. Early intervention is important to a child’s development - cognitively, emotionally and socially, and so this childcare assistance provided by CCDF is crucial to help kids overcome the many obstacles that poverty can create in their …show more content…
Not every person that is entitled to the CCDF will fully take advantage of it. In other words, CCDF is not a federal entitlement, so you do not automatically receive it even if you are eligible. Only 10-14% of eligible families are receiving assistance and according to the Department of Health and Human Services, five out of six children are who are eligible to receive help under the federal rules are not getting help. In many states, there are long waiting lists, and tough income eligibility requirements due to the many constraints of the block grant program. In 2012 there was an analysis of childcare spending. The data shows that total spending on childcare assistance fell to a 10-year low. There are also problems with low reimbursement rates to those that provide childcare which can impact the quality and access to good care. From state to state, programs vary widely some states may show greater weaknesses within the program than