A rally today in Frankfort urged state leaders to spend surplus dollars on programs that provide child care. Since April, 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," said Sanborn. " 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.”
The state ended the last fiscal year with a 70-million dollar surplus. Child advocates would like to see some of those funds go back into child care subsidies. But, a statement from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services says use of rainy day funds in this way is not allowable. It goes on to say it is clearly defined in the budget bill.
