College is expensive, yes. But the cost of child care can be just as daunting for some families. In 2023 the annual cost for an infant in a child care center was $17,250, rising to $31,870 for families with an infant and a 3 or 4 year-old in child care. Currently, New Hampshire has over 7,000 (26%) child care positions open, but burnout and low wages are pushing care takers from the field and causing some centers to close. Care takers are often striving to care for their own young children while earning wages that are scarcely above the federal poverty line.
In 2020, NH received around $146 million in federal funds, a one time assistance for child care providers to get through the COVID pandemic. That funding has now run out.
The state will soon be offering a new temporary subsidy program for child care workers to help pay for their own children’s care. It is also the hope of the state these care takers will continue on in their role. A little info:
The state’s current child care scholarship is capped at 85% of state median income. To be eligible, for a family of four, that comes out to about $113,430 a year. This temporary assistance for child care workers raises the cap to 100%, or for a family of four, roughly $133,450 a year. Example; a family of four earning $125,000 would see their annual cost capped at $8,750.
The subsidy can be used for child care at licensed centers, licensed home centers, and licensed-exempt centers that are state registered and enrolled in the state’s existing child care scholarship programs. Children can go to day care where their parents’ work or any other eligible child care programs.
According to state estimates, as many as 200 child care workers may be able to qualify for this program. If you are in the child care workforce or know of someone who is, please share this information with them. Visit this website to see if you qualify and if so, to apply.