Bill Overview
Title: Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and expands programs and services under the Child Care and Development Fund. The bill expands eligibility to include families earning not more than 150% of the state medium income if the state provides an appropriate opportunity for families earning not more than 85% of the state median income to receive services. Additionally, the bill provides grants for states to expand the supply and capacity of child care providers.
Sponsors: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Target Audience
Population: Families needing child care assistance
Estimated Size: 16000000
- The bill is aimed at families who require child care services, thus impacting children who need child care.
- It expands eligibility to include families earning up to 150% of the state median income, suggesting that more families than before will qualify for assistance.
- The bill provides grants to states which will help expand child care facilities, impacting the capacity and availability of services in communities.
- Since the bill reauthorizes the Child Care and Development Fund until FY2026, it affects the current users of this service and potential new users over the span of at least four years.
- Data from U.S. Census indicates there are millions of families with young children, which contributes to the global estimate.
Reasoning
- The Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2022 is designed to impact families needing child care, especially those at or below 150% of the state median income.
- The policy has a budgetary constraint, suggesting that the benefits will be capped by available funding, possibly excluding some eligible families due to resource limits.
- Wellbeing is expected to improve for families who gain access to quality child care, as it relieves financial and logistical burdens.
- The expansion of child care facilities may also improve employment opportunities for caregivers and providers, potentially boosting local economies.
- The policy is likely to be more impactful in states with higher median incomes, as more families will fall under the eligibility criteria.
- We expect varying impacts based on current access to child care services, geographic location, and family size.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will really help me, as child care is one of my biggest expenses.
- With two kids and a full-time job, I struggle to balance work and budget.
- I hope this makes things easier and lets me save a bit more.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Software Engineer (California)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy sounds beneficial, but my family earns just above the eligible range.
- It may not directly help us financially, but expanding care facilities could improve availability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retail worker (Ohio)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I currently struggle with finding affordable child care.
- The policy would let me access services that I can't afford now.
- It would help me work more hours and improve our living situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Educator (New York)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An expansion of child care options might reduce some of our stress.
- Currently, finding slots in quality programs is challenging.
- The policy could make a difference, but not financially.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Student (Oregon)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affordable child care would enable me to pursue education full-time.
- This policy would greatly benefit me and my child's future.
- I'm worried about getting a spot due to anticipated demand.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Construction worker (Illinois)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope expanded child care options can give my family some much-needed relief.
- This policy sounds promising, but implementation details matter.
- There are rumors about long waiting lists even with expansion.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Freelance Designer (Florida)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I doubt this policy will benefit me as I'm just over the income bracket.
- However, an increased supply of providers could help in availability.
- It's important to address quality alongside quantity in child care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Receptionist (Michigan)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might not affect me directly, but it would help my daughter greatly.
- Ensuring she has child care means she can focus on her career.
- If this benefits future generations, it's a positive move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
IT Specialist (Georgia)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Might help a bit if we qualify, but we have managed without aid so far.
- The policy might alleviate some financial pressure.
- It could free resources for our children's other activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Arizona)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could help with business expansion as it might free up some costs.
- Child care is a significant expense.
- I'm optimistic but cautious about the availability of slots.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1800000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $2100000000)
Year 2: $1850000000 (Low: $1550000000, High: $2150000000)
Year 3: $1900000000 (Low: $1600000000, High: $2200000000)
Year 5: $2000000000 (Low: $1700000000, High: $2300000000)
Year 10: $2200000000 (Low: $1900000000, High: $2500000000)
Year 100: $3100000000 (Low: $2700000000, High: $3500000000)
Key Considerations
- The availability of child care services is a barrier to employment for some families; improving access can enhance economic participation.
- States may require significant lead time to expand service capacity effectively.
- Changes in eligibility requirements will need close monitoring to ensure they reach the people who need the services most.