This brief outlines why states should strongly consider removing any child support enforcement requirements from state child care assistance policies. States funded under the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) are currently able to require child care subsidy recipients to cooperate with the child support program as a condition of eligibility. However, recognizing the barriers that this policy inflicts on families that simply want to return to work, most states have chosen not to adopt it or have removed child support enforcement from the subsidy process. In addition to adding burdensome family requirements, this policy can negatively impact young children and potentially damage healthy relationships that are so essential to early brain development.
Open Letter
A Clean Diaper Should Never Be Out of Reach
Through the lens of the National Diaper Bank Network, this article identifies diaper insecurity as a public health issue and examines its effects on child health, development, parental well-being, and access to child care and employment, while highlighting the importance of investments in diapers, health care, child care, and family support programs to help children thrive.
