State Initiative

Hurting the Families that Need it Most – Virginia

Apr 6, 2022

It’s Time to Remove Child Support Enforcement from State Child Care Subsidy Programs.

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.

During the 2020 legislative session, Virginia passed legislation that reorganized and consolidated early care and education programs at the Virginia Department of Education. The bill included elimination of the long standing child support barrier in the child care subsidy process.

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