Should the state subsidize stay-at-home parents? The Trump administration has drafted a proposal for a plan that would allow state subsidies to go toward parents who are taking care of their children at home. The administration would not be creating a new program, but rather tapping into the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) that was established during the Clinton administration and changing what is eligible for funds, such that married couples making under a certain income threshold can qualify.
The Clinton-era program was created to support low-income parents—people who make less than 85 percent of their state's median income (or in some states, 60 percent)—who work. It helps fund the care of children up to age 13 and offset the cost of care for 1.3 million children. CCDF funds can be used for daycare centers, home-based daycares, after-school programs, as well as (in some cases) relatives and neighbors who meet state requirements. Parents are not eligible for funds for taking care of their own children. "Under the current rules, most of the money is distributed to states, which in turn distribute it to parents, usually in the form of vouchers or direct deposits to child care providers," reports The New York Times.
