After being declined for multiple assistance programs, including state and federal, she found the Women’s Caring Program (WCP) website (WomensCaringProgram.org) and, along with a prayer, sent in her application. “When I found out from WCP that I was chosen to receive the childcare commitment award, it was literally a prayer answered for me,” she exclaims. Sadly, Greer’s story is more common than not. WCP’s ChildCare Commitment program is the only statewide program that provides this gap funding assistance to families that are not eligible for any type of assistance. These are families who are just above the level eligible for assistance, who, on average, spend 42 percent of their earnings on childcare. U.S. parents pay, on average, $9,000 a year for quality full-time infant care – exceeding the average amount spent on food. “Children grow and learn more from birth to age 3 than during any comparable period in their lives,” said Rachele Downs, board chair of the Women’s Caring Program. “By age three, a child in poverty hears 30 million fewer words than a child from a middle-income home. There is a direct correlation between the quality of early childhood care and education and the future economic independence of children with access to these programs.” Children from low-income families who start kindergarten behind more middle-class peers rarely, if ever, catch up. “Since receiving the scholarship, I’ve felt less anxiety and stress each month,” said Greer. “I go to work with the confidence that my girls are being cared for and taught by teachers and staff who are truly concerned about their well-being. I also have been able to keep both of them together at the same location, providing them the stability they need. Those things alone bring me peace of mind beyond measure.” The 3rd Annual Grand Rapids Twilight Gathering will be held at the home of Marge Byington Potter on August 21, 2013 from 5:30-8 p.m. at 2633 Middleboro Lane N.E., Grand Rapids. For tickets and more information, go to the Women’s Caring Program website at WomensCaringProgram.org.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 21:45:27 +0000
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