Supplemental Tables: conomic Well-Being Supplemental Tables: Economic Wellbeing

Definition

“Early care and education” refers to preschool and childcare programs that provide care and education for young children (typically ages 0 to 12). This indicator tracks the average cost of early care and education per week in Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) and Child Care Centers for infants, preschool and school-aged children. Both the state and federal government for low-income families support subsidized early education programs. The California Department of Education (CDE) funds agencies to provide quality childcare and development services to low-income families in licensed childcare centers, licensed family childcare homes and license-exempt settings. Head Start is a federally-funded program that provides comprehensive educational, health and social services to low-income children ages prenatal to five years and their families.

*Cost of child care per week represents an average of the rates given to Children’s Home Society staff during the intake process and through phone calls made to child care providers during quarterly updates.

**Family Child Care providers care for children in their homes and are licensed as follows: Small child care- 1) 4 infants only, 2) 6 children, no more than 3 of whom may be infants, 3) 8 children, no more than 2 infants, and 2 must be 6 years of age or older. Large family child care- which requires a full time assistant to work with the licensed care provider - 1) 12 children, no more than 4 of whom may be infants, 2) 14 children, not more than 3 of whom may be infants and 2 must be 6 years of age or older.

*** Child care centers include private for-profit centers, parent-run cooperatives and church-based non-profits. The state regulates the ratio of caregivers, square footage and staff qualifications.

Source: Children's Home Society of California's Child Care Resource and Referral Program