Think college education for your kids will cost an arm and a leg? It might, but often a child's first four years of day care cost even more for families where both parents must work in order to make ends meet.
And while scholarships and federal grants are available for aspiring university-bound students, the same cannot be said for early childhood education, often considered crucial to an individual's future success. A Macon Telegraph article explores this dilemma Georgia's struggling households, as well as the child care providers themselves, often face.
Most Georgia bankruptcy lawyers would probably tell you that their typical clients are households where both parents work outside the home; these are families that typically pay for child care.
While a 2009 survey found that Georgia has the fifth most affordable day care in the US for infants and the eight most affordable day care for 4-year-olds, the sluggish economy has made it difficult for families to afford care. Pam Tatum, CEO of the Georgia organization Quality Care for Children, said the state is now experiencing high turnover and diminished quality of care.
She said legislators tend to not understand the reality of child care, either from the perspective of the parents or the schools themselves:
"I've heard from legislators, 'Well, kids don't need the Cadillac (of care).' We're so far away from a Caddy. A really nice Chevy would be great."
The cost of child care nationally was found in 2007 to be increasing at more than twice the rate of inflation, even though the centers themselves are struggling to keep the lights on, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.
And the average single mother in Georgia spends 27 percent of her income on infant child care.
The article also explores the high cost of high quality care, which includes more structured curriculum and a smaller teacher to student ratio. In most cases, the teachers are paid very little. In fact, the average wage for a child care worker in Georgia in 2008 was a paltry $17,410.
Related Resources:
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Quality Care for Children (Guide to Quality Child Care in Georgia)
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Locate an Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer (FindLaw)
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What is Child and Dependent Care Credit? (FindLaw's Law & Daily Life Blog)
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