Stimulus packages offer big boost for Mississippi parents in need of child care mix987.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mix987.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Federal COVID-19 relief for child care will help Mississippi parents, providers Carol Burnett, Guest columnist
Replay Video UP NEXT
The recent COVID-19 relief package together with the one about to be approved by Congress and signed by President Biden could bring over $650 million into Mississippi’s Child Care Payment Program operated by the Department of Human Services. This includes $330 million to increase the number of children served in Mississippi’s Child Care Payment Program, and another $320 million intended to shore up the child care sector during this pandemic.
This increase in funding for child care assistance would allow Mississippi to serve 79% of our state’s eligible children. Child care costs $5,760 per child in the DHS Child Care Payment Program, a lower amount than most child care centers charge. If you apply this cost to the funding increase, it shows that Mississippi can serve another 57,000 in addition to the 31,000 DHS reports are al
The paying parent is required to provide an agreed sum of money regularly to ensure their child is supported.
However, it is, unfortunately, the case some parents dodge their payment responsibilities, creating an additional financial burden for the parent with primary care.
This was the case for two single mothers who were left out of pocket after the fathers of their children refused to pay.
For 11 and 10 years respectively, the fathers concerned denied four children Child Maintenance support.
Child Maintenance: Two single mothers secured £40,000 respectively (Image: Getty)
In contentious situations like these, it is likely to be the case the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) needs to step in.
Childcare centres across Australia are suffering staff shortages, which have been exacerbated by the COVID crisis.
Many childcare workers across Australia left when parents started pulling their children out of childcare due to the pandemic, especially casuals not eligible for JobKeeper. And when the federal government introduced its temporary free childcare package, centres struggled to get the staff back.
The situation is not new. In a 2016 survey of 1,200 early childhood educators and teachers in childcare centres and preschools across Australia, one in five said they planned to leave their job within a year. The reasons included low pay, feeling undervalued and increasing time spent on paperwork.
She said: “This is a life-changing sum of money - I had almost given up on ever receiving anything.”
In many instances, parents who are no longer together will be able to sort out financial support for a child between themselves.
This is where the Child Maintenance Service will step back, only providing support if absolutely necessary.
However, the CMS has highlighted instances such as these where one paying parent is avoiding their financial responsibilities.
Child Maintenance: Some parents can also gain Child Benefit payments from the government (Image: EXPRESS)
READ MORE
At this point, the organisation will step in, in order to provide help and ensure payments are being offered.