| As coordinator of a single parent/ displaced homemaker program, I see
childcare as a critical issue in the success of the clients that I work
with. The majority of the clients that I work with choose to seek
educational training that will enhance their career opportunities and
chances for a living wage. Unfortunately, the state is rarely able to
provide assistance to those who are working toward a higher paying career.
The money is reserved for those working in low-wage jobs. Many clients
initially choose to work part-time while attending classes part-time so
they can ease back into the rigors of classroom training. But once again,
they are denied child care assistance because they are not in full-time
low-wage employment. Educational training is an important and critical
component in reducing poverty. Without adequate child care assistance,
welfare recipients are forced to stay in low wage jobs with little hope of
ending their struggle with poverty. Renee Schon Coordinator- Iowa New
Choices (Carroll, Iowa) |
