@article{b8efe581104240608ea3ef0762a733a9,
title = "Childcare Subsidy Enrollment Income Generosity and Child Maltreatment",
abstract = "In the United States, childcare subsidies are available to low-income working parents to assist with the cost of childcare. The subsidies are provided as block grants to states, which allows for a great deal of flexibility in the specific policies guiding their distribution. Prior research has found a protective link between childcare subsidies and child maltreatment, but the variations in policies have been much less explored. The current study used longitudinal administrative child welfare data from 10 years (2009–2019) linked with state policies regarding the income eligibility requirements of states to examine the impact of these policies on child abuse and neglect among young children (0–5); early school-age children (6–12), and older children (13–17). Using multiple regression and controlling for state demographic characteristics, the study found that more generous policies surrounding income eligibility were related to lower rates of child abuse and neglect investigations at the state level.",
keywords = "child abuse, child neglect, child maltreatment, childcare subsidies, social welfare policy",
author = "Klika, {J. Bart} and Kathryn Maguire-Jack and Megan Feely and William Schneider and Pace, {Garrett T.} and Whitney Rostad and Murphy, {Catherine A.} and Merrick, {Melissa T.}",
note = "Funding Information: Childcare subsidies are intended to improve the financial wellbeing of low-income families, administered through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF). Established as a block grant in the 1990s, the CCDF provides states with funding to support adults in securing and maintaining employment, job training, or educational activities that will advance employment prospects. Because childcare subsidies are distributed as a block grant, there is a great degree of state variation in program implementation []. Key features of state variation include eligibility requirements, waitlists, redetermination requirements, copayments size, provider requirements, and reimbursement rates. Although this variation has potential to influence the likelihood that families receive benefits and how the benefits matter in their lives, much remains unknown about the ways in which this policy variation relates to outcomes among low-income children and families. Funding Information: This publication was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (R01CE003178) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling USD977,677 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 by the authors.",
year = "2023",
month = jan,
doi = "10.3390/children10010064",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "10",
journal = "Children",
issn = "2227-9067",
publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",
number = "1",
}