Two new UNM CCPI studies out this winter highlight the economic stability that families gain from Child Care Assistance, a program that fully subsidizes the cost of child care for qualifying New Mexico families. The studies, which draw on a survey and interviews with New Mexico families, also describe challenges that families face in learning about the program and renewing their benefits.

The first study, published in Children and Youth Services Review, reports on interviews with a sample of New Mexico families with young children who are likely income-eligible for Child Care Assistance. The sample included families who had enrolled in Child Care Assistance and those who had not, and findings explore their knowledge of the program, their reasons for applying or not applying, and any experiences with the program.

The second study, published in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues, reports on a survey and follow-up interviews with families about their experiences recertifying their benefits. Recertification is an annual process, requiring families to verify that they are still eligible for the program. The study explored families’ experiences with the recertification process, as well as the challenges experienced by families whose benefits were not recertified.

Key findings across the studies suggest:

• Families who received sustained Child Care Assistance benefits reported enhanced economic stability. Some families gained this stability through increased employment, while others described economic relief from not having to pay private child care tuition. This stability enabled families to save for emergencies or major expenses such as vehicles or improved housing. Families who lost their benefits during the recertification process reported that their circumstances became less stable.
• Families described an important role for the state eligibility workers who helped them apply for and recertify their benefits. When these workers were responsive and respectful, they were critical in supporting subsidy access. This was especially true for families with complex circumstances including those with larger households or gig work. When eligibility workers were unresponsive, it had negative impacts on families’ initial and ongoing subsidy access, and thereby for their care usage and family stability.
• Lack of awareness about the program and its eligibility criteria was the most common reason that likely-eligible non-users did not enroll. Other reasons included administrative challenges in the subsidy enrollment process, lack of interest in non-familial care, and limitations in their community’s care supply.

These findings suggest that Child Care Assistance can support economic stability and employment for New Mexico families—an encouraging finding in the context of New Mexico’s dramatically expanded eligibility and increased funding for the program. This research also points to areas for future focus, including funding and supports for the eligibility workforce, continued efforts to raise broad awareness about the program, and efforts to support growth of the care supply.

Read the full articles here and here. If you encounter any paywall or access issues, don’t hesitate to contact us at hailey57@unm.edu for assistance.