Enrollment pause, proposed cut to Idaho child care program is disastrous for working families • Idaho Capital Sun

In a sudden and unpredictable move, Idaho jeopardized the futures of thousands of working families by pausing critical child care programs – a decision that will reverberate across our communities for years to come.

The recent suspension of the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) placed a tremendous financial burden on families and child care providers, including Giraffe Laugh Early Learning Centers, a small nonprofit organization that advocates for educational equity for all children.

Many of the families we serve rely on ICCP funding or scholarships to access our five-star programs, which ensure every child has a chance at a quality early education – regardless of their family’s income. Now, with ICCP on pause and stricter eligibility rules looming, many of these families are left without support – forcing our small nonprofit to increase emergency assistance, further straining our limited resources.

The timing of this decision was nothing short of disastrous. With only two days’ notice, parents and staff were left in chaos. To make matters worse, the hiatus was announced shortly before two of our new programs even opened. This last-minute scramble placed unnecessary strain on everyone involved and left parents – many of whom were already struggling – facing financial stress and uncertainty. These are families living on the margins of society, including those from ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households, who often juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet. For them, access to affordable, high-quality child care is not a luxury; It is important.

Budget cuts to Idaho’s child care program are exacerbating financial problems for parents and providers

If the ICCP pause is repealed, the proposed policy changes would reduce eligibility for assistance from 175% for families earning only up to 130% of the federal poverty level. This will disproportionately affect ALICE households, single parents and low earners who are already struggling with the rising cost of living. If these changes are implemented, only those with higher incomes will have access to quality child care, deepening the gap between the haves and have-nots.

This crisis extends far beyond our nonprofit organization. Most daycare centers in Idaho are for-profit businesses that have no choice but to prioritize full-payer families over those who rely on ICCP. Many of these centers are already struggling with rising wages and inflation. The Idaho Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the ICCP, knows this. But despite the same skyrocketing costs, they have chosen to freeze reimbursement rates and tighten eligibility requirements – making access to affordable child care even more difficult.

For a state that prides itself on family values, these measures suggest otherwise. If Idaho truly wants to promote family values, it must invest in the things that matter most: the education and well-being of our children. Affordable, high-quality child care is a critical foundation for strong families, vibrant communities and a thriving economy. By forcing child care programs and working families to bear the financial burden of these sudden changes, the state is undermining its own goals of economic growth and community empowerment.

Idaho cannot afford to wait. The state must act now to lift the ICCP enrollment pause and align reimbursement rates with today’s economic realities. Every day of inaction puts more families in crisis and weakens the foundations of our communities. If the Idaho Department of Health and Human Services truly cares about our Idaho children, our Idaho workforce, and the future of Idaho, it must ensure every family has access to early care and education – before it is too late.