Paying for quality child care

To the editor:

Families often struggle to find any type of child care, much less high-quality care where children experience many early learning opportunities.

Children who enter school without adequate preparation start with a disadvantage that is not easily overcome. Employees with children who do not have stable, quality child care arrangements can be costly to their employers.

There are several mechanisms in place to help families pay for quality child care.

Each child under the age of 17 is worth up to $1,000 in child tax credits. Another benefit for working families with children is the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The EITC can be worth up to $4,500, yet the IRS estimates that up to 25 percent of eligible families fail to apply for it. Families who are eligible for the EITC can file a W-5 form with their employer and receive a portion of their credit throughout the year with their paycheck.

Another way to afford child care is reducing your federal income tax withholding to a level that just meets your taxable obligation. Instead of a huge "windfall" when you file your income tax return you should break even or get back just a small refund.

Income-eligible families can receive assistance through Child Care Information Services, administered locally by Northern Tier Community Action Corp. Funding is available on a sliding scale for a family of two earning no more than $27,380, three earning no more than $34,340, and four earning no more than $41,300.

For very low-income families, the County Assistance office has funding available to help pay for child care. To learn more, contact Northern Tier Community Action at 486- 1161.

Robin L Kuleck Cooperative Extension