Changes to Early Child Care and Education Programs Could Help HCAs in Connecticut

Several changes were recently announced to Connecticut’s early child care and education programs that Gov. Ned Lamont said will result in more children being able to receive access to these programs while also lowering the associated costs to their parents, which may also help caregivers, clients, and home care agencies.

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, family fees for Care 4 Kids – the state program that supports low to moderate-income families with some of the costs of paying for childcare – will be capped at 7% of household income, which is down from the current rate of 10%. Fees required to participate in Care 4 Kids will decrease for all participating families. On average, it is estimated that this change will save families about $200 per month.

Additionally, effective Oct. 1, 2024, in an effort to reduce the benefit cliff that families enrolled in Care 4 Kids can face, families participating in this program will be able to remain enrolled until their household income reaches 85% of the state median income, which is an increase from the current limit of 65%, the Governor said. Thus, if a parent receives a promotion or pay raise from her employer, it is more likely she can accept the pay increase and not worry that it will prevent her child from continuing to receive this care.

Caregivers have been confronted with similar career issues, sometimes inhibiting work opportunities and posing challenges for staffing, care coordination, and clients, explained Marlene Chickerella, managing partner of B&M Homemaking and Companion Services, LLP of West Haven, Conn., and Chair of the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter. “Home care agencies experience the benefits cliff problem frequently in employing caregivers and trying to help clients,” she said. “These changes, which may require additional information and education, should help caregivers, clients, and the home care industry.”

Access to childcare and early education programs is important, Gov. Lamont said, because “being able to enroll your child in care right now means that parents themselves can have an opportunity to obtain employment and earn an income that supports their family.”

The changes align Connecticut with federal requirements and are being implemented using existing federal funds, Gov. Lamont said in his announcement.