In this September 2021 file photo, Jax Armstrong, 3, left in policeman costume, plays with Naiya Aguilar, 4 in doctor costume at Giraffe Laugh Early Childhood Learning Center in Boise. (Jim Max for the Idaho Capital Sun)
In one sudden and unpredictable move, Idaho endangered the futures of thousands of working families by pausing critical child care assistance programs — a decision that will reverberate through our communities for years to come.
The recent suspension of the Idaho Child Care Program, or ICCP, placed an enormous financial burden on families and child care providers alike, including Giraffe Laugh Early Learning Centers, a small nonprofit committed to providing educational equity for all children.
Many of the families we serve rely on ICCP funds or scholarships to access our five-star programs, which ensure every child has a chance at a high-quality early education — regardless of their family’s income. Now, with the ICCP paused and stricter eligibility rules looming, many of these families are left without support — forcing our small nonprofit to step up with emergency fundraising, straining our limited resources even further.
The timing of this decision was nothing short of disastrous. With just two days’ notice, parents and staff were thrown into chaos. To make matters worse, the pause was announced just before two of our new programs had even opened. This last-minute scramble placed unnecessary burdens on everyone involved, leaving parents — many of whom were already struggling — facing financial stress and uncertainty. These are families living on the edge, 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, quality child care is not a luxury; it’s essential.
Budget cuts for Idaho Child Care Program compounds financial troubles for parents, providers
When the ICCP pause is lifted, the proposed policy changes would reduce eligibility for assistance to families earning only up to 130% of the federal poverty level, down from 175%. This will disproportionately hurt ALICE households, single parents, and low-wage workers who already struggle with the rising costs of living. If these changes go through, only those with higher incomes will have access to quality child care, deepening the divide between the haves and the have-nots.
This crisis extends far beyond our nonprofit. Most child care centers in Idaho are for-profit businesses that will have no choice but to prioritize full-paying families over those who rely on ICCP. Many of these centers are already grappling with rising wages and inflation. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, which oversees ICCP, knows this. Yet, despite seeing the same skyrocketing costs, they’ve chosen to freeze reimbursement rates and tighten eligibility — making affordable child care even more inaccessible.
For a state that prides itself on family values, these actions speak 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, 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 carry the financial burden of these sudden changes, the state is undermining its own goals of economic growth and community strength.
Idaho cannot afford to wait. The state must act now to lift the ICCP enrollment pause and adjust reimbursement rates to reflect today’s economic realities. Each day of inaction places more families in crisis and weakens the very foundations of our communities. If the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare genuinely 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’s too late.
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