a guide through the Georgia

Transcription

1 a guide through the Georgia

2 Who are we?... 3 What is this Manual & Why?... 3 Political Framework... 4 About the CAPS Program... 6 Funding for the Georgia CAPS... 7 Recent Statistics for CAPS... 8 Eligibility Requirements for Georgia CAPS Program... 9 How to Apply to the Georgia CAPS Contacts for CAPS Additional Resources if you Do Not Qualify for CAPS... 13

3 The Real Talk: Stand Up for Parents Initiative is a grassroots, social justice program that recognizes and organizes around the mass inaccessibility and affordability of childcare here in Atlanta, in the state of Georgia and beyond. This initiative is led by organizing teams of local parents of color, who have either been affected personally by growing cuts and costs of childcare, or works with parents and community members that are being affected. With the growing cuts to childcare and the growing costs of quality childcare for parents here in the Atlanta area, we with Real Talk recognize this to be a major issue for parents that we have here on staff and for those who we serve. Under the new requirements that have been set for the childcare subsidy through CAPS, which stands for Children and Parent Services, many parents have found themselves unable to qualify for childcare assistance, and thereby unable to achieve the higher education level that they want. Out of this struggle, the Real Talk: Stand Up for Parents Initiative has been on the ground running, seeking to organize parents who are and have been affected by this injustice. We stand on the belief that childcare is a right that should be honored by society and if that right isn t honored, then we stand prepared to demand access to this right as well as organize amongst ourselves to create community-based solutions. Real Talk is a program of Project South: Institute for the Elimination of Poverty and Genocide. Project South is a 25 year old grassroots movement building organization dedicated to fighting for racial and economic justice in the South. We work with our members on the local, regional, and national level to build power inside of our communities in order to challenge and dismantle poverty, racism, and violence, while creating community-based infrastructure that will provide the solutions that we need. This manual is one of the many productions of Real Talk: Stand Up for Parents that explain the work that we do around childcare and our political standpoints in concise and understandable language. This manual is a brief guide that provides information about our organizing in detail, as well as explains some of the programs aforementioned in the introduction, such as the childcare subsidy CAPS. Organizers who work with Real Talk understand that many parents have a hard time understanding exactly how they qualify for state childcare subsidies, as well as how they don t qualify. The purpose of this manual is to lay out those requirements regarding CAPS in readable language, and also give information on how you can demand and create affordable and accessible childcare in your community!

4 What is poverty? Many subsidized programs operate within the context of requiring that those who qualify for such programs are living at or below the poverty line. While many people may see themselves living at that level just by the mere struggles of everyday life, such as not having enough money to pay rent, living pay check to pay check, and struggling to provide food for their families, the government has set a definitive number to what it means to live in poverty, in regards to income. The Census Bureau defines poverty as follows: If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or non cash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps). The poverty line or threshold is an income level based on the number of people in a family, and is set based on results from the Census Bureau. This means that the poverty threshold can change from one year to another, and therefore assistance programs requirements will also change. For example, in 2012, the poverty line for a family of 4 is $23,050, meaning that families with four people earning less than $23,050 a year would be considered to be living in poverty. In 2011, the poverty line for a family of 4 was $22,350. Therefore, a family earning $23,000 a year would be considered impoverished in 2011, but not in This would mean that in only one year, their eligibility for certain types of assistance would change, not because they are making more money, or can suddenly afford more things, but because the governmental guidelines on poverty have changed. Clearly, this is not how we would define poverty in our everyday lives. The governmental guidelines on poverty do not truly reflect people s living situations. Social justice movements, in talking about poverty, use the term living wage. To earn a living wage means that you make enough money to afford all the necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Additionally a living wage does not just give you access to any food, clothing, and shelter, but it means that we should earn enough money to have access to quality food, clothing, and shelter, and adequate transportation. Many people do not earn a living wage (meaning they cannot, based on their paychecks, afford quality food, clothing, and shelter), but do not qualify as being in poverty according to official poverty guidelines. In order to get out of poverty and earn a living wage, many people seek out higher levels of education. Unfortunately, government programs such as CAPS often place restrictions on assistance that prevent those who are most in need from changing their circumstances. For instance, CAPS does not provide assistance for people who are seeking 4 year or 2 year degrees (unless they are seeking a vocational or technical degree). This means that, for example, people who are poor cannot receive childcare assistance if they would like to attend Georgia State and pursue an Associate or Bachelor s degree. Only those who are seeking to attend a technical or vocational school-- which more often than not result in low wage jobs-- will have access to childcare assistance. We at Project South believe that a system that forces certain communities to remain impoverished by denying them access to resources (both educational and economic), while at the same time stigmatizing them for not pulling themselves out of poverty is unjust and oppressive. It is for this reason that the Real Talk program organizes in communities to both change the CAPS policy so that those who are in need can have access to assistance, and to imagine and create in our neighborhoods different ways to go about receiving and providing care so that less people need to rely on the CAPS subsidy.

5 Project South is an organization that fights for social justice. By this, we mean that we work to ensure that all people have the ability to not just meet their basic needs, but to access the resources they need to make empowered decisions about their lives and their communities. Social justice organizations believe that all people should have access to such things as quality education, meaningful employment with a living wage, and quality housing. We also believe that people should be free from such things as poverty, racism, and interpersonal (at the hands of another individual or individuals) and institutional (at the hands of institutions, e.g., the police or the courts) violence. There are many kinds of social justice frameworks, including health justice, disability justice, racial justice, economic justice, and environmental justice. Real Talk uses three justice frameworks in our work: racial justice, economic justice, and reproductive justice. Racial justice centers around the idea that racism is still a predominant reality in this country (and in the world), though sometimes invisible, and that social movements should be working to eradicate it. Economic justice is the idea that poverty is a major factor in the lives of many people, that poor people experience discrimination and oppression simply because they are poor, and that social movements should be working to eradicate poverty. Reproductive justice is often defined as 1)the right to decide to have a child or not to, 2) the right to decide how to have a child, and 3) the right to raise a child and have access to the resources to do so. Real Talk views access to quality, affordable childcare as sitting inside of all three of these frameworks, as it is most often poor communities, and communities of color that are most often without this access. We believe that a society where justice is the standard would uphold quality, affordable childcare as a right for all people. Because we recognize that childcare should be accessible to all, regardless of income, and that economic devastation and mass incarceration in communities like South Atlanta have resulted in the need for family structures that differ from the traditional nuclear family, we work with a wide range of community members, including: Young mothers in need of support to complete their education; Mothers desiring to attain an Associate s or Bachelor s degree; Unemployed mothers who are ineligible for CAPS assistance; Low-income mothers who do not qualify for CAPS assistance due to income restrictions, or work requirements; and Grandparents raising young children on a limited income. Real Talk members fit into these categories and many more. We work hard to engage all those who are affected by the lack of or limited access to quality, affordable childcare.

6 CAPS Mission/Purpose: To help low income families afford safe quality childcare. The Georgia Childcare and Parent Services or CAPS Program is a government subsidy or aid which aims to help parents with financial need pay for childcare. This assistance looks to specifically offer lower income and struggling parents the opportunity to provide their children with lower cost, safe, quality childcare and has been operating in the state of Georgia since Since quality, affordable, and accessible childcare care is an important necessity for all children, rich or poor, its growing costs from year to year only make it more stressful for parents who are living in poverty to afford it, especially with the current economic downturn and increasing financial hardships across families. Therefore, lower income families can truly benefit from government aid programs like the CAPS Program. Those who receive this subsidy normally split the costs of childcare with the CAPS Program, which leaves parents to only pay a portion of the total costs of childcare. Although many Georgia citizens can benefit from receiving this reduction in childcare expenses, presently the CAPS Program serves about 54,000 of the nearly 175,000 children under the age of 14 living in poverty in Georgia. However to receive the CAPS assistance one has to meet a set of eligibility requirements which include restrictions on: Income, family size, and the amount of children within a household who receive financial aid. These along with other standards are used to determine who can receive this subsidy, the amount CAPS will provide in childcare assistance, and the type of lifestyle one must have to continue receiving this assistance. Currently parents receiving CAPS assistance must meet income requirements which are based off of the 2008 poverty levels (SEE Fig. 1) The CAPS Program is available in all 159 counties in Georgia. FIGURE 1 Parents applying or enrolled in the CAPS program must meet the income guidelines below which are based on 160% of the 2008 Federal Poverty Level. Maximum Allowable Family Income for CAPS Eligibility Number in Family Unit Gross (Before Tax) Annual Income Limit 2 $22,400 3 $28,160 4 $33,920 5 $39,680 6 $45,400 7 $51,200 8 $56,960 9 $62, $68,480

7 In order to offer money for aid with any subsidy, funding must first be provided. The CAPS Program receives most of its funds from state and federal (or national) governments. Most of the federal funds CAPS receives require Georgia s state government to match each amount given. Georgia is also required by the CCDF (Childcare and Development Fund) to meet a state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) to ensure that Georgia s state government is giving a certain amount of its funds to state-run programs and subsidies. This helps to ensure that state governments do not withhold a large amount of funding from programs which benefit lower income families. An overview of the specific federal and state organizations which give money to the CAPS program can be seen below. Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) (authorized by the 1990 Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG)), the 2009 Emergency Childcare funds of 82 million dollars, Recovery Act of 2010 Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Third Party Funds Unfortunately even with these funding sums, a large amount of funds at both the state and federal levels of government still are not spent to benefit impoverished family s needs and wants. Subsidies like the CAPS Program are always in need of more funding. Sadly because of exhaustion of important emergency funds from the CCDF, along with expiration of the 2010 Recovery Act, funding for the CAPS program in 2012 is back down at an all-time low which CAPS has not seen since fiscal years 2006 to Within these years, CAPS had more than 4,000 children each year on its waiting lists in need of child care funds. Consequently this decrease in funds and resources made available for the Georgia CAPS Program for the fiscal year of 2012 to 2013 has made it more apparent than ever that this childcare subsidy should aim to have fewer restrictions in its guidelines which maximize the opportunity for its recipients to gain full independence from the need of this assistance. Having unlimited schooling restraints, less strenuous weekly hourly work load requirements, and possibly implementing additional programs or resources which aim to enhance one s economic status are some suggestions which could lead to CAPS recipients being able to gain quicker independence from such subsidies. Real Talk: Stand Up For Parents asks readers: I don t believe that the way that the CAPS program is set up at the moment promotes lower income families with anything. If you go to school, then you are cut off; if you work more, then you are cut off. It s like they are punishing you for being in need. Like it s your fault that you aren t rich, therefore you get what they give you. You can t grow like that! I have needed affordable childcare for the longest time and have not been able to obtain it. All because I am enrolled in a higher-level degree program! -Julian, Real Talk Coordinator

8 More than 600,000 Georgia children ages birth to 13 live in families with incomes below 150% FPL ($27,465 for a family of three) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funds for CAPS are suppose to Extend the job search period for CAPS participants after a job loss to 12 weeks (DHR recently increased period from 4 weeks to 8 weeks) Waive copayments for families with incomes under the poverty level Update eligibility definition to use current poverty level (rather than past poverty levels) In 2009, Georgia had a monthly average of 53,600 children served by subsidized child care; 54,000 children received subsidized child care in 2008, and 54,700 in As of early 2010, Georgia had no children on its waiting list for child care assistance. This is because Georgia was able to eliminate the waiting list due to the 36 million dollar in Recovery Act funds targeted towards childcare in Georgia, specifically over the 2010 and 2011 years. However in 2012, the Recovery funding has collapsed and TANF funding is at an all time low, which could increase the likelihood of waiting lists being re-implemented. According to these statistics, it seems that CAPS did a good job of eliminating their waiting list, and providing initial assistance to those who qualify. However, their strict restrictions cause many to be quickly cut off from CAPS without being in a stable position to pay the high costs of childcare, or to be locked into unskilled jobs and limited education opportunities, which leave many recipients dependent on the subsidy for longer periods. Recipients are faced with many limitations financially that make it harder to empower themselves. in the CAPS requirements that continually enforce the stigmatization and blaming of poor people who rely on the subsidy. Real Talk believes that the CAPS subsidy should not only seek to eliminate waiting lists, but also reduce restrictions that lock so many parents out of the opportunity to empower themselves and to truly become independent of child care subsidies.

9 Those who wish to apply for CAPS assistance must meet the following general requirements: Recipients can go to Vocational or Technical School an avg. of 24hrs a week and still receive CAPS Recipients can do a mix of both Vocational or Technical School and employment at an average of 24 hours a week. Recipients must work up to 30 hrs. a week and usually work in unskilled employment Recipients who attend a four year college cannot receive CAPS Minors under 21 who attend high school, middle school, or GED courses full time Children receiving CAPS must be under 13 years, however children with special needs can receive assistance until 18 years of age. Maximum income restrictions apply depending upon the number of persons within a family or household (SEE Fig 2) *PLEASE NOTE* Additional County requirements may be needed to qualify for CAPS based on specific requirements of individual local DFCS offices. FIGURE 2 Maximum Allowable Family Income for CAPS Eligibility Number in Family Unit Gross (Before Tax) Annual Income Limit 2 $22,400 3 $28,160 4 $33,920 5 $39,680 6 $45,400 7 $51,200 8 $56,960 9 $62, $68,480 REAL Talk: Stand Up for Parents asks readers : When programs don t allow parents to seek the kinds of educational opportunities that will increase their income, or broaden the range of jobs for which they qualify, by limiting the time that they have available to pursue other opportunities, or by outright limiting access to higher education, those parents will be forced to remain dependent on those programs to meet their needs and the needs of their families. It becomes a cycle -- parents seek CAPS so that they are able to work, and then work so that they are able to meet the requirements for CAPS. -Tamika, Real Talk Coordinator

10 Employed at least an average of 30 hours per week Currently, parents who are exclusively attending college to earn a 4 year degree or graduate degree are NOT eligible for CAPS. Attending a technical or vocational school at least an average of 24 hours per week (can be used as an activity for up to one year) Parents are working longer and harder hours to support the CAPS requirement. Those parents who work retail or hourly jobs will struggle to meet this requirement due to characteristic fluctuation in hours. If a parent wants to pursue a 4 year degree, then they cannot receive this benefit Parents can only receive this benefit if they are attending a vocational/technical degree program. They can only use this activity for up to one year After the first year of vocational or technical training, parents must find another form of childcare or find employment for at least 30 hours a week Parents may have to pay more out of pocket expenses that occur due to late charges. CAPS does not cover after care expenses that parents may incur. Parents lose valuable time with their children. Parents will begin to make more money, which will more likely put them over the income limit. (Based on 2008 Poverty Guidelines). Many parents will not be able to pursue a 4 degree and locked into low-wage earning jobs When parents satisfy the vocational/technical degree requirement, then they are cut off because it is only good for one year Parents will not be able to earn living wages with average degrees and certifications. Parents who try to meet the working requirement in addition to going to perusing a 4 year degree will decrease their likelihood of success by balancing school, work, and family. Children may not have stable form of childcare, or may have to be bounced around if the parents childcare eligibility changes. Those parents that cannot meet the 30 hour requirement will be cut from the service Parents who don t meet the income limit will be cut from the service. The dependency of a parent on the CAPS subsidy will increase because they are not able to make enough money to become independent of the subsidy 4 year degrees are no longer readily attainable Parents and Children are stuck in poverty level employment and conditions. Guidelines source: Georgia Department of Human Services: Division of Family and Children Services website: DFCS/menuitem.5d32235bb09bde9a50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=cdfa2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

11 Here are a few things you should know if you are considering applying for the CAPS program: Be sure to have documentation and prior knowledge of the combined average monthly income (from jobs or other resources) of everyone within your household, average total monthly bills, and also be ready to provide other personal information about the people living within your household (such as social security number, birth certificates, passports etc.). This information will verify your eligibility to receive CAPS funds. All Georgia residents that meet the eligibility requirements for the CAPS program can apply to receive this subsidy by: 1. Go to Click on the Am I Eligible link and you will be directed to an overview of this link. Proceed by then clicking the NEXT button and selecting the box for childcare services. Fill out the appropriate information. Upon completion the site will let you know if you are eligible to apply for CAPS assistance. 2. Now you can apply by clicking the Apply for Benefits link. This link will allow you to either: start a new application, continue working on an application, or to check the status of an already completed application. 3. Fill out required information accordingly. You will use official documentation and knowledge of household income, expenses etc. here. 4. If starting a new application you be asked to create and account on Common Point of Access to Social Services website. Although the site does not require you to create an account to apply, it is advised that you do so for future benefits. NOTE: If you create an account, please remember to save your application every step of the way. This is especially important if you haven t completed an application but want to return later to finish it. 5. After creating an account, this site allows parents to submit their application for assistance, and to always be able to check the status of their application online. Once approved, parents can renew their CAPS benefits and report any changes to their eligibility at any time online. With the passage of the Social Responsibility and Accountability Act (House Bill 861) in Ga, many families are now required to submit to a drug test for controlled substances before receiving TANF and Medicaid Benefits. This act now requires the applicant to pass a drug test, administered at the time an applicant is deemed eligible for benefits. The cost of the test is not covered by the administering agency, and will be the applicant s sole responsibility to pay for it. The cost should not exceed 17 dollars. If a parent fails the drug test, then they will be ineligible to receive benefits for one month. If they fail the drug tests a 2nd or 3rd time, then they will not be able to receive benefits for 3 months to 1yr. Right now, CAPS is not considered a program inside the TANF program, therefore, applicants who are in need of ONLY childcare assistance will not be required to drug test. Parents/ Adults wishing to apply for CAPS assistance can also contact their local DFCS office to receive information on available funding and eligibility requirements for their county. Upon contact DFCS offices with available funding can further assist those who meet local eligibility requirements to apply for CAPS funding and can answer questions on any further inquiries. Once approved for CAPS funding, assigned child care works can assist in finding child care providers. On the next page are offices as well as satellite office numbers for Dekalb and Fulton Counties. If a person resides in counties other than the counties listed below, please visit to get contact info for their county.

12 FIGURE 4 CAPS is administrated in every county in Georgia by each regions Department of Family and Children Service (DFCS). Georgia is divided into seventeen regions, where each area s DFCS office decides the qualifications of who can receive the CAPS subsidy. A DFCS Regional Director can be contacted for each county to learn more about specific area/local CAPS proceedings. Dekalb County DFCS Central City North Service Center 178 Sams Street 84 Walton Street NW Decatur, Ga Atlanta, GA Dekalb County DFCS (Satellite Office) North Fulton Service Center 30 Warren St, NE 6075 Roswell Road, NE Suite 300 Atlanta Ga Atlanta Ga South Fulton Service Center 5710 Stonewall Tell Road College Park, Ga

13 Georgia Pre-K The Georgia Pre-K program is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education. Children 4 years of age on September 1 of the current school year are eligible (parents must be Georgia citizens). Because participation in the program is voluntary (NO COST) for both families and communities, there may not be enough space for every four year old to attend. Head Start and Early Head Start Head Start (3 years - 5 years) and Early Head Start (birth - 3 years) are federally-funded and comprehensive child development programs that serve children from birth to five, pregnant women, and their families. This program is at NO COST for most families whose incomes meet federal poverty guidelines. Children receive free medical and dental care, as well as healthy meals and snacks. Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) You may be able to lower your taxes and even get up to several thousand dollars back if you qualify for the EITC. To qualify you must be working full-time or part-time and make less than a certain amount based upon family size. You don t have to owe any taxes to get the EITC. Federal Child Tax Credit If you have a dependent child under the age 17, you may be eligible to get the Child Tax Credit, which can be worth hundreds of dollars per child. The income limit for the CTC is much higher than for the Earned Income Tax Credit, but you still don t have to owe taxes to get the Child Tax Credit. Federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit If you have a child under 13, and owe federal income taxes, this tax credit can help cover a portion or all of the taxes you owe if you qualify. Additional Ways To Save Multi-Child Discount, Sliding Scale, or Scholarships Many child care providers will be willing to work with you. They may provide discounts for the enrollment of multiple children, offer a sliding scale, or have scholarships available. Employer/College Support Many employers (or colleges, if you are a student) provide child care scholarships, discounts to certain programs, or on-site child care at reduced rates. For more information, contact Quality Care for Children at ALL-GA-KIDS ( ) Courtesy of Quality Care for Children: Hope Foundation (Helping Other People Be Empowered) For single parents that do not qualify for government assistance and without assistance are unable to provide for their children and plan for a better future. The organization assists single-parents by providing them with subsidized housing vouchers and child care vouchers while they attend school. The vouchers are directly paid to the apartment leasing offices and direct child care providers on behalf of the program participants. H.O.P.E, Inc. determines eligibility by conducting an application process, in which the individuals provide an application, proof of dependency and residency, proof of employment and income (last four check stubs), and proof of academic enrollment, as well as current/last semester transcript. Applicants are not expected to pay to participate in our program. In order to apply for this program, please visit

14 Real Talk: Stand Up for Parents Project South