Concerns Over Children's Services Raised

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•Subsidized Childcare May Be In Jeopardy



Concerns Over Children's Services Raised
Cuts Proposed For Early-Education Services

POSTED: 12:00 pm EST December 14, 2009
UPDATED: 5:40 pm EST December 14, 2009

facebookdel.icio.usbuzzdiggreddit›› Email›› PrintHARTFORD, Conn. -- Concerns are being raised over children’s services in the state budget.

Early child-care and education advocates spoke out against the proposed cuts in Hartford on Monday. They urged the governor to not balance the budget at the expense of young children and their families.

Several agencies, including the Boys And Girls Club and the Head Start programs across the state joined Rep. Toni Harding from the Human Services Committee on Monday. The group is urging the governor to not cut services for children, specifically subsidized child care, saying if parents don’t have it, they can’t work.

“We are looking at a loss of 5,000 jobs in the area of child care,” said Walker.

Walker said the cuts to kids in the areas of education, family services and after-school programs total more than $47 million.

“If the cuts go through, which is about $4 million for state-funded centers, there will be a lot of families affected, and we would have to cut slots, which would impact the workforce,” said Mary Cecchinato, of Torrington Child Care Center.

"Gov. Rell is proposing cuts to state government bureaucracy and is not making cuts to direct care," said Rell spokesman Adam Liegeot. "The bigger question is what alternative equivalent spending cuts are these program advocates and legislative Democrats proposing?"

Democrats planned to caucus at 1:30 p.m. to come up with alternatives to the cuts. E-mail news tips to Eyewitness News, or dial: 866-289-0333.


http://www.wfsb.com/politics/21961249/detail.html