Understanding Provider and Community Influences on Subsidy Program Participation Among Home-Based Child Care Providers

• In Event: Understanding the Use and Impact of Public Funding in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

This study uses nationally representative data from the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education to examine home-based child care providers' participation in the subsidy program. Child care subsidies are an important tool for ensuring families can access affordable early care and education. However, little is known is known about the characteristics of home-based providers who participate in the subsidy program. Using a hierarchical logistic regression, we found that community characteristics predict providers' subsidy participation, specifically community poverty density and community racial composition. These results have implications for subsidy policy and program implementation, specifically ensuring subsidies are equitably accessible.

Authors

• Joon-Ho Lee, University of Alabama

• Alison Hooper, University of Alabama