Poster #16 - Parental Experiences with Child Care Subsidies: Policy Design and Use in Oregon’s ERDC Program

• In Event: Friday Poster Reception

Abstract

Background: As states hold responsibility for social policy design and implementation, understanding how program features shape access and effectiveness is critical. Federal block-grant funded child care subsidies, administered through a state’s Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), are a central policy tool to support parental employment and family economic stability. However, substantial variation across states in eligibility rules, copayment structures, and administrative processes raises important questions about how policy design influences program reach. This study examines Oregon’s child care subsidy program to assess how specific policy features shape family access, participation, and retention. 
Methods: This study draws on a secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted in 2020 with 12 Oregon parents (current users, former users, and eligible non-users) recruited through state and community channels. Interviews explored program awareness, application experiences, and child care decision making. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis with an iteratively developed codebook and cross-case comparison. Given the qualitative design and sample size, findings are intended to generate policy relevant insights rather than population level estimates. 
Findings: Parents consistently described the state subsidy program as an important support that reduces out-of-pocket child care costs and enables employment. However, findings highlight how specific policy design features may limit program effectiveness. First, parents described “cliff effects” in copayment structures, where relatively small income increases resulted in substantial cost increases, shaping decisions about work and earnings. Second, administrative processes (e.g. application, verification, recertification) created ongoing cognitive and logistical burdens that affected program entry and continuity. Third, access to subsidized care was impacted by local child care market conditions, particularly provider availability, which constrained some families’ ability to use benefits even when eligible. Families frequently relied on informal networks to navigate these gaps, though access to such supports varied. 
Policy Implications: 
These findings suggest that subsidy effectiveness depends not only on eligibility thresholds or funding levels, but also on how policies are implemented and experienced at the state level. Policy design features, such as copayment schedules, administrative processes, and access to local provider supply, may influence both initial uptake and sustained participation. Recent reforms of Oregon’s subsidy program, including implementing new copayment structure and system modernization, create an opportunity for future research to assess how changes in policy design alter these dynamics. More broadly, this study underscores the importance of incorporating family experiences into the evaluation of state administered programs as policymakers strive to better align policy intent with program reach.

Authors

• Eileen Chanti, Oregon State University
  Presenting Author

• Ines de Pierola, Oregon State University
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• Kelly D. Chandler, Oregon State University
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• Megan E Pratt, Oregon State University
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• Asia Thogmartin, Oregon State University
  Non-Presenting Co-Author