State policies and practices may shape Hispanic families’ access to child care subsidies
Our new brief explores how state policy and practice may contribute to disparities in Hispanic families’ use of Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subsidies. These subsidies provide important financial assistance to low-income families to secure child care so they can work or attend training and education programs.

Focusing on 13 states that collectively are home to 80 percent of the country’s Hispanic children living in low-income families, Center co-investigators Lisa Gennetian and Julia Mendez and former Center fellow Zoelene Hill examined state-level variation in policies and practices across dimensions especially relevant to the Latino population:

  • Approval of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for eligibility
  • Household and work documentation requirements
  • Availability of Spanish-language information and applications online
  • Prioritization of families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 

They find that, as of July 2018, the 13 states showed considerable variation in state-level policies and practices related to CCDF; most of the 13 states had policies or practices that may create barriers to access. However, many also had policies that may facilitate access.  
Highlights from the field
Mixed status families face unique obstacles to achieving optimal health
Salud America highlighted findings of a study examining the adverse effects of the current political climate on Latino health and recommend policy changes to promote health equity among Latino immigrant families.
Migrants are an essential part of economic stability
A new Lancet Commission report on migration and public health finds that migrants in high-income countries are more likely to bolster services by providing medical care, teaching children, caring for older people, and supporting understaffed services. More than half of U.S. Hispanic children have a foreign-born parent, making these findings critical to our understanding of their health and well-being.
Webinar: Children in black immigrant and refugee families
On January 23 (2:00 — 3:30 PM EST) , the Foundation for Child Development will present, A Closer Look: The Unique Needs and Promise of Children of Black Immigrants and Refugee Children . T he first of a three-part series, this webinar will focus on the educational, health, and mental health outcomes of black children of immigrants and refugee youth from Muslim backgrounds.
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