Navigating the child care subsidy system: Policies and practices that affect access and retention

Excerpt from introduction: The research presented here examines subsidy policies and practices that can affect subsidy utilization, including those that affect every interaction the parent has with the subsidy agency and those that affect the ease of applying for, and retaining, subsidies. While this research suggests the root causes of barriers to access and retention of child care subsidies can be quite complex (ranging from state and local policy and funding, local program implementation and management, and/or caseworker discretion), it also shows that policymakers and subsidy agencies can develop strategies to address these barriers.