BY BRIAN J. LOWNEY, Assistant Editor
PROVIDENCE — For many working families struggling to make ends meet, finding affordable child care is a large concern.
Since July 2006, the Cabrini Fund Catholic Charities Child Care Scholarships have helped working families pay some of the cost of licensed child care.
According to Kathleen M. McKeon, the fund was established to replace the commitment of the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal that was made previously to the four diocesan-operated child care centers, which were later closed. Last year, the scholarship program received $220,000 from Catholic Charity Fund Appeal, its only source of funding.
“This scholarship program is specifically to help working parents pay for child care to allow them to continue in the workforce, said McKeon, adding that many who seek assistance are employed as certified nursing assistants, hotel housekeepers, prep cooks or as seasonal workers in Rhode Island’s large tourism industry.
“These are jobs that affect our comfort and our economy, but traditionally are low-paying and have few benefits; so the amount provided by the Cabrini Scholarship Fund is really appreciated by these families,” McKeon emphasized. Since the program’s inception, it has served about 400 families, and currently assists more than 230 working families throughout the state.
To be eligible for a Cabrini Fund Scholarship, working families must be residents of Rhode Island or registered parishioners of a church in the Diocese of Providence. Proof of employment must also be presented, and families must meet income guidelines. For example, a two-member family’s income cannot exceed $39,931 to be eligible.
The Cabrini Fund provides financial assistance for pre-kindergarten children whose families are working, and children up to age 12 who require before/after school care (or school break care) while parents are working. Child care may be homes, centers, or schools; but the provider must be licensed by the State of Rhode Island.
Families whose monthly child care expenses exceed $200 may be eligible under the child care scholarship program to receive up to $100 per month for 12 months. Families must select the child care provider and are eligible for only one scholarship, regardless of the number of children in child care.
For more information about the Cabrini Scholarship Program, call 421-7833, ext. 113.
CATHOLIC CHARITY FUND APPEAL UPDATE
As of May 5, the Catholic Charities Fund Appeal has raised $5,002,357, or 61 percent of the 2008 goal of $8,200,000. To date, 12,802 individual gifts have been received.
Anthony T. Gwiazdowski, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development, reported this week that 14 parishes in the diocese are currently over goal, and 15 parishes have surpassed the amount of money they raised in 2007.
The campaign, which supports vital diocesan ministries and programs, ends June 30.
