Preventive Benefits of U.S. Childcare Subsidies in Supervisory Child Neglect

• Published in: Children & society Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 185 - 194
• Main Authors: Maguire‐Jack, Kathryn, Purtell, Kelly M., Showalter, Kathryn, Barnhart, Sheila, Yang, Mi‐Youn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-03-2019
• Subjects: Child abuse & neglect; Child care; child neglect; childcare subsidies; Children; Family roles; Fragile Families; Low income groups; Mothers; Subsidies; Well being; United States > US; Fragile Families; child neglect; child care subsidies
• ISSN: 0951-0605; 1099-0860
• DOI: 10.1111/chso.12307

Using data from age 3 of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, the current study explores the complex relationships between U.S. childcare subsidies and neglect. Specifically, the study examines two research questions: (i) Are U.S. childcare subsidies associated with self‐reported neglect among low‐income mothers? (ii) What individual types of self‐reported neglect are significantly reduced by receipt of childcare subsidy? Using negative binomial regression examining the relationships among mothers who were income‐eligible for childcare subsidy, we found that childcare subsidy was associated with lower levels of supervisory neglect, indicating an important role of subsidy in the lives of low‐income families.