Kentucky is restoring cuts to a program that helps low-income parents work by providing them with affordable daycare for their children.
The childcare assistance program has been closed to new applicants since April 2013 because of a budget shortfall. Eligibility guidelines were also dropped, which cut several thousand kids from the program and closed some daycare centers.
Terry Brooks with Kentucky Youth Advocates told WKU Public Radio the cuts were counter-intuitive.
"The folks who felt the pinch were hard-working Kentuckians in low-income jobs, and the reason they were able to take those jobs was becauseof these child care supports which allowed them to put their children in high-quality daycare centers and have some government support," explained Brooks.
Starting August 4th, new applications will be accepted and eligibility will increased from 100 percent of the federal poverty level to 140 percent.
Brooks said restoring the cuts will be good for the economy.
