Welfare Reform and the Lack of Child Care

* “Child Care Major Pitfall in Welfare Reform” (May 4) brought to our attention the disaster waiting to happen to 3.5 million children.

Why does Gov. Pete Wilson think that business will subsidize high-quality child care? When there is a shortage of skilled labor, business has been willing to offer benefits that attract, and reduce turnover among, their best employees. However, when a market is flooded with unskilled laborers, business has not traditionally responded by offering benefits for unskilled positions.

If we recognize that the bonding and attachment process in infants is necessary to each developmental stage, and if we recognize that when infants are not raised by loving parents (or in quality child care at minimum) that lifelong problems will ensue, why don’t we recognize that leaving infants “wherever there is a warm body” will create serious behavioral and emotional problems?

LESLIE GODWIN

Calabasas

* Why didn’t the politicians who came up with this idea ask a few working moms about how hard it is to find child care? Child care for infants (whose parent must go to work after the baby is three months old under Wilson’s proposal) will cost more than the current AFDC payment for a family of three!

The goal of welfare reform to get people to work is one that all of us can agree to; however, let’s not fool ourselves into believing the politicians that this is going to save money in the short term. Not if we care about the children who must be provided with good child care so they have a chance to grow up and be healthy and productive members of society. The long-term benefits of a program that includes such child care are great.

SANDRA LINDOERFER

Pasadena

* A preliminary report conducted over the last year pointed to a shortage of more than 30,000 child care spaces in Los Angeles, primarily in the areas of infant care and after-school care. The report raised the prospect of even greater shortages with the onset of welfare reform.

My 1997 block grant proposal included a substantial increase in child care funding, tripling the city’s annual spending for the development of child care facilities. This $6 million, which was approved by the City Council, will be targeted to infant care and school-aged care.

I believe that every child enters this world with a right to the tools to compete, including education, health care and nutrition. Quality child care is an essential part of the equation. Clearly this funding is a modest but critical next step.

RICHARD J. RIORDAN

Mayor of Los Angeles