HARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia has raised its payments to facilities that provide child care to parents who receive financial help from the state.
The state Department of Health and Human Resources said Monday that the new rates for child care centers and family child care homes went into effect May 1.
Weekly payments for school-age children were increased by $5. Weekly payments for center-based care for children under age 5 rose by $15 to $20. Family child care homes are receiving an additional $10 to $10 per week for children under age 5.
The increases will cost about $6 million.
The DHHR says the increases are needed to offset enrollment losses due to the economic downturn and higher costs because of increases in the minimum wage.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
