Public Policy Update:  Focus on At-Home Infant Care Legislation

The first At-Home Infant Care program was established in Minnesota by state representative Richard “Doc” Mulder in 1998. Click here to to read about this ground-breaking program.

At-Home Infant Care programs offer certain lower-income parents of infants a choice between returning to work and using a state child care subsidy or staying home and receiving a monthly stipend. Only a few states have now established at-home infant care programs, and their eligibility requirements vary.

In October 2002, Congress was considering legislation regarding At-Home Infant Care programs. We expect some AHIC provisions to be included in bills debated in 2003. Read our Public Policy Update for more information, and check back here for updates as they become available.

Family and Home Network’s At-Home Infant Care Team

Family and Home Network’s volunteers across the U.S. are working to gather information about AHIC programs. Click on the links below to find:

• A list of states that already have existing programs;
  
  
• Information for Welcome Home readers and others who wish to contact legislators and parent volunteers in their state regarding AHIC programs;
  
  
• Information for parents about the programs (including how to apply);
  

To volunteer to help monitor these programs and/or encourage the initiation of such a program in your state, please contact us at AHIC@familyandhome.org.