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Additional 700 underpriveleged families eligible to apply for child care subsidies

Chien Hui-jiuan, chief of the Ministry of the Interior's Child Bureau, left, holds a jigsaw puzzle piece to complete a picture of Taiwan during a press conference to launch the government's child care subsidy program. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

An additional 700 underprivileged and lower-income families who enroll their children aged two years or under in public daycare facilities will be eligible to apply for a government child care subsidy starting today, the Ministry of the Interior's Children Bureau announced yesterday.

"The new program will help lessen the burden on families that are struggling financially. Moreover, it will benefit families with handicapped children," bureau chief Chien Hui-jiuan (簡惠娟) said.

She said the NT$1.5 billion (US$49.4 million) program would also entice the 40,000-plus licensed daycare workers to join the community babysitter system, which has just over 1,100 members.

Moreover, government officials will make regular periodical inspections to check on the upkeep of the daycare centers as well as the professionalism of the caregivers.

"Parents can rest assured that their children receive good quality daycare," Chien said.

The three types of families that are eligible including those with a combined annual income of less than NT$1.5 million, underprivileged families with developmentally handicapped children under the age of two and any families who have kids in public daycare facilities.

"The new program will help lessen the burden on families that are struggling financially."- Chien Hui-jiuan, Children Bureau chief

If parents or primary caregivers of eligible families are not able to provide care for their toddlers because of their work schedule, they can also receive the daycare subsidy.

Families that enroll their children in public daycare centers can receive a NT$3,000 monthly subsidy of NT$5,000 for underprivileged families.

All subsidies will be provided until the children reach their second birthday, Chien said.

For more information, families can contact their local child welfare agents who can help them with the application process.
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