In this September 2021 file photo, Jax Armstrong, 3, left in policeman costume, plays with Naiya Aguilar, 4 in doctor costume at Giraffe Laugh Early Childhood Learning Center in Boise. (Jim Max for the Idaho Capital Sun)
In one sudden and unpredictable move, Idaho endangered the futures of thousands of working families by pausing critical child care assistance programs — a decision that will reverberate through our communities for years to come.
The recent suspension of the Idaho Child Care Program, or ICCP, placed an enormous financial burden on families and child care providers alike, including Giraffe Laugh Early Learning Centers, a small nonprofit committed to providing educational equity for all children.
Many of the families we serve rely on ICCP funds or scholarships to access our five-star programs, which ensure every child has a chance at a high-quality early education — regardless of their family’s income. Now, with the ICCP paused and stricter eligibility rules looming, many of these families are left without support — forcing our small nonprofit to step up with emergency fundraising, straining our limited resources even further.