Problems began for McKinley Hess in August.
Hess manages a child care program in Conway, Arkansas, aimed at supporting teen moms. She discovered they were struggling to receive their child care assistance payments. These subsidies, funded by federal and state dollars, are crucial for low-income parents to afford child care by reimbursing providers and reducing out-of-pocket costs.
In Arkansas, teen parents have traditionally been prioritized for this aid. However, Hess learned they were now placed on a lengthy waitlist along with many other families…