At $130 a week, it's an expense Christal knew she couldn't handle alone.
"I'm a teen mom so I can't afford it, so I've gotten a job and the prices have gone lower with these services and its helped me alot," Christal said.
The 16-year-old decided to get help from Child Care Services, the largest provider for day care assistance on the South Plains. That allowed her to find the right day care for her daughter, and like most parents, she chose a place both safe and convenient.
"It's on my way to school and I don't have to go one side of town and to the other side, it's just right there," she said.
While Christal's bill isn't covered entirely, she says it's worth it to have her 18-month-old daughter in a social learning environment."She talks to other kids and learns how to play with them, and that's what I like about them," Christal said.
That can be a difficult choice, especially when more parents are staying home or placing kids with relaties to save.
"The children need stability and they need the socialization that they get when they're in a childcare program," Sabrina Robbins with Catholic Family Services said.
Reps with the organization say day care costs in our region, now averaging around $500 a month. "That's more than a car payment, maybe more than their house payment, so it's been an increasing burden on these parents," Robbins said.
Many seeking assistance, suffering from getting laid-off or hours cut back at work. "If you're working 30 hours a week as opposed to 40, your utility bills are still the same. It still costs the same amount to feed your family," Robbins said.
Parents encouraged to check out resources at Child Care Services, even if you're unsure you'll qualify.
"A family of four, if they gross around $4,000 a month, they may still qualify for financial assistance," Brenda Cox, Program Manager with Workforce Solutions of the South Plains said.
And getting over the hump of asking for help is the first step. "In today's world the way things are, I don't think anybody should have too much pride to want to come in and help because you're doing nothing but helping your family," Cox said.
Funding for the program comes from the American Recovery Act or the Stimulus, which is going away after this year. Cox says that almost guarantees a waiting list for next year with everyone paying a different share cost, depending on their income.
