New Report for Ohio Shows Quality Child Care Cuts Crime, Saves Money

2/23/2004

From: Clay Wilkinson of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 202-776-0027 ext. 108 or 202-550-6172 (cell),

CINCINNATI, Feb. 23 -- Cincinnati Chief of Police Tom Streicher and Glendale Chief of Police Matthew Fruchey helped a law enforcement organization release a report today showing that quality child care cuts crime and called on Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and George Voinovich (R-OH) to back an increase in federal child care investments.

That's especially important for Ohio, where, according to the report, only one in ten eligible children is currently served by the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the federal government's primary source of child care assistance for working families.

"When Congress fails to support child care programs, it forces police to fight crime with one hand tied behind our backs," said Streicher. "By investing now in our most vulnerable youth, we can guarantee they never grow up to become our most wanted adults." The report shows that Ohio stands to gain $218 million in child care assistance if Congress increases funding for CCDBG by $6 billion over the next five years. Congress is expected to vote on that proposal in the coming weeks.

At a news conference at a YMCA child-care facility in Cincinnati, Fruchey pointed to the results of several studies that show the effectiveness of quality child care in cutting crime. He cited a government-funded pre-kindergarten program in Chicago that has served over 100,000 at-risk three- and four-year-olds since 1967. For 14 years, researchers tracked nearly 1,000 children in the program and 550 similar kids not in the program. By the time they turned 18, those who had not been in the program were 70 percent more likely to have been arrested for committing a violent crime.

Fruchey also highlighted a 22-year study of the High/Scope Perry Preschool in Ypsilanti, Michigan. At-risk three- and four- year-olds left out of the program were five times more likely to become chronic lawbreakers by the time they reached adulthood compared to kids in the program.

Both programs were also shown to save money as a result of the reduction in crime. In fact, for every $1 invested, the public saved $7.

Fruchey also discussed the unmet need that exists in Ohio for investments in quality child care. Fruchey pointed out that more than half of children under age six in Ohio have either their only parent or both parents in the work force, but the cost of tuition for just two kids in a child care center exceeds the annual salary of a full-time, minimum-wage worker.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a bipartisan, nonprofit, anti- crime organization of more than 2,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and victims of violence, including 88 in Ohio. The organization takes a hard-nosed look at what works and what doesn't work to prevent crime and violence. It then makes recommendations on effective strategies to the public and policy makers. Jeff Kirsch, vice president of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, joined Fruchey and Streicher at the news conference.

Streicher called on Senators DeWine and Voinovich to support an increase in child care investments. "Making sure that children of working parents have access to quality child care is crucial to keep kids from becoming criminals, and keep innocent citizens of Ohio from becoming crime victims," said Streicher.

The new report, Preventing Crime with Quality Child Care: A Critical Investment in Ohio's Safety, available at www.fightcrime.org, also makes the following points:

-- Most low- and moderate-income families in Ohio need assistance to afford quality care for their kids. Tuition for a child care center in Ohio averages $6,292 for a toddler and $5,668 for an older preschooler. Tuition for two children can exceed the entire income of a parent employed at the minimum wage.

-- If an increase of $6 billion in CCDBG funding is not approved, Ohio would lose the opportunity to serve 3,300 additional children a year from low- and moderate-income families.

-- Some CCDBG money can be used to help low- and moderate- income families afford after-school programs for children up to age 13. Crime data shows the after-school hours are the prime time for juvenile crime. They also are the hours when kids are most likely to experiment with alcohol, drugs and sex. Research proves that programs putting kids in touch with caring adults during the after-school hours cut crime and help kids learn the skills and values necessary to become contributing adults.

-- Law enforcement professionals are nearly unanimous in their support of educational child care and after-school programs as a means to prevent crime and violence. Dozens of state and national law enforcement organizations, including the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the National District Attorneys Association, have endorsed investments in educational child care and after-school programs as means to prevent crime.

Kirsch said, "law enforcement leaders would stand shoulder-to- shoulder with Senators DeWine and Voinovich" if they fight for the $6 billion increase in CCDBG funds when the issue comes before Congress in the next few weeks.