Araminta McIntosh, a childcare provider from Providence, was one of a dozen people who addressed subsidized childcare cuts before a state panel last night.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez Ruben W. Perez

PROVIDENCE — Erica Saccoccio is a success story.

The single mother once relied heavily on the state’s subsidized childcare program. She credits the program as something that helped her to transform her circumstances and find affordable childcare, which allowed her to work, go to school and eventually get a better job.

But yesterday Saccoccio, the president of the Rhode Island School Age Child Care Association, stood in front of state officials denouncing recent cuts to the subsidized childcare program, due to take effect Sept. 1. The cuts will disqualify about 2,400 children for subsidies.

“I find that the childcare system works. I am very saddened by this. It is very personal and professional for me,” Saccoccio said. “Many programs will have to make some hard decisions because of these cuts.”

Saccoccio and a dozen childcare providers, agencies and parents gave testimony about how the state’s decision to lower income-eligibility guidelines and age requirements in the subsidized childcare program will affect them. They spoke during a hearing that drew about 36 and was hosted by the state Department of Human Services last night at the DaVinci Center.

A public hearing is required when there are any changes in regulations, said Reeva Murphy, Human Service’s Child Care administrator.

The system that Saccoccio remembers changed in June when the General Assembly approved a social services budget that altered guidelines in two ways. The first lowers the income eligibility threshold from 225 percent of the federal poverty level ($46,463 for a family of four) to 180 percent ($37,170). The second eliminates any subsidy for children 13 and older.

“With these budget cuts many parents will find it difficult to work and pay for their children’s care in a high quality setting,” said Khadija Lewis Khan, director of Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Center. “Children miss out on the developmental opportunity that high quality childcare can bring and parents miss out on job opportunities.”

One childcare provider offered to open her doors for free.

“Childcare is my passion. I don’t think anyone has the right to push me out,” said Araminta McIntosh, who operates from her home in Providence. “We can’t even reduce our rates to make parents eligible for childcare. Our hands are tied. What do they want us to do?”

Wendy Johnson, one of two parents who attended, said, “This is going to affect my budget. If I’m not eligible for assistance that will force me to make choices … that no family should have to make.”

Many who spoke at the meeting asked Human Services to give parents facing ineligibility ample notice so parents have time to plan. Another proposal was to consider keeping those families facing elimination based on the income on the books until their scheduled recertification date.

Another suggestion was to create a grant program that is not a part of the child assistance program to help, in particular, those children affected by the new age limitation.

While the panel of senior representatives listened to the testimony given last night, there may be little, if anything, that can be done at this point.

Murphy said Human Services next week will talk about some of those proposals, crunch some numbers and figure out its response. She said the department will look at that number of children facing disqualification based on income and their ages, and consider whether it can afford to keep them on the rolls until their next recertification deadline.

“Is it possible for us? How much money will we lose? If that costs us [let’s say] about $1 million where are we going to find the money? We are held accountable to our budget at the end of the year. It’s kind of difficult for our agency to be involved. There is a fiscal impact and a procedural impact.”

lsparks@projo.com