ADPH requests funding of CHIP, could freeze enrollment

The Alabama Department of Public Health requested the funding of the childcare program, CHIP, as the federal funding of the program is stalled in Congress.

The department, along with other state agencies, met on Thursday with the joint budget committee to present its draft on next year’s budget.

CHIP, a topic of late in terms of funding, was an expensive item on their budget at a cost of $53 million. The federal government funded the program in full, but that funding ended last September and now the state must fund the program by at least 20 percent.

The funds were calculated on the anticipation that federal funding won’t be available for next year’s budget. Members of the joint budget committee were skeptical of the request, and showed some hesitation of allocating so much money from the general fund.

Read more: http://www.alreporter.com/2018/01/05/adph-requests-funding-chip-freeze-enrollment/