(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana is moving forward with a major expansion of its child care voucher program, but demand still far exceeds available support.
State officials have approved $200 million to expand the Child Care and Development Fund program, which helps families pay for child care and preschool.
The funding is expected to open access for about 14,000 additional children.
Even with the expansion, tens of thousands of children remain on a waitlist after the program was previously closed to new applicants due to high demand.
Lawmakers say the funding is intended to help working families access child care while addressing ongoing shortages across the state.