WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Gov. Greg Abbott is ordering the Texas Workforce Commission to take a closer look at potential financial fraud at child care centers across the state.
The directive comes after the Trump administration launched multiple investigations into fraud in state programs in Minnesota in late December. Abbott ordered the Texas Workforce Commission, along with the Health and Human Services Commission, to enhance their efforts in detecting and protecting against fraud within the Child Care Services program.
As part of the crackdown, Abbott is directing the organizations to conduct additional site visits to child care providers, work with local workforce development boards to review their data collection efforts, and ensure that all providers participating in CCS programs accurately report the number of children enrolled in the program.
The changes are leaving some local childcare centers with uncertainty about their operations and funding.
Ms. Ida’s Child Care Center has operated in Waco since 1999, when Ida Johnson decided to open a daycare with her late husband. With the help of five employees, the childcare center serves around 30 children ranging from infants to preschoolers.
“We don’t have any fraud, things like that, that’s going on. We keep our books straight. I’ve got every ticket, every check that I write, I have it in a book that they can come and check and see about it,” Johnson said.
While Johnson said she is not concerned about state organizations checking her operations, her worry comes from the uncertainty about funding that increased investigations bring.
“That’s to pay our employees, you know. Then to buy the things we need here at our center, pay our light, gas, and water bill. That’s what I use it for: to pay our employees. You’ve got five employees, you know, you have to pay them,” Johnson said.
Johnson said her business could survive without state funding, but only for a limited time.
“I’d say maybe for a few months we might could hang on. And then after that, if it’s stopped, we might have to close it up,” Johnson said.
KWTX is still awaiting a response from the Texas Workforce Commission regarding more details about the governor’s order or the status of state funding for child care centers during the investigation period.
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