美国0~3岁婴幼儿养育费用援助体系研究

Research On the United States 0-3 Years Old Infant Care Cost Assistance System

自20世纪60年代以来,美国联邦政府和州政府逐步重视向学前教育投入公共经费,为需要帮助的幼儿及其父母提供教育、卫生和社会福利等综合性服务。在0~3岁婴幼儿养育费用方面,已建立起相对完整的援助体系。在援助主体方面,联邦政府统筹领导、州政府主动作为、社会组织协调配合;在援助形式方面,有现金援助、税收抵免、代金券或食品券援助、保育基金和补贴援助;在援助对象方面,除了经济贫困的普通家庭以外,一些特殊群体,如企业员工子女、在读大学生子女、领养家庭子女、残疾儿童与军人子女均有专项的援助计划。其援助体系呈现出主体多样、覆盖全面、形式灵活的特点。

Since the 1960s, the federal and state governments of the United States have gradually attached importance to investing public funds in pre-school education to provide comprehensive services such as education,health and social welfare for children in need and their parents. A relatively complete aid system has been established in terms of infant care costs for 0-3 years old children: in terms of aid subjects, the federal government takes the lead, the state government takes the initiative, and social organizations coordinate. In terms of forms of assistance, there are cash assistance, tax credits, vouchers or food vouchers, childcare funds and subsidies. In terms of aid recipients, in addition to ordinary families in economic poverty, some special groups, such as children of company employees, children of college students, children of adopted families, children of military personnel and disabled children, are under the care of special assistance plans. Its aid system is characterized by diverse subjects,flexible forms and comprehensive coverage.