Get Involved in a Parents Meeting Around the Affordability of Child Care

What's The Issue? Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program was designed to provide child care tuition to low-to moderate- income parents, who are working, seeking employment, or in job training. Although the Department of Children and Families significantly updated the income eligibility guidelines beginning in January 2010, current funding levels still leave significant gaps in the program: supporting quality care, providing access to infant/toddler care, assisting families in crisis, and for families above 200% of the federal poverty level ($44,000). A new fee scale can be found at: http://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/child_care_fap/changes

Campaign 2010: During a recession, we must do everything we can to help parents find work and remain employed and access to child care is critical to the state's economic recovery. At a minimum, Vermonters need to maintain the total amount of existing funding for Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program.

Parent Action: Parent groups have been meeting in Bennington, Burlington, Newport, and Brattleboro to share experiences with affording quality child care and other barriers, and design ways to advocate to legislators for change where the system falls short. To join a meeting or get involved in the issue, contact Kelly Ault (kault1@earthlink.net or 802-272-0795).

Share your Experience with Pre-Kindergarten or Explore An Act 62 Partnership in Your Community

What's The Issue? The Vermont legislature passed Act 62 in 2007, codifying the long-standing practice of allowing school districts to get education fund dollars for 3 to 5 years olds being served in quality pre-kindergarten programs in schools or child care providers.

Campaign 2010 #1: A bill, S.193, was introduced that proposed additional requirements that school districts and supervisory unions would have to meet under Act 62 before deciding to create or expand a pre-k program. The bill also recommends loosening some of the quality requirements in Act 62.

Parent Action: Parents have been submitting letters and providing testimony to the Senate Education Committee about positive experiences their family has had in a publicly funded pre-k program either in a school or with a child care provider. Submit additional stories: www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your- story.html.

Campaign 2010 #2: Many school districts could have 3 to 5 year olds added to the school census before reaching the "cap," but often encounter barriers when considering expanding pre-kindergarten programs. Act 62 allows partnerships with qualified child care providers that offer a pre-kindergarten program

Parent Action: Parents and providers in Barre City/Town, Morrisville/Stowe, Rutland City/Town, White River Junction are meeting to assess the community capacity to expand quality, publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs. To join a meeting contact Kelly Ault: 802-272-0795

Share Your Story on Paid Sick Days

"Without paid sick time, a missed day of work can mean falling behind on bills, so people are pressured to work through illness, which can extend their recovery time, reduce the quality of their work and expose their co-workers to their illness. ... We came to realize the direct costs of not having sick pay and the potential benefits of having such a program in terms of even better employee retention as we continue to strive to become a business that supports the people that support it."

-- Randy George, Co-Owner of Red Hen Baking Company in Middlesex, Vermont giving 2/17 testimony on H.382, the Paid Sick Days Bill.

What's The Issue? Many Vermont employers protect family economic security and a stable workforce by provide flexibility in work schedules when employees, their children, or their elders get sick or allow them to take measures to prevent illness. Over 106,000 working Vermonters, however, do not have a single paid sick day.

Campaign 2010: H.382, An Act Relating to Absence from Work for Health Care and Safety, calls for paid sick days up to 56 hours over a year to Vermont workers. This time could be used to recover from an illness or injury, care for a family member, obtain health care (or seek care for a family member) or take necessary steps for a family member's safety as a result of abuse. H. 382 is currently being debated in the House Committee on General, House and Military Affairs.

Parent Action: Do you have paid sick days or wish you did? Submit your story online: www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your-story.html

Take the Child Care Subsidy Poll

"Because of the support I received from Vermont Child Care Subsidy, we are not just surviving, but thriving and becoming our own success story."

"I have had to choose to not take the pay raises in order for my family to continue to meet the subsidy guidelines ... This causes a great deal of stress whereas the economy is changing and I am unable to make anymore money to try to keep up with the changes."

"Being a sole parent with two young children, it is nearly impossible for me to work...even with 100% subsidy, it will still cost me about $900/month for [child] care."

What's The Issue? Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program helps low-to moderate-income families pay for the costs of child care. The income eligibility guidelines, however, had been set at 2000 federal poverty levels until a recent effort led by the Department for Children and Families (DCF) increased the guidelines to 2009 standards and increased the rates to providers.

What Happened? Many parents and child care providers provided public comment on DCF's proposal over the summer. The Kids Are Priority One Coalition assessed the impact on families and generally supported the change. The proposal was approved by the legislature in September and will go into effect in January. Find new eligibility charts: http://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd

Campaign 2010: The Kids Are Priority One Coalition is working with the early childhood community to identify priorities to advocate for in 2010. Email: kault1@earthlink.net with which of the following is important to you:

• Hold on to the gain from the recently-approved changes to the Child Care Financial Assistance Program so we do not slip back
• Ensure that the Child Development Division has the funds it needs to provide continuity of care for families served by the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, especially in the area of family support child care and the new Strengthening Families grants
• Raise income eligibility guidelines from 200% to 250%of the federal poverty level
• Increase the base rate (paid to providers on behalf of parents, therefore reducing parent co-pays)
• Increase the rate paid for infant/toddler care
• Increase STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) program funding for more technical assistance/support, more evaluators, etc. (While STARS is separate from the Subsidy Program, many people have cited the need for more funding for STARS as a result of the new rate structure.)
• Address any shortfalls in family support, protective services, or special need child care through the Child Care Financial Assistance Program
• Other (please be specific)

The Future of Building Bright Futures

What's The Issue? Building Bright Futures (BBF) serves as a statewide coordinating entity of early education and health services for families with children under the age of six. Last year's budget rescissions, however, eliminated regional staff capacity across the state.

Campaign 2010: Building on recent efforts to re-establish BBF's structure, the Coalition will support legislation introduced in the next session.

Are You a Business Owner? Sign the Early Care and Education Pledge

Vermont business leaders - from CEOs to sole proprietors, Human Resource professionals to child care providers - are taking the business pledge on the importance of affordable and quality early care and education to Vermont's future economic prosperity. Click here to add your business name to the pledge.

Which Early Childhood Issue is Important to You? Share your Experience with Kids Are Priority One and Your Legislator

Submit your story and then let your legislators know:

Legislators want to hear what their constituents care about. Many of them have kids, too, and can relate to what families are facing. Now is a good time to reach legislators at home as they prioritize issues for the 2010 legislative session, which begins in January. Search legislator phone numbers and email addresses at: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/default.htm

Receive a Copy of the Winter 2010 Mama Says Newsletter

Mama Says started publishing its free community newsletter back in 2004 "as a forum for expression, education and dialogue; a collective of the voices of our community … committed to presenting views and opinions unabashedly, with voices that are diverse, yet respectful of difference." The fall issue is available, representing local, authentic experiences of motherhood and connecting parents around local events, parenting resources and opportunities to take action on issues. Contact Ame Solomon at amesolomon@yahoo.com to receive a mailed copy.