Jan 06 2009
Keep Child Care Subsidies From Being Cut
Family child care subsidies for low income families are on the verge of being cut. What does that mean for you? If you are a daycare provider who cares for children of low income families who receive help from DHS to pay their tuition, the money you receive from DHS will be cut. Your income will be cut. Families who depend on that money to pay for tuition will suddenly have to make up the difference, causing them to be unable to work and keep their families afloat any longer. In this already faltering economy, we can’t afford to cause people to loose this help.
Right now, the rates that DHS pays providers for low income children is in the 75th percentile. AFSCME Local 132 brought providers together and worked tirelessly to get this rate, because child care providers in Oregon had not received an increase in 12 years. We need their help again, just as they need ours. We can’t afford to let the Governor cut the funds that providers bargained and fought to get.
What can you do? If you are a Child Care Provider, become a member of AFSCME today. Become part of the voice for children, and fight for better quality care. Recruit your friends, family members, your local grocer, your child’s teacher, your boss, and everyone you come in contact with to help make phone calls, write letters, sign letters to the editor, and send emails. AFSMEf also needs people to testify in legislative hearings. Also, providers who attend legislative hearings need back up care while they are there. It takes such little time, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and if enough people speak up, the Governor will hear us loud and clear.
The extra money from these daycare subsidies make it possible for families to afford daycare and their bills. If families can’t afford quality daycare, more children will become latch key kids, or be left with unsafe unregistered providers just to save money. Studies show that for every dollar DHS subsidies pay for a child to be in a safe and nurturing environment, taxpayers save two dollars, because that child has been given a stable foundation and is less likely to become incarcerated later in life. We can’t afford to loose this funding.
For more information on what you can do to help, or to join AFSME , please contact Fay at 800-521-5954, 503-370-2522, or send her an email at faye@oregonafscme.com
An important issue for parents! Thanks!