Hi All! Here is our monthly dose of “5-Bullet-Point Friday,” a list of NJAEYC public policy stuff we think you might be interested in.
Anything that is BLUE, just click on it for more details!
What’s going on in the US – In FY2018 and FY 2019, New Jersey received annual increases in Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) discretionary funding. These funds have helped New Jersey to increase subsidy rates, provide support to child care providers to comply with CCDBG health and safety requirements, offer incentives to expand the number of available openings for infants and toddlers, and provide more quality programs available for infants and toddlers. Although this funding was significant for New Jersey these funds have been insufficient to raise the child care subsidy rates high enough to fully support the costs of operating high quality programs particularly for our population of infants and toddlers. With the cost of child care a struggle for many families it is important that the CCDBG funding be increased allowing more families to be eligible for child care assistance. To read more click here.
Every Child Matters states that they are making children a national priority. Their team is urging policymakers to support the needed investments that will assist America’s families and children. Working families need solutions to minimize the strains faced each day. Most are faced with very hard decisions when trying to work and have a family. Our families need paid sick leave and family medical leave, affordable child care, and fair wages to allow them the security and flexibility needed to build careers and adequately support their families. Working parents need the ability to find safe, secure and developmentally appropriate settings for their children. Every Child Matters states that unfortunately due to the skyrocketing costs of child care quality care is out of reach for many families. Every Child Matters supports high quality care for all families and fair wages for child care workers. To read more click here.
What’s going on in NJ – Good News in New Jersey! We are pleased to inform you that the proposed New Jersey budget allocates $9 million for accurate census count and includes funding for the formation of the statewide Complete Count Commission. This funding is needed to ensure that every child in New Jersey is counted in 2020. We thank many legislative members, including Senator Nilsa-Cruz Perez, Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey, who sponsored this budget resolution of $9 million for Census outreach through the Complete Count Commission. To read more Click here.
What’s coming up- NJAEYCis looking to select four guest bloggers for the 2019-2020 school year! We are excited to launch our NJAEYC Blog and are looking for writers who are passionate and committed to this vision. We will be looking for writers who are able to contribute in the following areas: -Current issues and topics in the national and statewide ECE scene – Advocacy -Classroom Activities -Making and Tinkering -Assessment and Observation – Equity and Diversity -NJ Shared Resources – Quality -Outdoor Play. If you are interested please contact SharedResourcesNJ@gmail.com by July 29th.
Something you might like – In the article “Understanding the True Cost of Child Care for Infants and Toddlers”, by Simon Workman and Steven Jessen Howard posted on 11/15/18. This article focuses on the struggle that families have to afford the cost of child care and that these costs in many cases do not provide high quality care or adequate wages for child care providers. The high cost of child care along with the quality concerns and low wages for child care providers causes many concerns for families as well as policymakers. In an attempt to look at the factors causing these issues this report uses data from the “Center for American Progress”, “Where Does Your Child Care Dollar Go?” tool and a new analysis that estimates the cost of child care specifically related to infant and toddler care. To read more Click here.
Quote we’re pondering – “Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” Fred Rogers Have a wonderful weekend, all!NJAEYC Public Policy Team
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