Happy New Year!!
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 – An article in USA TODAY highlighted a round table meeting convened by Ivanka Trump in November, 2019. This was her seventh round table discussion which focused on her two primary issues, paid family leave and affordable child care. She listened as parents, day care providers and employers shared their stories on how finding affordable child care impacts their daily lives. For parents, most times one parent stays home and remains out of the workforce. For providers, time taken to assist parents on navigating subsidy payments or grants takes time away from caring for the children. For employers, particularly with employees on multiple shifts, the more traditional child care hours do not align with the family’s needs. Although Ms. Trump works primarily in the background, one significant success was securing the child care credit in the 2017’s tax law. However, Ms. Trump acknowledges there is more work ahead. Ms. Trump states that parents can’t afford quality child care and child care workers make below poverty wages. The time is now for policies to evolve. To read more click here.
What’s going on in NJ – One of NJAEYC’s initiatives in 2020 is to join the Census 2020 NJ Coalition to support the work of ACNJ and other partners. The Census 2020 NJ Coalition is a statewide outreach and awareness campaign to coordinate nonprofit and community-based efforts to ensure an accurate count for our state. We know the importance of making sure that everyone is counted in NJ. Nearly $23 billion in federal funding for NJ depends on Census counts. This funding includes Medicaid, hospital funding, Title 1 school funding, child care, student loans and school meal programs. Please join NJAEYC’s support of this most important initiative that impacts NJ’s children and families. To read more click here and here.
What’s coming up– NJAEYC invites you to come to Trenton for a day of Advocacy at the War Memorial Building on January 16, 2020, 8:30am-12:30pm. Join NJAEYC members, teachers and caregivers to learn what impacts child care the most, receive professional development in leadership and advocacy, and understand your role in it all. RSVP to mail@njaeyc.org to register TODAY. This is a FREE member event!
Something you might like – Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) recently responded to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the Department of Health and Human Services for their request for information on “Improving access to Affordable, High Quality Child Care”. ACF specifically asked for thoughts on emerging and innovative practices to improve access to high quality child care and identifying regulatory and other policies that may drive up the cost of child care or limit parents’ choice of child care options. CCAoA responded that regulatory policy should not be targeted. CCAoA stated that many requirements such as ratios and background checks are essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of the children. Instead of lowering standards, CCAoA recommends large scale public investments into the system and the workforce, such as increasing funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). To read more click here, here and here.
Quote we’re pondering – “And when it comes to developing the high standards we need, it’s time to stop working against our teachers and start working with them. Teachers don’t go into education to get rich. They don’t go into education because they don’t believe in their children. They want their children to succeed, but we’ve got to give them the tools. Invest in early childhood education. Invest in our teachers and our children will succeed.” Barack Obama
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
NJAEYC Public Policy Team
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