May Revised Budget Response from Parent Voices CA
Amid increased cost of living, the ongoing pandemic, expiration of the federal child tax credit, California families were given great news in the Governor’s May Revised Budget which included another one year waiver of unaffordable child care family fees, more stability in their child care programs through the “hold harmless” provision, continued commitment to expanding access to child care for 36,000 more families, and an increase in the CalWORKs cash grant. These changes will have a direct, immediate impact for families who continue to work paycheck to paycheck.
At the same time, with a nearly $100 billion dollar record surplus, we are deeply concerned that the missing link to ensuring families can even access quality child care programs is the increased wages necessary to attract and retain child care staff, to cover the costs of keeping their doors open, and to sustain a career devoted to our youngest children and families. Not one dollar has been proposed to address the wage crisis in the child care sector as we lose dedicated professionals who can no longer afford to serve the families they love or even consider beginning a career that doesn’t even pay minimum wage or guarantee health benefits and retirement. Failure to respond to their needs further pushes a mostly women of color dominated field into deeper poverty and exacerbates the shortage of child care available to all families.
Watch our 3 minute video about child care providers.
Parent Voices CA is determined to work with our partners, the Legislature and the Administration to bring financial security to our early educators and ensure the final budget honors the sacred bond between parents and child care providers that is necessary to meet the unique needs of every child in California. We are still calling on the Governor and Legislature to prioritize parents and providers in the final budget. Sign our petition to make your voice heard!
You can read the full May Revise here and Child Care Law Center's Response to the May Revise.