Long-time family child care provider Catherine Scott was concerned when she heard some Long Beach providers weren’t getting paid on time for taking care of children with state-funded child care subsidies.  Scott is part of the California Child Development Corps, so she brought her concerns to Sara Hicks-Kilday, Working for Quality Child Care’s Public Policy Officer and support staff to the Corps.

The Corps “helped us reframe the issue” as a need for statewide payment procedures, “rather than just a local problem,” says Scott. Hicks-Kilday also drew on policy contacts to connect the providers with organizations taking action.

Impact on providers—and families

“When you’re counting on receiving payment for work you’ve done, and you don’t receive it, it’s a problem,” says Scott. “I’ve had to go into my personal funds to compensate my staff.”

Parents are affected too, she adds. “[Because of the payment issue] some providers don’t want to accept subsidized children, [so] parents don’t have access to some of the quality programs.”

Joining forces

During the Corps’ monthly conference call, the issue of late payments was brought up. Many providers said they were having similar problems. Hicks-Kilday connected them with Child Care Providers United (CCPU), a union for family child care providers.

CCPU sponsored legislation (AB 315) which would require agencies that run child care subsidy programs to pay providers promptly—and set up systems for dealing with complaints and late payments.

“I never thought I would want to participate with a union because I’m self-employed,” says Scott. “But it turned out [to be] the most valuable thing for us.”

Taking action

Corps participants and the union arranged a conference call with the California Department of Education to discuss the problem. “[CDE] listened to us and took our concerns seriously. They want to talk with us again to see if their efforts to address the problems, and the solutions we suggested, work for us,” says Scott.

“Virtually no other professions do work and then [fail to] get compensated in a timely manner.  I’d like us be able to dialogue and work together, so that everybody wins,” she adds. 

Announcement

Corps legislative visits: Tell your legislators about the impact of program cuts—and how important child care is to keep California working! The Corps also wants to partner with other organizations and individuals. Contact your county representative to participate.

For more information, contact:

• Alameda:  Marva Lyons, 510-521-3997
  and Margaret Costello-Chevis, 510-226-9414
  
  
• Butte: Jennifer Ferrini, 530-893-2443
  
  
• Contra Costa: Donna Daly, 925-833-0834
  
  
• Humboldt: Danielle Koren, 707-443-2497
  
  
• Los Angeles: Catherine Scott, 562-572-9939
  
  
• Riverside: Tamara Dobson, 951-340-3186
  
  
• San Diego: Katy Kenshur, 760-436-3725
  
  
• San Francisco: Valentina Feldman, 415-861-5361
  
  
• San Joaquin: Bettina Engleman, 209-601-9467
  
  
• San Mateo: Silvia Espinoza, 650-359-4675
  
  
• Santa Barbara: Christine Fleenor, 805-937-0675
  
  
• Shasta: Carol VonBrandt, 530-365-1931
  
  
• Solano: June Regis, 707-439-0876
  
  

If your county is not listed above, contact Sara Hicks-Kilday at cares@caccwrc.org, 415-808-7327. For Spanish, contact Teresa Calle-Streicker, 415-821-7871.