This article originally appeared in the January-February 2002 issue of the Children's Advocate, published by Action Alliance for Children.

Grassroots Snapshot

Decision-makers "shadowing" child care providers

By Erica Williams

Once a year in Nevada County, Job Shadow Day gives community leaders an up-close look at the work of child care providers. Last November 8, Barbara Kosher, business development officer for the Citizen's Bank, "shadowed" Sharon Davidson, owner/operator of Stepping Stones Preschool, for part of the day. "I sat in those little chairs at the art table," says Kosher, while the children worked with materials that "perked their creativity and fascination."

The experience, Kosher says, allowed her to "see the need of families who want to know that their children are cared for and nurtured" and to gain "more awareness of what goes into quality child care." Kosher adds, "I was really impressed with the teacher," how she taught the children to "keep in mind respect for one another, while instilling confidence and self-esteem."

That's exactly the kind of result child care providers hoped for when they started Job Shadow Day in Nevada County six years ago, with the aim of gaining fair wages for child care providers. Every Job Shadow Day they host a different group, such as Prop. 10 commissioners, county supervisors, and, this year, business leaders-"people helping to make policy in our county" says Cindy Santa Cruz, director of Ready Springs Community Preschool.

Job Shadow Day has "built important links between community leaders and child care providers," says Santa Cruz. Karen Wallek-Eisen, owner/ director of Tiny Pines Learning Center, credits Job Shadow Day with helping persuade Prop. 10 commissioners to create a stipend program rewarding early childhood educators who further their education. Nevada, she adds, is the only county that provides health benefits for those providers.

Several key elements contribute to the success of Job Shadow Day.

• A planned program: Before participants arrive at the child care programs, they receive a fact sheet about child care in Nevada County. During the day, teachers talk with participants about activities like playdough-making, explaining how they help children learn skills like measuring. Later, at a reception, "shadows" share their experiences and sign a pledge of commitment to become advocates for children.
  
  
• Theme-of-the-year: Every year there's a specific theme-last year participants aimed to raise awareness about how many people depend on child care to be able to go work and about child care providers as "viable contributors to economic health," says Wallek-Eisen.
  
  
• Public awareness: Last November, Job Shadow Day received a Prop. 10 grant for publicity and distributed more than 4,000 buttons reading: "Nevada County works thanks to.[fill in their child care center's name]." Ronda Fraser, owner/operator of Seven Hills Child Care, recalls entering a store and seeing five people wearing the buttons-"And that was in a small store! They were everywhere!"
  
  
• Parent involvement: Parents participate in Job Shadow Day by volunteering in the classroom. Parent volunteer Carol Finau, whose son attends Ready Springs, says, "a lot of parents don't realize what their child's teacher does each day." Santa Cruz says participating in Job Shadow Day has united parents as child care advocates. As a result, "parents stand up and become more involved," participating in school meetings and speaking up about child care at school district and county supervisors meetings.

Job shadowing is one strategy recommended by the Worthy Wage Campaign, which works for fair compensation for child care providers. For more information call 800-U-R-WORTHY, www.ccw.org

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