This article originally appeared in the July-August 2007 issue of the Children's Advocate, published by Action Alliance for Children.

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The California Child Development CORPS

Early childhood teachers and providers organizing and advocating for better pay, benefits, job conditions, and professional respect.

By Amanda Montague

The Corps advocates for continued CARES funding

The California First 5 Commission is deciding whether to continue funding for the CARES program, which provides stipends for early care and education teachers who continue their education. California Child Development Corps participants are writing letters in support of CARES and plan to attend the next First 5 meeting (see Upcoming events) to advocate for additional funding.

“CARES promotes better benefits for teachers and a better reputation for the whole profession,” says Inge Byrnes, a long-time teacher at San Francisco’s Holy Family Day Home. “In the past, child care providers were considered babysitters. (Now) a high standard is set.”

“CARES has been a catalyst to systems change,” agrees Sara Hicks-Kilday, statewide organizer for the Corps. It is “developing the early care and education workforce, and developing higher education to be prepared for what the workforce needs.”

Skills for the classroom

“My stipend from CARES helps me take classes and workshops, such as working with families, working with special needs children, and classes on nature,” says Byrnes.

“Every year, I take my class to the Tennessee Valley in Marin,” she says. “We walk and talk about the animals they see. What I’m learning in the classes helps me to promote the outdoors and science to children. Money that’s left over goes into my savings, because child care educators don’t have many benefits.” Byrnes also advises other CARES recipients.

Incentive to get a BA

“Thanks to CARES, I am going to complete my BA in Childhood Development,” says Charity Ancheta, also a teacher at Holy Family Day Home. “CARES helps me pay for (tuition). It gave me an incentive to finish my BA. If there was no money, I would probably only be taking one class at a time. I wrote a letter to express how thankful I am CARES exists, because it’s really hard to make enough money in child care.” Ancheta has been active with the Corps for almost two years.

CARES participants and administrators have successfully pressured higher education programs to offer more evening courses, support through difficult classes, and a San Francisco bilingual BA program, says Hicks-Kilday—though “this still has far to go.”

Thanks to the Trio Foundation for its support of this page.

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Upcoming events

• Advocate for CARES funding: Write a letter about how CARES has helped you, to be presented at the next First 5 meeting, and plan to attend on July 19 in Sacramento. Contact Melinda Felice, 415-808-7327.

• Visit the Corps’ table at the National Family Child Care Association Conference, Aug 15-18, in Anaheim.

• Sign up for the Alameda Leadership and Advocacy Workshop. Contact Alameda representatives.

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For more information, contact:

• Alameda: Marva Lyons, 510-521-3997, HappyMarva43734@cs.com and Margaret Costello-Chevis, 510-226-9414, mohavecomm@aol.com

• Butte: Paulette Fox, 530-876-8907, pjfx@strangecode.com

• Contra Costa: Stephanie Ratto, 925-689-5151 x204, lsratto@earthlink.net

• Humboldt: Polly Ramos, 707-825-0834, supercluck75@hotmail.com

• Los Angeles: Catherine Scott, 562-572-9939

• Nevada: Barbara Price-Tison, 530-265-0778, pricetison@hughes.net

• Orange: Sue Miller, 714-744-2774, sue.miller@sbcglobal.net

• Placer: Gayle Kelley, 530-823-6218, gakids@inreach.com

• San Diego: Katy Kenshur, 760-436-3725, kenshur@aol.com

• San Francisco: Valentina Feldman, 415-861-5361, val_fel@msn.com

• San Mateo: Silvia Espinoza, 650-359-4675, grandmascch@aol.com

• Santa Clara: Elaine Sabo, 408-263-8113, elainesabo@sbcglobal.net

• Solano: June Regis, 707-439-0876, aljuregis@aol.com

• Stanislaus: Pam Reeder, 209-544-9225

If your county is not listed above, contact Melinda Felice at cares@caccwrc.org, 415-808-7327.

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Extra resources from the Children’s Advocate bulletin

The Center for the Study of Child Care Employment has several new reports on issues affecting the child care workforce:

• Chutes or Ladders? Creating Support Services to Help Early Childhood Students Succeed in Higher Education, discusses efforts in California to support early care and education students, including student cohorts, classes for English language learners, advising and counseling, financial support, and offering classes at nontraditional times. Online at http://www.iir.berkeley.edu/cscce/
  pdf/chutes_ladders07.pdf

• Clearing a Career Path discusses efforts in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties to improve professional development in the early care and education field. Online at http://www.iir.berkeley.edu/cscce/
  pdf/clearing_careerpath06.pdf

To stay informed about new and upcoming Children’s Advocate articles, related resources, and advocacy opportunities, sign up for our Children’s Advocate bulletin

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