“As we gather here today to fight for decision makers to invest in child care, let’s remember the people who make up this industry.” “When families can’t afford to find care, the women stay home to take care of their children,” she said. Schiavone noted that Wednesday was International Women’s Day, acknowledging 98 percent of those in the early care education field are women. So far in this fiscal year, the Office of Early Childhood has used nearly $91.2 million as of the end of December. The money spent in Care 4 Kids has increased in recent years - $100.08 in fiscal 2019, $127.16 in fiscal 2020, $136.18 in fiscal 2021 and $177.02 in fiscal 2022. The proposal also includes a 25 percent tax credit for employers to build on-site child care centers and for any child care cost subsidies they provide to their workers. That's on top of some $35 million to support the program's enrollment. Ned Lamont last month proposed an increase in funding for Care 4 Kids, the state’s largest child care program, $14.2 million in 2024 and $53.3 million in 2025, for a 10 percent increase for licensed providers and 5 percent increase for non-licensed providers. “We’re hoping for a similar impact this year,” which is for legislators to think about child care as a priority when they’re putting together a state budget. “We had $183 million added to the budget because of the work that we did here,” she said. Schiavone said there has been a lot of progress since the last rally in New Haven in 2022 in terms of awareness of the issues and “real” movement in the legislature. This is not the first time the child care coalition gathered to call for more funding. “People succeeding more, people more likely to own a home, to graduate from college, everything.”Įlicker said the city is putting $3.5 million into expanding access to child care by supporting hours expansion and supporting innovations. “If we put in the investment now, we’re going to see those returns in our community,” Elicker said. Mayor Justin Elicker, who was at the rally with his daughter, said the research and the math is there to support that investing in kids at 0-5 years old would have impacts on them that go beyond 40-50 years old. “We are just as important as the pilot that’s flying the airplane,” Brown said. Lottie Brown, a New Haven provider, said she’s not in the field for the money because “the money sucks” but she’s in it because families and parents need support. “I have to make choices around people, I might lose people that I really enjoy having and they’re beneficial to my team and my business’ success because they have to make a choice that’s better for their family,” Boone said. And she said that’s difficult for businesses. She said when her employees’ children are sick, they call out to take care of them because they can’t afford any options. Sarah Boone, an owner of Guilford Racquet & Swim Club whose family lives in New Haven, said the economy can’t run if there isn’t a sustainable and affordable child care system.īoone’s business employs 35 people during the indoor season and 75 during summer. “We also must recognize that we cannot promote economic development” as caregivers should “have access to well-paying jobs,” Dean said.Ī business owner agreed. “That’s just one day without child care,” Dean said.īecause the lack of access to child care means reduced opportunities for studying and jobs, Dean said it leads to inequality and community issues such as food insecurity, violence, health and housing. He said it means the two parents have to take turns staying in to take care of him instead of going to work. Patrick Dean said he expected to be at the rally with his wife and son, but his son felt “under the weather” so he needed to stay home. “We don’t have that right now in our system.” “The costs are so high that both parents need to work, and if both parents need to work and you have children, then you need somewhere for them to go that’s safe, reliable and affordable,” Schiavone said. Schiavone, whose children now are 19 and 21, said it’s more difficult nowadays to get quality child care because New Haven is a “child care desert,” because there’s not enough open spots. Allyx Schiavone, executive director of Friends Center for Children, said an average Connecticut family pays $15,000 per child yearly for child care. “We are shaping the future and we’re at the bottom of the pay scale but the work we do shapes our future.”Ĭhild care workers nationwide earn an average of $13.22 per hour, which translates to about $27,500 annually, according to the U.S. “Every other profession asks for what they need and they get it,” Kelley said. Debra Kelley of All Our Kin said families shouldn’t pay more than 7 percent of their annual income to get quality care.
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