2019 Legislative Agenda Issue Update

Child Care Financial Assistance Program

Affordable child care, and the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, is one of nine issues on the Alliance's 2019 Legislative Agenda, along with two additional issues being monitored. This issue newsletter is part of a series that provides more information on each priority issue on the Agenda. This Agenda is crafted by the Alliance Steering Committee annually in partnership with early childhood organizations that are advancing policy solutions through the legislative process.

Continue reading for more information on this priority issue, including data and talking points, connections to the lead organizations and other partners, and advocacy tools.

Data and Talking Points

"Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) is an important resource that helps Vermont families access and afford quality early care and learning programs. "

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This year, the Alliance supports advocacy by Let's Grow Kids, the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, the Vermont Child Care Providers Association, and Voices for Vermont's Children to strengthen the Child Care Financial Assistance Program through three key changes: expanding program eligibility, increasing financial assistance for families, and paying child care programs higher reimbursement rates.

Strengthening the Child Care Financial Assistance Program 

The proposal to strengthen the CCFAP includes three areas of activity:

  • Expand the number of children eligible for support
    • The Building Vermont's Future Think Tank and Vermont's Blue Ribbon Commission on Financing High Quality, Affordable Child Care have recommended expanding the program to families earning more than VT's Livable Wage (about 425% of the federal poverty guidelines for a four-person family). We must begin this year to make progress toward this goal.
    • This year, we are asking the Legislature to expand the income eligibility cap from 300% of the federal poverty guidelines to 350% of the federal poverty guidelines as a first step toward this recommendation.
  • Make child care more affordable for families
    • Many families who are eligible for assistance from CCFAP only receive a small amount of support. This means that child care can still be unaffordable. All families earning more than the federal poverty level receive only partial assistance. The Think Tank recommended providing 100% financial assistance to families earning up to VT's Livable Wage.
    • As a first step, we are asking the Legislature to adjust financial assistance levels so that families earning up to 2x the federal poverty level receive full support and to adjust the financial assistance sliding scale so that no qualifying family receives less than 25% financial assistance.
  • Pay child care programs higher reimbursement rates
    • Unfortunately, the rates CCFAP pays providers—known as reimbursement rates—are aligned with outdated information on the cost of child care for preschool-age and after-school-age children. This means that child care and early learning programs are being paid less than what they actually charge for tuition for these age groups.
    • For 2019, we recommend that preschool and after-school rates be aligned with the 2017 Vermont Market Rate Survey findings and that the state adjust reimbursement rates annually so that they don't fall behind again.

Resources and Advocacy Tools 

CCFAP Press Conference

Coordinated by Let's Grow Kids 

Tuesday, January 29 at 11:45 am, Cedar Creek Room, Vermont State House, Montpelier 

Legislative champions for child care and Let's Grow Kids will host a press conference to announce a bill to implement these recommended changes to CCFAP, as well as supports for early educators. Alliance members are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Schedule an Advocacy Training on Legislative Issues 

Schedule an Alliance training for parents and professionals interested in strengthening advocacy techniques and communication skills. Be informed and ensure your voice is heard on issues impacting Vermont's young children, families and the early childhood workforce.

Early Childhood Day at the Legislature - 3/13/19

Registration has opened for this important annual day of advocacy and skill-building workshops. 

Early Childhood Day at the Legislature (ECDL) is an annual day of advocacy, education, and networking co-hosted by the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, Let's Grow Kids, and Building Bright Futures, that brings together early childhood professionals and providers, parents, employers, business owners, and policymakers to engage on early childhood issues.

The agenda for this 25th annual event includes issue and advocacy workshops, lunch with Legislators, state house tours, a rally for affordable child care, a birthday party celebrating 25 years of ECDL, and more. Stay tuned for a detailed agenda to be released in February.

Register online and download the registration flyer at the bottom of this page. 

The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide advocacy coalition formed in 2000 of early childhood professionals and providers, parents, and employers committed to improving public policies that impact young children from birth to age eight on issues of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education.

The Alliance crafts an annual Legislative Agenda in partnership with early childhood organizations, provides year-round advocacy support, and facilitates meaningful interactions with policymakers at key times during the decision making process.

QUICK LINKS

2018 Legislative Agenda Wrap-Up

Meet the Members of the Alliance

Meet the Alliance Staff 

 

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https://vecaa.org

The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund.

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