News | Opinion

Read Our New Coalition Letter

Oct 06, 2020

Providers have been busy sounding the alarm on California’s child care crisis which has led over 5,251 of us to close our doors. Last week, CCPU, parents, community allies, and our larger union family, took action statewide in socially distanced car caravans and press conferences outside Gov. Newsom’s offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Fresno. Dozens of media outlets joined us to share our urgent demands to support family child care providers who continue to offer essential child care to frontline workers.

But, we know our work is far from over. That’s why we’ve written a letter addressed to Governor Newsom, President pro Tempore Atkins, and Speaker Rendon on why California must act to save our child care system before it’s too late. Organizations like ACLU California, Child Care Resource Center, and many more have rallied to our cause and committed to stand alongside family child care providers as we fight together for the early care and education system California deserves.

You can read the English version here, and the Spanish version here.

The letter specifically asks for:

  • Adequate reimbursement rates for children participating in distance learning
  • Financial support for providers who have to close their doors following potential COVID-19 exposure so they can reopen
  • Restoration of the unilateral cut to providers’ pay by continuing to cover families’ portion of fees for children who receive child care subsidies when families keep children home to prevent COVID-19 spread or exposure

Family child care providers are essential workers and we deserve to be treated as such. We are scheduled to meet with the state again to address our concerns later this week, so be sure to check your inbox for the latest updates on our fight to ensure every child has access to quality early learning and care, and that providers receive the pay, respect, and resources we deserve.  Also, be sure to follow us on our recently launched Twitter and Instagram, (@CCPUCalifornia) accounts to stay up-to-date with CCPU news and events.