Position in Brief

Support state and local policies, legislation and programs that meet the need for accessible, affordable, and quality child care.

Positions

Policy

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1. Support state and local policies committed to the following principles:
   1. all children are entitled to safe, nurturing care;caring for children is a societal as well as a family responsibility; quality child care responsive to diverse needs of children and their families should be available to all socio-economic groups on an ability to pay basis;job protected maternity and parental leaves are highly desirable;stable funding is a necessary component of policy.–End vertical–

Administration

2. Support a state administrative structure which provides for optimum effectiveness in implementing child care policies, programs, and services by meeting the following criteria:
   1. the welfare of the child is the primary focus;policy is effectively implemented;private and public programs are efficiently coordinated;responsible agencies work together cooperatively and effectively;the administrative staff has training in child development;responsible agencies are effective advocates for child care and are responsive to public concerns.

Availability/Accessibility

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3. Support measures that ensure availability of accessible, quality child care that is responsive to diverse needs of children and their families.
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   Support measures that:
   1. provide incentives and encouragement for private providers and employers to expand the supply of child care, e.g. simplify the regulatory process without lowering standards; provide loans for startup costs; offer tax breaks; assure reasonable insurance rates; act as a model employer by offering child care services and benefits to state employees; –Begin vertical–facilitate and expand child care programs offered at public school facilities and other public agencies;ensure the provision of child care programs and services through elementary school years and age appropriate, supervised, enrichment activities available for youth in their teen years; –End vertical–provide statutory Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) for all state funded child care programs and services; –Begin vertical– e. strengthen the Resource and Referral (R&R) agencies’ role in recruiting and supporting family day care.

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Quality

4. Support state responsibility to ensure the delivery of quality care. Support measures that:
   1. establish and maintain quality standards for centers and family day care homes;
   2. encourage and assist child care providers and staff to maintain and provide quality child care;
   3. provide incentives for family day care homes to become licensed;
   4. provide effective monitoring of child care programs;
   5. support and facilitate increased wages and benefits for center staff and family day care operators;
   6. ensure that families have access to information that will help them to recognize and choose quality care.

Affordability

5. Support state responsibility to:
   a. meet the need for subsidized child care through reliable and diverse sources of state funding;
   b. expand tax supported public child care so it is available on a sliding fee basis to all socio-economic groups;
   c. make existing tax credits more progressive;
   d. use various incentives, including tax breaks, to encourage businesses to offer child care services and benefits to their employees;
   e. promote and seek federal assistance for child care.

Local Government

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6. Support diverse community efforts, where appropriate, to meet identified local needs for child care services. Support measures that:
   1. explore needs and services available;
   2. provide community-wide development, coordination, and implementation of child care policies;
   3. designate a coordinator for child care policy;
   4. provide incentives for private providers through such means as subsidies, fee waivers, and simplification of the regulatory process;
   5. establish child care benefits and services for local government employees;
   6. include child care elements in General Plans and redevelopment plans;
   7. commit the use of public lands and facilities for child care programs.

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Position History

Adopted 1989; Readopted at last convention