State's first union for family child care aims to improve services for nearly 70,000 children

 

BALTIMORE- Nearly 6,000 home-based child care providers across Maryland now have a united voice for their profession, after voting in a statewide election to form their union with SEIU Kids First.

Ballots were counted Monday by the American Arbitration Association and results announced this morning. Providers voted to join together in SEIU Kids First by more than 75 percent.

"This is an exciting day for family child care providers and the kids and parents who depend on us,"said Madie Green, a provider in District Heights for more than 25 years.

"Now we have the strong voice we need to stand up for affordable, quality child care in Maryland."

The nearly 6,000 providers receive part of their pay from the state, through the Department of Education's "Purchase of Care"program, which helps parents afford child care so they can work and support their families. But the rates at which providers are reimbursed are so low, and payments so unreliable, that many can't afford to stay in the profession. Since 1994, Maryland communities have lost nearly 3,000 licensed family child care providers.

"Parents trust child care providers every day to do what's right for our kids,"said Donya Paul, a mother from Wheaton who uses family child care.

"With a united voice, our providers can work together to make child care a better place for our children and more reliable for working parents."

Providers' union will be able to negotiate with the state for more training opportunities, access to affordable health insurance, better reimbursements from the Purchase of Care program, and other improvements that would help providers keep serving their communities. The election does not affect the relationship between parents and their child care providers.

"The only thing parents will notice is that the quality will improve, and it will be easier for families to find care when they need it,"Green said.

Providers worked together for nearly three years to gain the right to vote for their union-forming a statewide steering council and organizing committee, and joining with parents and community advocates to lobby elected officials.

Providers' victory in Maryland reflects a growing trend in child care policy nationwide. Since 2005, ten states have given providers the freedom to form a union, and Illinois, Oregon, and Washington have already approved union contracts to stabilize the industry and improve access to affordable, quality child care.

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