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POSITION IN BRIEF: Support state and local policies, legislation and programs which meet the need for accessible, affordable, and quality child care.
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POSITIONS

Policy

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1. Support state and local policies committed to the following principles:

a. all children are entitled to safe, nurturing care;

b. caring for children is a societal as well as a family responsibility;

c. 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;

d. job protected maternity and parental leaves are highly desirable;

e. stable funding is a necessary component of policy.

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:

a. the welfare of the child is the primary focus;
b. policy is effectively implemented;
c. private and public programs are efficiently coordinated;
d. responsible agencies work together cooperatively and effectively;
e. the administrative staff has training in child development;
f. 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 which is responsive to diverse needs of children and their families.
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Support measures that:

a. 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;

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b. facilitate and expand child care programs offered at public school facilities and other public agencies;

c. 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;
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d. provide statutory Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) for all state funded child care programs and services;

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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:

a. establish and maintain quality standards for centers and family day care homes;

b. encourage and assist child care providers and staff to maintain and provide quality child care;

c. provide incentives for family day care homes to become licensed;

d. provide effective monitoring of child care programs;

e. support and facilitate increased wages and benefits for center staff and family day care operators;

f. ensure that families have access to information which 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:

a. explore needs and services available;

b. provide community-wide development, coordination, and implementation of child care policies;

c. designate a coordinator for child care policy;

d. provide incentives for private providers through such means as subsidies, fee waivers, and simplification of the regulatory process;

e. establish child care benefits and services for local government employees;

f. include child care elements in General Plans and redevelopment plans;

g. commit the use of public lands and facilities for child care programs.

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Adopted 1989; Readopted at last convention