On July 22nd, over thirty family providers went to the Massachusetts State House to lobby to pass the legislation that will give the right to form our union. We visited over twenty of our legislators including the some of the most powerful legislators in the House of Representatives and urged their support of our bill.

It was a midday event and we know not everyone could make it but we wanted to send you some pictures so you can get a feel for how the day went. Everyone we spoke with was supportive so we are hopefully that our bill will get passed soon.

"I felt our Lobby Day was very powerful. It was good for us all to go to the state house and to be able to come together with one voice speaking out for improvements for family child care providers. Our representative (Rosemary Sandlin) was very supportive of our bill and encouraging to us about the importance of family child care in Massachusetts. I left lobby day with a feeling of hope and excitement for the future of our profession."

- Lisa Collins, Licensed Provider, Feeding Hills Massachusetts

"This was my first time coming together with other family child care providers fighting for our Right to have a strong voice and demanding a better quality for our kids. I felt proud speak to the legislators that have the power to pass the bill giving us the right to form our union."

- Maria Flores, Licensed Provider, Revere Massachusetts

"As a family provider and leader in our union lobby day was a great experience! I was proud to see providers with kids coming together from different parts of the state created a great atmosphere at the State House empowering providers to have a voice and work with our state in raising the quality of care. I also feel that we were recognized as professional educators in our homes."

- Maribel Molina, Licensed Provider, Revere Massachusetts

"Lobby Day was very exciting and it was a very nice turnout of providers and children. Being able to speak with our legislators gave us the chance to leave a good impression and give them insight on the quality of care we provide and how our work affects their future."

- Donna Willis, Licensed Provider, Roslindale Massachusetts

We hope you enjoy this report on how our Lobby Day went and hope you can join us next time!

A lot to be excited about

^{By Sandra Orne, Donna Willis, & Jessica Quintara | Steering committee members}

We had our third statewide steering committee meeting Saturday, June 7. Every quarter, we have a statewide committee meeting to hear reports from our regional committees and discuss our overall direction. This time, we had the meeting at a hotel in Worcester County to make it easier for providers from Western and Eastern Massachusetts to attend. Members from the Boston committee rented a van and drove out together.

There was much to discuss since we’ve had a lot of exciting things happen in the past three months. Most notably:

• Our meeting with family child care systems;
• The Wheelock College conference;
• Recent legislative meetings; and
• Regional steering committee meetings.

Also, every time we meet, we discuss the issues that bring us together and recognize that, despite our various backgrounds and communities, we share similar values and are not alone.

This is an exciting time for us. We are hopeful that a bill giving us the right to form our union will pass. We are also happy to announce that we now have cards signed from a majority of family providers statewide.

But that doesn’t mean our work is done. We need to build our networks to build our organization. We are calling on all providers to get involved. Start talking to one another or contact steering committee members in your region so we can continue to grow stronger. This will enable us to work toward developing a bargaining committee and a strategy to win the best contract for children, parents, and family providers in Massachusetts.

For information on regional steering committee meetings or to contact local steering committee members, call 617-316-0455.

Providers, systems discuss shared vision

^{By Evelyne Dalembert | Somerville, MA}

We sat down May 7 with family child care systems who are affiliated with the Massachusetts Association of Day Care Agencies (MADCA). June Steele and Eugenia Finnell from Springfield joined me in presenting to more than 25 people representing 24 systems. The presentation went well; we explained why we are forming our union and expressed our appreciation for the support our family child systems provide to us.

In our presentation, we recognized the shared values and issues we have with the systems. Some of the points we covered were:

• We care for some of the state’s youngest children which means we have a shared responsibility to provide the highest quality services to our community.
• Parents are increasingly having a hard time finding affordable, high quality child care and we face a growing waiting list for services.
• Systems and providers know we are having a hard time making ends meet and accessing affordable health care—a problem that is forcing some of us from the field, meaning children lose a stable environment in which to grow.

We explained that, we would like to work together to improve these issues as we progress in forming our union.

Following the presentation, we took questions. The family child care systems asked multiple questions about dues and how this worked in other states. We explained that we wouldn’t make a decision on dues until we negotiate our contract and there wouldn’t be dues until we vote. We made it clear that dues will be our decision to make.

There were also questions about how our union would function in Massachusetts. We explained that we are the union, family providers will make the decisions, and we will vote on our contract and elect our leaders. They expressed concern about what this would mean to them and we said we hope it means we work together. This is why the meeting was important—so that we could work out any negative perceptions and find common ground.

When asked why we are forming our union with SEIU Local 888, we went back to the issues—for all the great work family child care systems do, we still struggle with low voucher rates that don’t come close to the market rate and a lack of affordable healthcare. We explained that, when we organize, we will be able to work at getting those issues resolved in partnership with our family child care systems and agencies.

We know systems care about our issues and share them with us. That's why this meeting was valuable. We hope we can work together and increase communication so that we can win gains for children, parents, and providers in Massachusetts - just as family providers have done in Illinois, Oregon, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Washington.

Providers & parents leave big impact on elected officials

^{By Isabel Frias | Lawrence, MA & Clara Alexis | Everett, MA}

Meeting with Sen. Susan Tucker

More than 20 family providers as well as parents and children welcomed Sen. Susan Tucker into my home in Lawrence, Mass., the evening of May 2. This was a chance to speak about our issues to our elected official and for them to see what a family child care home is like. Everyone was very excited to be speaking with Sen. Tucker because we know she is a strong supporter of families, not just in Lawrence but across the state.

We were able to explain to her some of the issues we face as providers:

• Mercedes Pita explained that she considers herself a small business owner and that we take a lot of pride in ensuring high quality care for children.
• Petra Sanchez said that it’s important for us to have our union so we can work more closely with the state to improve the system for children.
• Olga Ceron spoke on rates for voucher children. She explained that they are low, creating inequity between vouchers and private pay children which means some providers refuse to take voucher children.

Carolina Castillo, a parent of one of the children in my care also explained, “it’s important to me as a parent to have a choice and high quality care. I chose family child care because it provides a small classroom and added attention for my child.”

Sen. Tucker was extremely positive and I feel she gained a lot of insight into our jobs and the issues we face. As we make progress and organize our union, it will be important to speak with legislators about our issues and make sure our voice is heard so that we are recognized for the valuable work we do in our communities.

Meeting with Councilman Sal DiDomenico

On June 18^th, we also met with Everett City Councilman Sal DiDomenico who is the chief of staff to Senator Anthony D. Galluccio. The meeting took place at Clara Alexis’ home in Everett. I was glad the Councilman came to hear our concerns and he had good questions. We shared the same issues that providers in Lawrence shared with Senator Tucker. Our voices were heard on raising the quality of care for children and that providers are standing together and want to see positive changes for children and the system.

Silvia Rodriguez, a provider from Chelsea who attended the meeting at my home in Everett said, “Councilman DiDomenico was very attentive to our issues and I felt he knows we provide quality care for children and are not just babysitters.”

We have scheduled more meetings with legislators and will keep you informed about local meetings in your area.

Provider speaks at early ed convention

^{By Sonia Callahan | Brockton, MA}

Wheelock College held its third annual Community Dialogue on Early Education and Care: New Initiatives, New Realities on May 22 in Brookline, Mass. This year, the conference was focused on drawing up a shared vision for our field and examining the various organizing initiatives and coalition building that have been happening.

I was invited to participate as a panel member and explain how we are organizing our union, what initiatives we’ve undertaken, and what obstacles we face. This was my first experience being a panel member and speaking in front of more than a hundred people. I felt nervous but also privileged to be there as one of the speakers to share the hard work and accomplishments of our statewide steering committee and the thousands of Massachusetts family providers we represent.

I was able to explain how we’ve formed regional committees and developed a statewide committee that meets quarterly to communicate and grow our organizing efforts. It also gave me the opportunity to express the balancing act family child care providers face on a daily basis. We are working to maintain access to affordable healthcare, provide our children with quality care for long hours , gain a stronger voice in our system, and deal with the challenges brought on by low voucher rates.

Gwen Morgan was also recognized for her tireless work for children. We all owe her so much as a strong advocate for family child care. It was a great moment to see.

All of the providers were well received at this influential meeting and I feel as though our voices were heard.

Now is the time to speak out for change

^{By Eugene Finnell | Steering committee member}

I attended the March 15 steering committee meeting with other providers from across the state. It was the first steering committee meeting that I have attended and I'm glad that I was there. As a provider in Springfield, MA for the past 15 years, I have many concerns about the future of family child care. At times, I have felt as though I were a single voice or perhaps the only one who felt that things needed to change; that perception has changed.

It was refreshing and hopeful to hear other providers like me who share the same concerns and who are just as determined as I am about seeing changes. If we are going to see changes, we are all going to need to do our part. There are so many opportunities for all of us to get involved - and now is the time to come together.

I liken this experience to baking a cake. To achieve the end result, all the ingredients must be present and the directions need to be followed. If we are missing any of those things, in the end we will not have a cake. Just as every ingredient has an important and vital part to play in the creation of the cake, so too do each of us - all of us - have a vital role in this campaign. We each have different gifts and talents - we all have areas where we are strong.

This is not a claim for what we want - this is a demand for what we need. We need each other; we need to build our community of providers throughout the state - from Boston to Pittsfield and everywhere in between. As a fellow provider, I challenge and invite you to get involved; become a member of the steering committee, attend an EEC meeting, make house visits to other providers with organizers of this campaign, or hold a house meeting for other providers in your area. We cannot wait anymore - we need to make a difference for ourselves and, most importantly, for the children in our care that we love and nurture each day.

If you have ideas on how to improve our profession, or you want to get involved, just e-mail info@makidsfirst.org or call 617-482-4471, x23.

ESL classes continue to grow, help providers offer quality care

^{By Adelaida Rivera | Family child care provider in Worcester for 10 years}

In the last newsletter, we had a story about ESL classes for family child care providers in Lynn and Lawrence. Since that time, we've expanded ESL classes to Worcester through a partnership with Child Care Connection, a program of Family Services of Central Massachusetts and providing classes through Quinsigamond Community College.

I am attending courses to improve my English and provide better services for American children and parents. In 2004, I got my CDA and have grown as a person and a professional. Now, by learning English, I hope to break out of the Spanish-speaking niche and bring more children into my home. I don't see myself as a babysitter, I see myself as an educator. My children say to me, "Mammy, you're a teacher. Why don't you go work in a school?" I prefer running my own business and raising children from birth. I support forming a union because I would like the system to change and improve. By coming together, we can improve the system for children.

Ana Rivas is also taking the course and she said the class has been a good way to relieve the stress of work by learning with other family providers. Ana said "we are sharing our experiences from work and life in a relaxed working environment," and "the teacher is excellent." Ana said she believes that forming a union is a way to help ourselves and be part of the larger community.

Debi Lange from Child Care Connection had this to say, "We are glad to collaborate with SEIU and Quinsigamond Community College to offer affordable classes that will increase the skills and educational level of early childhood educators in home-based and center-based programs in Worcester."

If you have ideas on how to improve our profession, or you want to get involved, just e-mail info@makidsfirst.org or call 617-482-4471, x23.

Knocking doors raises awareness of common provider issues

^{By Edna Cotto | Family child care provider in Fitchburg for three years}

I went door-to-door on Jan. 19 visiting providers to talk to them about forming a union with SEIU. At first, I felt a little bit skeptical. But I wanted other providers to know that I have concerns and issues I want addressed. I found out that a lot of providers have the same concerns that I have. For example: lack of medical insurance, issues with taxes, no sick days, personal days, and the fact that we can't take a day off without affecting our budgets. I also found that new providers can't always access trainings to help them deal with children on a daily basis.

Talking to other providers made me feel that I'm not alone. There are so many other providers who face the same challenges I do. I talked to them about the union because with a union we will have a voice. I encourage other providers to join me. The only way we can learn about the needs that we all have is if we all get together.

Providers were friendly and interested in what I had to say. I felt relaxed at the end of the day knowing that I'm not alone and there are others that have the same issues I have. I would do this again. I wish I had visited more providers that day. The more people you talk to, the more people will know they're not alone. I made good connections with other providers and I hope they will call me. I am more than willing to open my house for meetings to bring providers together.

If you have ideas on how to improve our profession, or you want to get involved, just e-mail info@makidsfirst.org or call 617-482-4471, x23.

More than 600 lobby at Capitol for quality care

^{By Clara Kijak | Family child care provider in Springfield for more than 20 years}

More than 600 child care workers, advocates, and family providers met Feb. 12 at the Statehouse to push the legislature to better address child care priorities.

Right now, there are more than 24,000 children on a waiting list for vouchers. Their parents qualify for help with child care, but the state has not budgeted for the needs of these children. Working mothers struggle to provide for their children and if the state says they are eligible for help, they shouldn't be told to wait years for it.

By bringing together the people that are on the front line caring for children with the people who set the budget, we will bring the problems within Massachusetts child care to light, and force politicians to address the needs of working families.

After lobbying, a group of family providers went to the EEC meeting. We sat in on the board meeting that was supposed to address the waiting list, but nothing was resolved. That leaves 24,000 children still waiting for quality care, not to mention all the others that have not applied because they know they will not receive a voucher in time - or those families that make just above the level needed to qualify for vouchers.

We are the working families that put these politicians in office; they should be accountable to us. If no one stands up to push the state to do right by children, things will only get worse. But if we all come together, we can make our voices heard and bring all 24,000 children out of the cold. I encourage you to come to the next lobby day or EEC meeting.

If you have ideas on how to improve our profession, or you want to get involved, just e-mail info@makidsfirst.org or call 617-482-4471, x23.

Celebrating our victories and planning more for 2008

We held our leadership conference Nov. 17 at SEIU Local 888 in Charlestown. It was exciting to have so many providers together face-to-face. Our union’s steering committee is a large group from different parts of Massachusetts, speaking many languages and representing the diversity in our profession.

We celebrated our victories in 2007 and talked about what worked best:

• Ensuring our voice is heard by getting an SEIU Kids First provider onto the Workforce Development Taskforce;
• Forming a statewide steering committee to direct our efforts;
• Raising our profile in the industry by participating in the Wheelock conference;
• Lobbying with the Massachusetts Associate of Day Care Agencies (MADCA) to support increased funding for child care;
• Informing all providers about the possible regulation changes—no other organization provided a Spanish translation;
• Providers graduating from ESL courses that our union won funding for
• Passing legislation in the Senate that would give us the right to vote to form our union.

We also celebrated the victories of the 12,000 family providers in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Maine who voted to form their unions over the summer.

Then we broke into groups to brainstorm our plan to win in 2008.

We focused on three important points:

• How do we build our union and strengthen our network?
• What can we do now to be a union and act collectively on issues that matter to us?
• How can we move our legislation further so we have the strongest voice possible?

We are proud of the work we did, but it’s not over. We set the date for our next quarterly meeting in February. By then we will already have begun our plan and there will be a lot to discuss!

If you have ideas on how to improve our profession, or you want to get involved, just e-mail info@makidsfirst.org or call 617-482-4471, x23.

SEIU providers speak out on changes to regulations

by June Steele, family provider in Springfield

Earlier this year, the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) held statewide meetings about proposed regulation changes, with support from Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children. I and more than 30 other child care providers from our union attended the Springfield meeting June 19. We were given a 72-page draft of the new regulations, as well as a handout from MAEYC that compared them with the old regulations and summarized the proposed changes. The provider steering committee of SEIU Kids First mailed that information to providers in July, along with a Spanish translation. You can also read the proposed changes at www.MAKidsFirst.org.

One change is that we would now be called "educators" in the regulations, instead "family child care providers." Most of us agreed with that change, but raised a lot of questions about other changes. At our meeting, providers asked for more information about the progress reports, fall zone requirements for outdoor play, administration of medications, and required postings and training requirements. The answers we received were mostly vague and we were told to enter our comments on the Web site.

Since those meetings there has been an informal comment period, and EEC has revised the proposed rules and regulations but has not released the new version publicly. After we see the revised version, they will schedule public hearings.

We'll let you know when the new version of the proposed changes is released and when the public hearings are set. Please read the draft-the public hearings will be our last chance have our say about the new regulations before the EEC board votes to approve them!

If you want to attend a public hearing with other providers to speak out on the new regulations, call 617-482-4471, x23.

Our voice on the Task Force for training and education

by Evelyn Dalembert, family provider in Somerville

I have been participating in the pilot Universal Pre-Kindergarten program and also serve on the board of the Multilingual Action Council. I have recently been appointed to represent our union on the Workforce Development Task Force of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

A large part of improving our profession is making educational opportunities affordable and accessible for family child care providers. In my experience, it's very hard to increase your education, and be there every day for parents who need you, and still pay your bills. I will work with the task force on ways to support providers who want to get more education, and help the EEC understand what it's like for family child care providers to try to balance professional development with serving our communities.

On the task force, I am a member of the Core Competency Subcommittee. Core competencies reflect the core body of knowledge and observable skills and attitudes that educators working with young children need to help children grow and learn. It is the subcommittee's job to evaluate a draft list of competencies written by the EEC. We look at how they apply to providers' current qualifications, and discuss what to add or subtract. We are also considering how these competencies apply to different settings and age groups.

Right now, I am the only family child care provider on the task force. It's great to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of family providers and our union, and I am doing my best to make sure our voice is heard. But proposals made by the state affect us all, and we need to organize and come together so we have a collective voice in all the decisions Massachusetts makes about our work and the children we care for.

As the task force moves forward, I will be updating everyone on our progress by e-mail or in Our Voice. If you have any questions or suggestions you'd like me to bring to the task force, please e-mail me at evelynedalembert@makidsfirst.org.

Providers learn and share ideas in new ESL classes

by Mercedes Perez, family provider in Lawrence

In September 2005, our union won a grant from the state to provide ESL classes for child care providers, and I have been attending them. Before, I had taken other ESL courses around my area but the new classes are helping a lot more. The teachers and the coordinator for the classes show support and interest in our work. Being a provider is an important job to me, and a necessity in the community. Having the opportunity to learn English helps me personally as well as in my work as an educator to the children in my care. Since I have been in these classes, I have noticed a big improvement in my English, especially in understanding, and that has motivated me to prepare myself to take English at the college level. The classes are also a way for providers to socialize and meet providers from our town that we might not have a chance to meet otherwise. Providers have a way to share ideas and tips that are helpful to each other in our child care. I recommend all providers that have the opportunity to attend the classes to go. It is not only a learning experience but a way to grow as a provider.

Right now our union is providing ESL classes in Lawrence and Lowell, and looking to expand classes and other trainings to Worcester, Springfield, and Boston. If you want more information about where to get trainings, just call 617-482-4471 x23.

EEC Seeks Provider Comments on New Family Child Care Regulations

The EEC has just extended the deadline to August 10 to receive comments about new draft regulations on family child care. The regulations contain a number of important changes that impact providers. You can read about some of the changes here

You can send your comments to the EEC at 51 Sleeper Street , 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02210 or email them to regreform@massmail.state.ma.us

New Report: Crafting A Shared Vision for Professional Development and Quality Enhancement in Family Child Care

Share Your Input!

SEIU Kids First providers and our allies have been discussing our goals for family child care in Massachusetts, and we've drafted a document called Crafting A Shared Vision for Professional Development andQuality Enhancement in Family Child Care. The document assesses the state of family child care in Massachusetts, identifies best practices that are succeeding in other states, and sets forth how we can move forward to improve the quality of care for all children in all settings, including those in family child care. To read the document, click here. To share your input, e-mail SEIU Kids First at info@makidsfirst.org or call 617-482-4471 to get involved in the statewide steering committee.

New Report: HOME-BASED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FINDING STRENGTH IN UNIONS

The National Women’s Law Center just issued a new report that found that when child care providers unite in unions, it has both increased public investment in child care and improved working conditions for providers. To read the report, visit

http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/GettingOrganized2007.pdf

A New Day for Family Child Care Providers

by Lynda Johnson, Arlington family child care provider

The beginning of a new year is always a time for celebration, reflection, and hope. For family child care providers in our state, 2006 was an incredible year and we have a lot to accomplish in 2007.

As you know, this fall, we took an important step forward in our effort to win a voice and improve the quality of child care services in the Commonwealth. While we were disappointed that Ballot Question 3 was narrowly defeated, the campaign only brought providers closer together and left us more committed to making a difference for Massachusetts children.

We have a lot to be proud of! Together we made thousands of phone calls, knocked on doors, handed out leaflets, hosted house meetings for parents and providers, and delivered petitions to legislators. We carried our message to voters about the need to improve access to early education, enhance quality for the children we serve and retain a stable workforce.

This campaign only made us stronger and I know we will achieve our goals this year. But first we have to chart out our shared vision for the future.

We can’t afford to wait. High provider turnover, low voucher rates, and long wait lists are only getting worse. It’s up to us to fix the broken system by taking action and organizing our own statewide organization (a union) – for the children we serve, for our profession and for our own families.

I hope you will join me in this New Year’s resolution: let’s stick together, let’s stand up for our profession, let’s win for our children.

Next Steps to Win a Voice

• Prior to the Yes on Question 3 initiative campaign, we passed a bill in the state legislature that would have given providers a voice in family child care but it was unfortunately vetoed by Governor Romney. Now we need to return to the legislature to win the improvements we need.
• Survey. I urge you to fill out this survey about the issues that matter most to you and the families you serve so we can establish our priorities and speak with one voice to legislators.
• Statewide Steering Committee. We are also setting up a statewide steering committee that will be the decision-making body for family child care providers in Massachusetts. Please consider joining this committee or nominating another provider at the end of the survey so we can move forward together during this critical time for our profession.