Advocacy
The 2011 LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTED ON JANUARY 10TH!
The 2011 Washington State Legislative Session is shaping up to be one of the most difficult in history for those who serve children and families. The 2010 midterm election delivered one clear message to the legislature: no new taxes. While the pros and cons of such a message will be debated across the state, one thing is becoming clear - this session will produce an all cuts budget.
Already the Governor has made cuts to state government across the board. These cuts dramatically lowered eligibility levels for the state’s child care subsidy program and eliminated the Career & Wage Ladder (a program that provided greater pay for center providers who obtained degrees and credentials), administration of the seasonal child care subsidy program (child care subsidies for migrant workers), and early learning supports for parents and Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers. Additionally she proposed a budget for the 2011-2013 budget that would all but eliminate ECEAP for 3 year olds, end state funding for Home Visiting programs (nurse practitioners visit at risk families at home), end the Reach Out & Read program (provides books and reading advice to families through pediatricians), and reduce funding for all day kindergarten.
Legislators will have to make extremely difficult choices regarding priorities of government, which means now more than ever they need to hear from their constituents what those priorities should be. We at the WA St. Child Care Resource & Referral Network have served as a conduit of information and communication between the child care industry and the state’s elected officials for over 20 years. CCR&R offers a myriad of supports that make communicating with elected officials easy and effective. So please do not hesitate to contact us for any and all help. Together we WILL get through this tough time! Stay informed via the online Child Care Policy Forum: http://capwiz.com/naccrra/wa/home/
INTRODUCING THE CHILD CARE POLICY FORUM!
Do you want to be immediately informed on child care policy issues that matter to you? Do you want to make your voice heard? Now you can through the Child Care Policy Forum! Learn how you will be able to:
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Join state and national efforts to improve the availability and quality of child care
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Find out where your elected officials stand on child care issues
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Stay up to date on child care public policy changes, provide feedback to policy makers, and learn about the latest trends and reports
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Contact child care leaders in WA State, such as the Department of Early Learning
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Use tips and tools provided to make expressing your opinion on important child care issues easy and valuable
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Contact media sources to share your opinions on the state of child care
Be informed and make your voice heard! Click here to sign up for the Child Care Policy Forum
EARLY LEARNING ACTION ALLIANCE
The Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network is proud to be a part of a statewide coalition of organizations that advocates on behalf of early learning, known as the Early Learning Action Alliance. This group is a powerful coalition made up of dozens of organizations that are passionate about the needs of Washington’s early learners. Click here for more information and resources.
UWWA EARLY LEARNING LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
The United Ways of Washington, in partnership with the Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network, creates and emails out an Early Learning Legislative Update each Friday throughout legislative session. We provide you with easy to understand, up-to-date information on key early learning discussions and actions taking place in Olympia by policymakers so that you can take action and speak up for the early learning issues you care most about. We encourage you to forward the legislative updates to your networks. Click here to see previous legislative updates. If you would like to receive updates in the future, email the following info to advocacy@childcarenet.org : (1) your name; (2) your organization name (if applicable); and (3) your email address.
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