Parents Fighting for Childcare

By Mary Ignatius, Parent Voices Statewide Organizer

On August 24, 2007, the Governor finally signed the 2007-08 State Budget, seven weeks past its due date. While 14 Senate Republicans held the budget hostage, hundreds of thousands of low-income families were at risk of losing much needed services, such as child care, Medi-Cal, and in-home support services. The State Budget is supposed to be signed by June 30th. On July 1st, the State sends out the necessary funding to state-funded programs, funding that keeps program doors open. For seven weeks, programs across the state were left scrambling to do their best to survive while the Legislature, who we put in office, played political hot potato without understanding the negative impact on mothers and children across California.

Subsidized child care is the linchpin that allows low-income parents to work or pursue education while knowing their children are in safe settings receiving the early education they deserve. However, the budget stalemate forced many child care centers and homes to figure out how to pay the rent, salaries, food, and other essentials without income coming in from the state.  The cost of child care in California can be nearly $1,000 per month/per child. Most moms who qualify for subsidized child care are stuck in low-wage jobs, often working more than one job, and they cannot afford the full cost of care. 


So what did these poor moms and child care providers do? They took action! Throughout the budget stalemate, hundreds of phone calls, letters, and emails were sent to Legislators demanding that they do their job and get the budget passed. On August 20th, parents and providers held a press conference at the State Building in Oakland to call attention to the immoral and unjust holding hostage of the State Budget. Children, moms, and child care providers chanted and marched so loud that their message was heard in Sacramento; the next day the budget was passed.

Although child care was saved this year, other services were not so lucky. 75% of the Governor’s vetoes were made to Health and Human Services, including cuts to Medi-Cal services, emergency food organizations, and California’s Discount Prescription Drug Program. To see a full list of the Governor’s cuts please check out http://www.cbp.org/pdfs/2007/082407govsigns.pdf.

Health and human services will continue to get the axe as long as those impacted by these cuts remain apathetic, disorganized, and disconnected. Organizations like WEAP seek to build a movement of no- and low-income women and children to reclaim their right to health, meaning their right to raise healthy families who have access to health care, food, housing, and education.  Join WEAP, stay informed, and take action!