The room in the State House in Trenton was crowded for a Thursday morning. United Way’s child care experts joined dozens of leaders passionately supporting the critical yet struggling child care sector packed the room, lending their voices to speak on behalf of over 5,200 providers across the state.
Currently, nearly half -- 46% – of New Jersey’s child care workers earn too little to afford the basics. As a result, providers are leaving the industry for jobs that pay more, leading to fewer options for the most vulnerable of working families.
“The health of our economy is at risk,” says United Way’s Michelle Roers, who oversees the United In Care program. “Child care educators are struggling to get by, while working families are impacted by high prices and low availability.”
That’s why, when United In Care was invited to testify before two assembly committees and the Department of Human Services in November, United Way jumped at the opportunity. United In Care staff, ALICE parents, and providers, along with several other child care experts and advocates, focused on the challenges the industry faces and possible solutions. United Way called for the state to invest in:
Child care workers through living wages,
Working ALICE families, making government subsidies available to more families, including raising the income eligibility criteria to include ALICE, and
Child care businesses by increasing incentives and boosting access to resources for making business improvements.
ALICE families enrolled in the United In Care tuition assistance program offered their stories to showcase the critical role that child care plays in our communities. Emily, a working mother to twin 3-year-olds, shared how United In Care helped her family when she left an abusive situation.
“With help from United in Care, the girls and I have created a life of our own, creating our own family traditions, focusing on wellbeing, and gave me an opportunity to start to take back control of my financial situation.”
Stacey Cummins, owner and director of Little Wonders Childcare Center in Warren County, also shared her insights as a provider – where she’s experienced turnover firsthand.
“The cost of supplies is ever increasing, the cost of utilities and rent is increasing and the on-going cost of maintaining and hiring qualified employees is a challenge to most providers.”
Roers underscored to legislators that while New Jersey is not alone in this national child care crisis, it can be a leader. “The Garden State is uniquely qualified to chart a path forward, offering innovative solutions to support this essential industry and help ALICE rise.”
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