CHILD CARE RALLY AND PRESS CONFERENCE - A CRY FOR HELP!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010, on the 84th day of the State budget not being signed, over a hundred parent advocates, children and child care providers mobilized in support of funding for child care centers impacted by State Budget impasse. Child care centers throughout Los Angeles County, like others across California, have closed their doors or will be closing their doors by the end of September 2010.

The future of child care is bleak in the midst of this historical budget conflict and unsigned budget for California. This State budget crisis is devastating and no resolution seems imminent soon. Parents are grappling to find alternatives to child care and many are concerned about how to maintain their employment and/or participate in educational and vocational training programs. Governor Schwarzenegger’s refusal to sign the budget and leave the task for his successor until January 2011 is causing a major calamity for child care centers.

Schwarzenegger has proposed to eliminate child care subsidies for 142,000 children. The State has not paid for approximately 55 percent of low-income families. To date, more than 18 programs with classrooms or sites in Los Angeles County have closed impacting 1,000 children and 280 staff who been furloughed according to Laura Escobedo, of the Local Planning Council for Los Angeles County.


In addition, more than 11,116 children in alternative payment programs will be impacted due to unpaid vouchers by the State of California. It is anticipated that 12 center based programs will be closing by September 30th. A total of 3,067 children will be without child care services and 409 staff will lose their jobs.

Unpaid vendors of these centers are also caught in the middle of this despairing situation. Payments to vendors have been placed indefinitely on hold until the signing of the State Budget. The financial indebtedness for these centers is mounting everyday and children, parents and child care staffs are suffering.

The event was organized by Hoover Intergenerational Care, Inc. (H.I.C.), The South Central Child Care Research and Training Consortium (SCCRTC), and Community Voices of Crystal Stairs Resource and Referral Agency. Participating child care centers among others included some of the following: Girls Club of Los Angeles, Heavenly Vision, Hoover Intergenerational Care, Inc., Second Baptist Church, Options Child Care, Children’s Collective, Inc., Child Development Consortium, Connections for Children, Center for Community and Family Services, Faithful Central Education Center, Coalition for School Readiness and Quality Children Services. Also attending on behalf of Senator Curren Price was Andrew Lachman.