POLICY and ADVOCACY UPDATE

Parents at Symposium

As we begin the new year, it is time to think about our annual trip to Washington, DC for Child Care Aware of America’s Policy Symposium.  This year, it is so important that we impact federal dollars! Last year, the New York State delegation was fortunate to be accompanied by two terrific parents. Each shared their stories about finding and financing quality child care with attendees as well as lawmakers during the Day on the Hill.

Do you know parents with stories like the ones below?

• Heather McShane is the mother of three young daughters in New York. In order to make ends meet, she works three part-time jobs in addition to an internship and going to school full-time. Because of her long hours, Heather needs child care during nontraditional hours. After learning more about the lack of quality care, she now wants to educate other parents about the potential dangers of unlicensed care.

• Saima Akhtar  is a parent leader in New York. She and her husband have a 15-month old son, Russ. When looking for infant child care, Saima was dismayed by the unsafe conditions she saw. Because of her challenges finding safe, quality care, she believes child care policies need to be straightforward and understandable for all parents.

We are hopeful that during your work with parents and providers, you might have come across some potential parents who would be good candidates for the Parents at Symposium program (i.e, they might be interested in joining us in Washington for symposium, participating in some advocacy training, and joining the CCR&Rs from New York on our Congressional hill visits on “Day on the Hill”).

Registration for Child Care Aware® of America’s National Policy Symposium in the spring is now open. Key dates for parents are April  9 - 11, 2013.  This is the fifth year of organizing and training parents as advocacy leaders for affordable, quality child care!  The scholarship to sponsor a parent advocate application is now posted on the Child Care Aware of America  website here. Applications to sponsor a parent advocate at Symposium are due January 25, 2013.

Please contact me as soon as possible if you have a parent in mind and need help completing the application.  I would be happy to provide assistance in the application process.

Sincerely,

Jessica

Jessica Klos Shapiro

Policy Associate

(518) 690-4217 ex. 32