We at the Lake County Child Care Planning Council read the article regarding the general welfare of California”s children (Observer*American, Jan. 14), and we concur with Police Chief Kevin Burke”s letter to the editor.
We too are disappointed with the availability of preschool for Lake County children and with the dismal investments California is making in high quality early care and education for our children.
With the California budget crisis looming and endless discussions of economic stimulus strategies, we are frustrated that most plans fail to adequately emphasize the need to include investments in child care.
Including funding for child care should be a top priority for any economic recovery package, which is proven by the track record of other states that have committed to quality preschool and early care and education.
Child care not only helps parents work so they can take advantage of job opportunities and support their families, but it also ensures that children have the early learning experiences they need to be productive citizens of the future.
As Chief Burke emphasized in his letter, quality preschool is one of the most significant tools we have to ensure future success for our children and our communities. California is considered a trendsetter in many areas, but in the area of caring for our children, we are falling way behind.
Affordable, high-quality child care helps America thrive. The licensed child care sector allows parents to earn more than $100 billion annually-and these additional wages, in turn, generate nearly $580 billion in direct and indirect labor income, approximately $69 billion in tax revenues, and more than 15 million jobs. Reliable and quality early care and education gives Lake County parents the peace of mind necessary to work.
Quality preschool and early education provides millions of children an opportunity to learn and gain the skills they need to succeed. However, it remains out of reach for too many American families. In Lake County, a parent not receiving subsidized assistance can expect to pay $1,425 per month for full-time, center-based care for their infant; yet, the vast majority of low to middle-income families are unable to receive help paying for child care.
With the economic downturn, California is considering decreasing funding for subsidized child care, making eligibility requirements more difficult, which will result in longer waiting lists. This delays or completely destroys the opportunity for some parents to go back to work, further crippling our economy.
The current economic crisis has created tremendous strains for our families as well as child care providers who were already vulnerable after years of inadequate federal support for child care. Increased investments in this critical area will have a strong stimulative effect, allowing child care programs to serve more families and hire additional staff.
Families struggling to pay all of their bills during this challenging economic time need help affording stable child care, so they can get and keep a job or participate in the job training they need to compete for employment in new sectors.
Providing the early care and education that California”s families need and deserve will require a significant investment in an economic recovery package. We agree with Police Chief Kevin Burke and leading national economists that this is one of the wisest investments we can make in our future.
Shelly Mascari is coordinator of the Lake County Child Care Planning Council in Lower Lake.
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