Posted on July 16, 2021
Small child care business —both center-based and family child care — need stable funding to stay in business if we need them to care for and educate children from low-income families.
Paying providers based on a program’s enrollment and not attendance can help keep centers from closing doors, lead to stronger quality programs, increased program access to children and families and money to address workforce issues. It's time the state supports a sustainable business model for these child care providers.
Here are three things you can do to urge Governor Murphy to sign into law the child care enrollment bill A4746/S3947 today!
1. Use this quick form to send an email to the Governor and tell him to sign the child care enrollment bill A4746/S3947.
2. Tweet or Share on Facebook.
Take a photo of your child care program and post it to social media. State how you've been impacted by America’s child care crisis and ask Governor Murphy to to sign the child care enrollment bill A4746/S3947. Be sure to tag the Governor on Twitter or Facebook.
3. Share with your network. Urge your colleagues, family and friends to support small child care businesses. Use the blurb below and ask them to join you in ensuring Governor Murphy sign this law.
Sample Email Language:
Right now, Governor Murphy has a chance to sign into law a bill that will provide funding stability to child care programs—both center-based and family child care—small businesses that care for and educate children from low-income families. This bill will change the payment practice by paying providers based on a program’s enrollment and not its attendance.
Visit acnj.org to send a message to the Governor. It takes less than a minute!
The previous payment practice, based on attendance, left programs uncertain of their month-to-month payment from the State. This was an unsustainable business model before the pandemic and it would be for the future of the state's child care system if programs return to a flawed system of payment.
The policy change in this bill will be a lifeline for many of these small businesses, that are primarily owned by women, many of whom are women of color. It will provide them with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their state funding will be predictable every month — and that can lead to stronger quality programs, increased program access to children and families and money to address workforce issues.
Tell Governor Murphy that child care programs and families cannot wait any longer and urge him to sign the child care enrollment bill S3947/A4746! This “essential” industry deserves nothing less!
