Email This Story
Print This StoryRelated To Story
Other News Video |
Smaller Child Care Providers To Set Policy Under New State Contract
Governor Signs Legislation Monday
UPDATED: 6:40 am CDT July 22,
2008
MAZOMANIE, Wis. -- It's being called a milestone for family child care providers in Wisconsin.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportOn Monday, state officials signed an historic child care contract that gives smaller, unionized providers a voice in setting policy in their industry for the first time.The contract inked in a formal signing ceremony in the governor's conference room is between Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development and the brand-new Children and Families Department and AFSCME union councils in Madison and Milwaukee, which covers 2,500 licensed family child care providers.Someday, however, backers said it could cover all 7,000 providers who are licensed to care for up to eight children inside their homes.State regulators, union officials and providers herald the contract as a sort of paradigm shift for quality day care -- and the people who provide it.The new deal covering those who accept children, whose care is paid for by state subsidies, comes with what unions call a provider Bill of Rights. That means that for the first time family child care providers have a say in how the state sets regulations on their businesses and whether they're reasonable or not, WISC-TV reported.Tonya Johnson is the six-year operator of Annoited Child Care Services in Milwaukee and attended the signing ceremony."A lot of time the state implements rules that are basically for the safety of the children, and that's something that we're all for," she said. "But, sometimes the consideration of the providers, there is none. And a lot of the rules can devastatingly affect our businesses and cause a lot of financial hardship for a lot of the providers."Family child care providers said the new collaboration with the state will give parents better quality day care because providers won't be forced to choose between rules that aren't needed and paying their bills, or their employees.Right now, there's no new money involved in this contract, only clout. Down the road as the state budget crisis lifts, providers said they hope to be able to sit down and bargain higher subsidy rates, WISC-TV reported.Family day care providers said they haven't had a raise from the state since 2005.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportOn Monday, state officials signed an historic child care contract that gives smaller, unionized providers a voice in setting policy in their industry for the first time.The contract inked in a formal signing ceremony in the governor's conference room is between Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development and the brand-new Children and Families Department and AFSCME union councils in Madison and Milwaukee, which covers 2,500 licensed family child care providers.Someday, however, backers said it could cover all 7,000 providers who are licensed to care for up to eight children inside their homes.State regulators, union officials and providers herald the contract as a sort of paradigm shift for quality day care -- and the people who provide it.The new deal covering those who accept children, whose care is paid for by state subsidies, comes with what unions call a provider Bill of Rights. That means that for the first time family child care providers have a say in how the state sets regulations on their businesses and whether they're reasonable or not, WISC-TV reported.Tonya Johnson is the six-year operator of Annoited Child Care Services in Milwaukee and attended the signing ceremony."A lot of time the state implements rules that are basically for the safety of the children, and that's something that we're all for," she said. "But, sometimes the consideration of the providers, there is none. And a lot of the rules can devastatingly affect our businesses and cause a lot of financial hardship for a lot of the providers."Family child care providers said the new collaboration with the state will give parents better quality day care because providers won't be forced to choose between rules that aren't needed and paying their bills, or their employees.Right now, there's no new money involved in this contract, only clout. Down the road as the state budget crisis lifts, providers said they hope to be able to sit down and bargain higher subsidy rates, WISC-TV reported.Family day care providers said they haven't had a raise from the state since 2005.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
