HARTFORD, CT – Some special guests – a group of six children – joined state legislators, parents, and childcare workers at the state capitol on Thursday to call upon the state to do more to support early childhood care.
“Hello to all you children over here. You’re the future of Connecticut and I hope that we can pass a bill to support you,” said Meredith Shay, CEO of Colchester netting manufacturer InCord, to the gathered children who waited patiently as the news conference proceeded.
The adults were present to promote HB 5002, a bill that would offer several additional supports for parents seeking child care, and for providers who say they need more money and resources to make ends meet. The bill would also indirectly support Shay, who, as an employer, needs her workers to be able to access safe and affordable childcare in order to get to work.
The three major provisions of the bill would:
- Create an Early Childhood Care and Education Fund and a commission that would study how best to spend money the fund receives after 10 years;
- A pilot program in New London county that would share the cost of childcare equally between parents, employer and the state, and;
- A wage supplement for fiscal year 2025 that would be used to boost the pay of childcare providers.
“I hear from families about the childcare crisis in my district and I know I am not alone. The cost is too high, dedicated educators can’t pay their own bills, and depending on where you live in our state, access to care can be impossible,” said Rep. Kate Farrar, D-West Hartford. “Quality and affordable childcare isn’t just essential for families but it is the infrastructure we need for our workforce and economy to thrive. By investing in the critical early years of a child’s development, we will not only see a return on that investment but build a more equitable state for generations to come.”
The Lamont administration, however, has been cool to requests to add more spending to the budget. Office of Policy and Management Secretary Jeffrey Beckham provided testimony on the bill, highlighting what he called the “historic and ongoing support for early childhood care and education” during Gov. Ned Lamont’s tenure in office.
“From FY 2019 through the enacted FY 2025 budget, state General Fund support for early childhood increased by 76.8%,” Beckham wrote, adding that “the Governor’s midterm adjustments build on that growth by adding $25.9 million more.”
According to the state’s 211 helpline, the average cost of childcare for infants and toddlers is $270 per week for home care, and $354 per week for a childcare center. That comes to just over $14,000 a year at home, and $18,408 for center-based care. That’s a significant portion of the state’s median income, which stands at $66,592 for a family of four. According to an analysis by the website DataPandas, Connecticut has the fourth highest cost of childcare in the nation, coming in behind Minnesota and fellow northeast states New York and Massachusetts.
“Childcare providers are among the first educators for our children,” said Rep. Rachel Chaleski, R-Danbury. “An infusion of early investments and innovation to support early childcare will not only stabilize our local workforce but have long-lasting impacts on a child’s life and future success, and ultimately lead to an overall thriving economy. Families are the backbone of our communities and having access to affordable, quality childcare can address the challenges working households face as they adapt to the new paradigm of remote and onsite work.”
Childcare programs not only allow parents and caregivers to work, but they provide the foundation for social, emotional and academic success later in life for young children. Several studies have shown that children who attend programs such as Early Head Start for babies and toddlers, and traditional preschool and pre-kindergarten programs are better prepared for grade school and exhibit greater socialization skills. The benefits are especially pronounced for children from low income families, children with disabilities and dual language learners. These benefits endure throughout the child’s academic career.
One of the conundrums of the high cost of early childcare is that workers in the industry are often underpaid and struggle to afford childcare themselves. According to the state’s occupational data the average median wage for a childcare worker is $15.34.
Patrice Ruddy, a childcare professional from Hamden, described how even though she receives Care 4 Kids, the state’s childcare subsidy for low- and moderate-income families, it’s still not enough to maintain a good quality of life.
“Care 4 Kids is the only reason I can work at all. Unfortunately, though I can remain employed, I still cannot live a full life, one without so many restrictions for myself and my family,” she said. “All I do with my earnings is pay for childcare and feed my children. There’s nothing left.”
Ruddy described how she considers leaving child care every year for more lucrative work, and compared her colleagues leaving around her to them fleeing from a burning building.
“Why is the onus to keep the entire state of Connecticut working” while childcare workers are underpaid? she asked.
