Childcare for New Hampshire Working Families Act- SB237

“I believe we were put here (on this Earth) to be life-long learners.”  – Julie Sackett

“What do we want? Affordable childcare, livable wage, quality programming, consistent workforce! When do we want it? Yesterday!”

If you work in the field of Early Childhood Education, then you probably know that the average cost for child care for one infant in New Hampshire is approximately $14,425 a year. You may also know the average salary for a child care employee is about $24,490, give or take.   What you may not know is 54,019 children need child care in our home state. New Hampshire currently only has 32,884 available slots in child care centers statewide. What this means, is approximately 21, 135 children and parents live without access to care. If that is not cause for alarm, over our covid years, 42 licensed centers have closed their doors, eliminating 1,459 slots for children in our state.  In addition to the amount of children who are without access to care, this number also helps paint a clearer picture of our workforce. Since the start of the pandemic, New Hampshire has witnessed a 10% decrease in the workforce of women aged 25-34 years. It is fair to say that there has to be a connection. By simply looking at these statistics, we are forced to ask ourselves, “what can we do?”

Personally, I understand the phrase “just barely holding on.” Right now, there are many childcare centers across our state (and many other states too) that are just barely holding on.  Whether it is the lack of staff, a lack of funding, or simply burnout – there are an uncountable number of factors as to why centers are in this position.  If you work in a childcare center in any capacity, or are a working parent relying on your local center, it feels almost impossible to look at the statistics above and not worry about what will happen if there is no change – but trust me, there is hope. SB237, better known as “the Childcare for Working Families Act,” is that hope for the positive change needed at this critical time. The bill is a comprehensive approach to building a strong system, supporting families, providers, and childcare professionals in the state of New Hampshire. It focuses on reversing the loss of women in the state’s workforce, by increasing the access to childcare.  When looking at the state’s economy, increasing the labor force with women by a simple 1.3% (or 10,000 women) would add over 1 billion dollars to New Hampshire’s gross domestic product by 2031.  SB237 hopes to alter the finances of centers across the state, making an effort to increase funding and grant availability, scholarships for children, and improvements to career pathways for high school students. 

So the bill exists, but what is needed to make sure our centers and our working families receive these benefits?  No worries, I am here to tell you! Advocacy!  When I think about the word “advocate” my mind begins to race. Advocate. What does that mean? Merriam- Webster defines it as  “One who defends or maintains a cause or proposal,”  while others prefer the terms “pioneer,” or “supporter.” I once believed that to be an advocate I would need time, money, and a platform. I have found out that in reality, to be an advocate, what we need to do is listen. Listen to the stories, the voices of others, and lift each other in our own experiences. We need to know what we stand for and what fuels our passion. Advocacy doesn’t require anger or malice, what it needs is passion. If you take anything away from what I share with you today, I hope it’s this: Your voice matters. Your story holds power. You can make a difference. 

When I think about advocacy work, I always come back to the question: “What do I stand for?”  Very simply, I stand for a lot of things. I stand in support for families and providers in the child care industry. I stand in support for the workforce of the community and center I serve. I stand in support of quality and affordable child care for our working families. I stand in support for the parents who have been forced to leave their career too early due to the inability to afford child care.  I share all of this with you because on February 22, I had the opportunity to travel to Concord, NH to support SB237 with the Director’s Network of Coös County (insert applause here). In fact, not only was I able to be there to support this bill, but I was able to connect and interact with the very legislatures who could bring this bill to fruition (the free t-shirt and incredible brunch were just added bonuses!).   Jokes aside, the trip was beautiful and there was a contagious energy that filled the room with every story that was told. Our keynote speakers included Senator Ricciardi, Rep. Deb DeSimone, Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, Rebecca Woitkowski, MacKenzie and Nancy from Moms Rising, Mike Skelton, Elizabeth Asch, and my personal favorite, our very own Airole Warden.  Every single story reaffirmed what we already know to be true: the system is currently in need of repair, and we need to be the ones who fix it. Following the informational brunch, we were all invited to participate in advocacy training hosted by New Futures. This andragogical experience was centered in media advocacy and in speaking your story. All advocates were encouraged to ask questions, take notes, and connect with others. Before I knew it, I was leaving with business cards, friends, and a newfound belief that we are not  in a sinking lifeboat. Together, we are building a battleship. A battleship to combat the many issues that the childcare industry currently faces in the State of New Hampshire. A battleship in support of NH families, in support of NH child care centers, and in support of SB237.

For more information on how to become an advocate or take action, please visit www.new-futures.org/childcare or check out www.MomsRising.org.
Also be sure to write to your senators, vote, share your stories with friends,family, neighbors and the community.