To mark the national Day Without Childcare on May 13, early childhood education and childcare workers, who are members of CWA Local 1037, alongside our partner NJ Communities United, visited the offices of two state Senators to deliver copies of nearly 1600 emails sent to Senators and Assemblymembers across the state. The emails call on them to pass two bills to continue enrollment-based payments to in-home childcare providers and expand access to childcare subsidies for families in New Jersey by increasing income eligibility. The workers also delivered a letter signed by 15 New Jersey organizations that support expanding early childcare resources and services.

The first bill (S2241/A1920) would expand eligibility for childcare subsidies by raising the income limits which would allow many working-class families to access affordable childcare. Currently, many hard-working families earn too much to qualify for childcare subsidies, but don’t earn enough to afford childcare.

The second bill (S2239/A3888) would extend enrollment-based funding for another year for in-home childcare providers, which stabilizes both the financial stability of childcare providers and access to affordable childcare options for families.

Nationwide, thousands of people mobilized on Day Without Childcare to support fair wages for providers and affordable childcare for families.