In 15 states, family child care providers have made a powerful choice to form a union through SEIU. Across the U.S., SEIU providers have won improvements for children and the child care profession.
Better Rates and Benefits
In Illinois, Washington, Oregon and Maryland, family child care providers have won higher pay and benefits, which helps lower turnover and raise quality care for children. For example:
• Family child care providers have won substantial subsidy rate increases, as much as 35% over the course of three years in Illinois’ first contract in 2006.
• In Washington state, in their first contract in 2007, licensed providers won 10% in rate increases in the first two years.
• In the midst of major budget deficits in 2009, Maryland providers negotiated an increase to their subsidy rates in their first union contract, only the second rate increase since 2002.
• Thousands of family child care providers in Illinois and Washington now have affordable, comprehensive health care coverage funded by their states through their union contracts.
Quality Improvements That Help Children Learn
Because family child care providers are dedicated to providing high-quality care that helps children develop and succeed, they have advocated for quality improvements:
• When family child care providers in Illinois bargained their union contract, they won agreement from the state to implement a Quality Rating System, and millions of dollars for higher reimbursement rates for both licensed and license exempt providers who participate in the QRS.
• In Maryland and Washington, a large and diverse group of family child care
providers have given input on specific aspects of QRIS to help their state’s
QRIS succeed.• Providers in Maryland won the right to serve on review committees for state grants for providing training. In addition, providers and the state now have a joint training subcommittee to improve the quality and availability of training for family child care providers.
