In the past decade, thousands of daycare providers have left the business of caring for Minnesota's youngest residents. Next week, two separate and unrelated efforts are underway to address this crisis.
Listening session in at Brainerd's Central Lake College
The Brainerd Dispatch reports in a news brief, Listening session on child care scheduled Feb. 9:
Minnesota Reps. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa, and Dale Lueck, R-Aitkin, invite parents and child care providers to attend a listening session Feb. 9 at the Central Lakes College cafeteria to discuss the challenges of accessing child care in greater Minnesota.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, chairs the newly created Select Committee on Affordable Childcare and will be at the meeting along with members of the select committee.
"According to the Department of Health, Minnesota has lost over 3,000 providers in the last decade," Heintzeman said in a release. "That's why ensuring that rural Minnesotans have access to affordable, quality child care is among my top priorities. I encourage parents and providers to attend this meeting to share their experiences with committee members."
Lueck added the session was an opportunity for providers of any size to provide input.
"Child care, especially for the youngest of children, is of critical importance and we need to make sure we are doing the right things to help providers meet the needs of our families," Lueck said.
We encourage parents and providers to attend this event or listening sessions that are closer to their homes. Affordable daycare is vital for working families. We're told that thousands of children are on the waiting list for Child Care Assistance.
More on the new committee in our earlier post, New Select Committee on Affordable Child Care webpage makes Ron Kresha look two-faced.
Union ballots for providers taking Child Care Assistance kids mailed February 8
Both those organizing the childcare union effort with AFSCME and those opposing it have posted information that Bureau of Mediation Services ordered a union election for Minnesota's child care providers who are currently caring for children on Child Care Assistance. Ballots will be mailed on Monday, February 8 and must be in the office of the BMS by Monday, February 29.
The election is unrelated to the listening sessions, but Franson did share a statement with the Alexandria Echo Press:
"I remain deeply concerned about the impact unionization will have on childcare costs and access," Franson said. "It's important that childcare providers make their voices heard and make an educated decision about whether private businesses should be subject to paying union dues. I'm extremely disappointed that just a fraction of Minnesota childcare providers will have the opportunity to vote on a union that could ultimately be negotiating on issues that impact providers across the state."
The election will include 2,384 providers who receive Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) funding. Ballots will be mailed Feb. 8 and must have arrived to the BMS office (not postmarked) by Feb. 29. Franson is a former childcare provider and was recently named chair of the newly-created Select Committee on Affordable Child Care. Childcare providers who do not currently accept CCAP are not eligible to vote in the childcare union. "I hope providers will spread the word and make sure this election is not decided by just a small handful of votes," Franson said. "I urge anyone who notices irregularities or efforts to spread misinformation about the unionization effort to contact my office."
We support the unionization effort--along with the hope that it's a clean election. Having gone through a recount that involved a mistake on the part of election officials in one precinct, Franson herself can appreciate that sentiment.
Photo: Lack of daycare providers have lots of folks angry.
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Good for Rep. Franson for getting a chair position on that committee. Knowing Kurt Daudt, I'd figure he'd give that job to someone like Tim Miller.
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Feb 08, 2016 at 12:13 AM