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The Challenge
Childcare in Alabama is a sector predominantly led by Black women, who often struggle with inadequate wages and limited policy influence. Despite their crucial role in nurturing and safeguarding our children, these providers are frequently excluded from discussions that shape their industry. The systemic inequities they face include:
Inadequate Wages: Many childcare providers do not earn a living wage, making it difficult to sustain their businesses and provide for their own families.
Lack of Policy Influence: Black women in childcare often have little say in how state policies are crafted and implemented, resulting in decisions that do not reflect their needs or those of the families they serve.
Entrepreneurial Barriers: Childcare represents a significant sector for Black women entrepreneurs, yet they encounter numerous obstacles that hinder their success and sustainability.
Childcare policy advocacy is traditionally dominated by individuals who may lack the cultural competency and practical experience necessary to address the unique needs of Black childcare providers and their communities. This disconnect perpetuates systemic inequities and hampers the potential for meaningful change.
Our Response
Alabama C.A.R.E. aims to create a platform for provider-led advocacy, ensuring that those directly involved in childcare have a voice in shaping policies. By amplifying the voices of Black women, Alabama C.A.R.E. seeks to promote equity, enhance the quality of childcare, and support the economic stability of childcare providers.
Our Goals and Objectives
Advocacy and Policy Change
- Work towards policy changes that ensure fair wages and equitable treatment for childcare providers.
- Advocate for the inclusion of childcare providers in policy discussions and decision-making processes.
- Collaborate with organizations like the Alabama NAACP to amplify advocacy efforts.
Economic Support
- Advocate for financial assistance to help eliminate parent co-payments for childcare centers, making childcare more affordable for families and ensuring providers are adequately compensated.
- Assist centers in applying grants and subsidies to support the economic sustainability of Black women-led childcare businesses.
Community Engagement
- Foster a supportive community network among childcare providers.
- Organize webinars, training sessions, and events to empower providers with knowledge and resources.
- Create spaces for dialogue and collaboration among providers, policymakers, and community members.
Staffing:
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Hire a dedicated staff member to focus on the progression of the Alabama C.A.R.E. program. This role will be pivotal in coordinating advocacy efforts, managing community engagement activities, and ensuring that the voices of childcare providers are heard and acted upon in policy discussions.
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