Please read our Press Release Below:
Governor's
Budget brings low-income parents out of the cold. Successful
campaign to "Defrost the SMI" saves child care for thousands
of families.
SACRAMENTO,
Calif., June 30, 2006 - Today the Governor signed his 2006-07
Budget Bill which includes 67 million to end the five year
old freeze on the state median income (SMI) used to determine
income eligibility for subsidized child care. Members of Parent
Voices, a statewide grassroots parent advocacy group, led
and organized a budget campaign to call attention to the negative
effects outdated income eligibility had on their families.
Across the state, parents can claim victory and know that
grassroots organizing efforts can really make a difference
in budget and legislative policy. "After three years of turning
down $1500 annual raises, I can finally accept a raise for
the hard work that I perform without fear that the raise would
put me over the line. $4500 in three years isn't enough to
even cover the $24,000 in annual child care costs, stated
Willow Lancaster, San Francisco mother of 3.
Willow
does not stand alone. Through outreach and education, Parent
Voices found there were thousands of parents across the state
who either lost or were close to losing their child care subsidy
assistance prematurely because their income eligibility was
artificially deflated by repeated freezes of the criteria.
The "Defrost the SMI" Campaign called upon Governor Schwarzenegger
and the Legislature to remove language in the budget that
freezes the state median income. Throughout the budget season
parents testified at key budget hearings and visited their
local legislators speaking passionately about the humiliation
of turning down hard earned raises or the fear of losing their
subsidy and how it would disrupt the stability they finally
made in their lives. On May 3rd, more than 600 parents and
supporters from across the state came to the Capitol to march,
rally, and speak out about the need for affordable child care.
It was also an opportunity for low-income parents to realize
that they do not stand alone, and together they really can
affect change.
Groups
like Parent Voices believe in order for policies to benefit,
rather than hurt families, those directly affected need to
advocate for themselves. The decision to develop a campaign
to end the freeze came directly from parents who felt they
were doing everything right, following the rules, going to
work, and trying to earn enough money so they didn't have
to depend on government services. Corean Todd, parent leader
from Oakland, was one of the first parents who sparked the
campaign and was relieved that the SMI was finally updated,
"I won't have to stress about climbing the ladder to better
myself and then wondering if the $1.25 raise will get me kicked
off of the subsidy program. I want a better life for my son,
he is my future and I am his foundation. I need to be focused,
solid and well structured not stressed and unsure."
According
to Scott Graves, a senior policy analyst with the California
Budget Project, "Child care provides a critical support for
working families, but California was using 1998 income data--
the oldest of any state-- to establish eligibility for child
care assistance. The state's decision to increase the income
eligibility limit means that California's working families
will be able to retain child care assistance for a longer
period of time as their incomes rise." Parents will celebrate
their victory on July 19th 2006, from 6:00-8:30pm, at Banana's
Resource and Referral Agency, 5232 Claremont Avenue, Oakland,
CA 94618.
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