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VOICE Chapter Building Leadership Training

On October 22nd, VOICE leaders will gather in Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, and Long Island (Commack) for our first video conference leadership training.

With our video-conference equipment, we will be able to see and hear one another on large TV screens – connecting Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, and Commack (Long Island) without trekking to Albany! We will do most of our work on October 22nd in our regional groups, facilitated by VOICE Early Learning and Care Representatives. We’ll connect via video conference to present content, review basic points and to report back on the work we’ve done in each region.

We will gather at 9:30 a.m. for coffee. We will begin our leadership training at 10:00 a.m. and wrap-up by 2:00 p.m.

This Chapter Building leadership training will bring Chapter leaders together in four regions throughout the state to learn about and develop skills that are essential in building strong chapters and a strong VOICE:

  • elements of an effective one-on-one meeting.
  • elements of effective membership meetings.
  • identify next steps as we build our membership, our organization and our power.

We look forward to seeing you on October 22nd for Chapter Building Leadership Training!

For more information and to RSVP call 877-483-CSEA (2732).

This training is available for members only. If you are not a member and would like to join, visit our Join VOICE page.

VOICE Members: Pay Dues Today

Dear VOICE Members:

Thousands of us organizing to form our union across New York is how we won rights, respect and our first contract with the Office of Children and Family Services and New York State. Now it is time to organize our money so we can build our organization, keep what we’ve gained, and reach the goals we set on May 14th in Albany.

Become a dues paying member of VOICE/CSEA beginning October 1, 2011. Union dues are $35.00 per month (tax deductible) through December 31, 2011. You can pay monthly or make a single payment of $105.00 to cover 3 months. Automatic dues and fee deductions will begin in January 2012.

Join us in making your first VOICE dues payment today. Look for the letter in the yellow envelope in your mailbox this week. The letter and enclosure will contain instructions with how to pay your dues either by check or via our website. We invite you to contact us directly with your questions or call our VOICE/CSEA toll-free Resource Center (877) 483-CSEA (2732).

If you have not currently signed a membership card please visit our Join VOICE page or contact our Toll-Free Resource Center 877-483-CSEA.

Read instructions
Activate Member Only Account

Sincerely,

Theresa Allsopp - Chemung County Jane Alsdorf - Ulster County
Maria Austin - Monroe County Kim Bannister - Erie County
Marcia Bellamy - Monroe County Cynthia Bolding - Westchester County
Keishya Coltrain - Suffolk County Sharon Gombatto - Monroe County
Audrey Hardy - Monroe County Sally Heater - Onondaga County
Patrick Hogan - Westchester County Lisa Jones - Jefferson County
Geri Kazmerski - Herkimer County Darcel Leone - Suffolk County
Sheila Lewis - Monroe County Dasie Lockett-Todd - Erie County
Rose McCabe - Tioga County Joyce McCollough - Monroe County
Yolanda Mouzon - Nassau County Fran Nantista - Albany County
Cheryl Oare - Fulton County Mary Orgek - Erie County
Lina Palmer - Washington County Carolyn Reid - Nassau County
Vivian Rivera - Rockland County Damaris Samolinski - Suffolk County
Cathey Sandman - Niagara County Roxanne Savage - Suffolk County
Barbara Skiff - Franklin County Janet Turner - Albany County
Pam Wells - Washington County Emilia White - Rockland County
Kittrell Whitlock - Erie County Bonita Whitlock - Erie County
Deborah Wise - Monroe County Amy Yencer - Livingston County

Marketing and Chapter Building Workshops

This workshop has a two-fold goal. The first part of the workshop will be about building VOICE/CSEA chapters all across the state. The overall plan is to establish 25 VOICE chapters. These workshops will begin the chapter building process by addressing the initial steps that need to be taken including membership involvement, responsibilities, recruitment, leadership roles, dues collection, chapter structures, activities and goals.

The second part of the workshop, Marketing Your Child Care Business in Hard Times, will be presented immediately following the chapter building component. It is not easy to stay fully enrolled in these difficult economic times. This workshop will examine the strategies and tactics child care providers can employ to attract new clients into their programs. This part of the workshop has been approved for 1 hour of training in topic area #5 Business Record Maintenance and Management.

These workshops are open to VOICE/CSEA members only.
To join, visit our Join VOICE page or call 877-483-CSEA.

View the schedule and RSVP

Child care subsidies needed

Albany Times Union: Opinion
Wednesday, June 15, 2011

As a licensed group family child care provider, I see firsthand families struggling to pay for child care. Just as your June 5 story, "The Sticker Shock of Child Care" points out, for many parents, making ends meet means not working. Without adequate incentives, the cost of child care simply outweighs the benefit of working.

Through my union, VOICE/CSEA, I've spoken with other in-home child care providers from all around the state. This trend is rippling through our communities like a plague. Federal funds for child care, which allow low income families to work and not have to turn to welfare, have essentially remained static since 2001, and New York state adds no money to support child care to help keep poor working families working.

The middle class is eroding, the rich are getting richer and it's no longer feasible to have one or even two middle-class incomes to raise a family. We must restore the safety net for families to end this vicious cycle. We need to grow child care subsidy programs instead of cutting them to get us through these tough times.

VALERIA THOMAS
Dreamland Daycare
Albany

See article

Funding, regulation reform are priorities for childcare workers

By Simon Garron-Caine
Legislative Gazette
May 23, 2011

Unionized registered and home-based child care providers gathered May 14 at The Desmond Hotel in Colonie to work with elected leaders on finding the best way to sustain governmental funds and streamline what they see as erratic regulations.

Voice of Organized Independent Childcare Educators, known as VOICE/Civil Service Employees Association Local 100A, was formed after former Gov. Eliot Spitzer's 2007 executive order granting child care providers the right to form collective bargaining units. A coalition of caregivers — now numbering 7,000 — then joined CSEA.

Read More

VOICE in Our Capital — Energy and Action

Last Saturday, May 14, 2011, more than 230 of us gathered in Albany at the Desmond Hotel to recognize and celebrate our accomplishments and adopt an 18-month VOICE/CSEA Action Plan to guide our work.

Energy filled the room when we opened with a rousing song led by Ruth Pelham (Musicmobile).

Sally Heater, a VOICE member from Onondaga County, told our VOICE story as we watched it unfold on slides. "They told us we could not get a majority of providers to support one union but in July 2007, the State of New York recognized the will of 4,400 child care providers and recognized VOICE/CSEA and certified our union. Who can?" Sally asked? VOICE/CSEA CAN! – we responded.

Public officials and CSEA statewide leaders, including President Danny Donohue, recognized the valuable contribution we make to children, families and our communities and pledged to work with us to accomplish the ambitious 4-point VOICE Action Plan we voted to adopt.

VOICE members energize the room at
VOICE in Our Capital, May 14th
View Photo Gallery
Darcel Leone, VOICE member from Suffolk County and Event Co-Chair –speaking of our event and our proposed action plan – announced, "Today we are celebrating past victories, today we are recognizing allies and friends, today we are recognizing hard work, today we are asking challenging questions to public officials. But central to what we are doing is ratifying a set of goals drawn from the thousands of conversations held over the winter and formulating together an 18 month plan…Let’s waste no time. Let’s vote on this framework and begin right now."

Our Action Plan includes working to: protect the 75th percentile standard for establishing reimbursement rates for child care subsidies; secure county, state and federal child care dollars; expand access to affordable insurance – homeowner's, liability and health; and continue to work with OCFS to simplify regulation, rules and policies and ensure fair enforcement; and establish 25 VOICE Chapters across the state.
Read more about our action plan.

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko listened as Melissa Allen, VOICE member of Albany County, asked for help in sustaining a $100 million boost to the Child Care Development Fund in the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. "New York state families rely on the Child Care Development Fund to subsidize child care enabling low-income working families to keep their jobs and children to get the foundation they need to succeed in school. It will help ensure that New York's families keep earning and children keep learning," Allen said.

Patrick Hogan, a VOICE member from Westchester County asked New York State Sen. Diane Savino's help in maintaining subsidy reimbursement rates. Hogan said, "Fifty percent of children receiving child care subsidies are enrolled in home-based child care. Already, reimbursements do not begin to cover the true cost of providing quality child care. OCFS is completing the 2011 Market Rate Survey now. The Governor’s Division of the Budget will soon decide whether to sustain current formulas. "If the standard is rolled back, it will take money out of the pocket of providers and it will make it much harder to continue to deliver high quality early learning and care," Hogan said.

More than 500 providers have signed membership cards since November and it was a huge amount of hard work that got us to this point. Pam Wells, VOICE member of Washington County and Event Co-Chair, said "In the last 8 months we have done so much organizing…In Monroe County VOICE completed 266 home visits, signed up 111 new members and gathered in Rochester 74 strong. In Erie County we completed 231 home visits, signed up 66 new members and in a blizzard turned out 30 providers. It goes on – on Long Island it was 73 members."

VOICE membership is growing everyday. To join, visit our join VOICE page for more information, or call toll free: 877-483-CSEA (2732).

Update to Playground and Safety Surfaces Regulations

Our VOICE was heard! Your feedback helped the VOICE/CSEA-OCFS Regulatory Workgroup develop a new approach to compliance with playground safety regulations.

OCFS issued new guidance on playground safety surfaces that enable us to provide fun outdoor play experiences at more reasonable cost.

See the new OCFS Dear Provider Letter for more details

The previously issued "Protective Surfacing under Playground Equipment used at Family- Based Child Care Programs" will remain a best practice instructional guide.

See the guide

The provider letter also provides information about implementation of the new $25.00 fee to secure State Registry Checks implemented in New York’s recently passed budget.

Playground Safety Surfaces & Regulations

By: Doreen Aristy, Cortland County; Kim Bannister, Erie County; Patrick Hogan, Westchester County; Damaris Samolinski, Suffolk County; and Pamela Wells, Washington County

On March 11th, the VOICE / OCFS Regulatory Workgroup met to review proposed revisions to child care regulations and discuss OCFS enforcement of regulations on playground equipment and safety surfaces this spring.

We received more than 300 e-mails from providers across the state expressing concerns about how enforcement of the standing playground equipment regulations will impact children and providers. For many of us, installing protective surfacing is expensive and disruptive to the program and home outdoor environments we have created over many years. We know how important it is to safely nurture the children in our care to develop gross motor skills and an enjoyment of outdoor physical play that lead to healthy exercise and nutritional habits that last a lifetime. In the coming weeks, we will develop recommendations for OCFS about how to move forward this spring in a way that makes sense for home-based child care and keep children safe.

Family-based day care regulations contain the following citations concerning outdoor play equipment: 417.5 (n) and (o) & 416.5(n) and (o). When this citation was added to the regulations in 2001, few manufacturers gave specific instructions on installation or safety surfacing. Based on research about injuries resulting from falls from playground equipment, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued standards and now all manufacturers recommend installing equipment that has an elevated surface on protective surfacing (not sod or grass). See Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook, produced by the CPSC (www.cpsc.gov).

These new federal standards are impacting home-based child care providers in many states across the country. To read the most recent OCFS guidance on playground safety regulation enforcement, see http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/childcare/Protective_Surfacing.asp.

We’ll keep you posted.

VOICE in Our Capital - Saturday, May 14th!

VOICE/CSEA Members

Come to Albany to celebrate our success, adopt a VOICE Action Plan, and show our VOICE to legislators and public officials from Albany to Washington DC.

Read More

VOICE members make the pledge to 'get on the bus' for VOICE in Our Capital, May 14th

Building our VOICE in Erie and Niagara Counties

30 child care providers turned out to our VOICE meeting in Buffalo on Saturday, February 12, 2011 despite miserable winter weather. More than 60 new members in Erie and Niagara Counties joined VOICE/CSEA during the week leading up to our meeting. 26 VOICE members pledged to come to Albany on May 14th for VOICE in Our Capital. Our Erie-Niagara County VOICE Chapter will meet again on March 5th at 10 AM. Save the date!

NY State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a new report linking investments in early education as essential to the effective reform of the Juvenile Justice system

Read the Report

Growing our VOICE in Monroe County

On Saturday, January 29th, over 75 Monroe County child care providers came together in Rochester and decided to "get on the bus!" On May 14th, hundreds of us — VOICE members from across the state — will gather in Albany to show our Governor, Assembly members and Senators that we care about child care, we are strong and we are one!

We planned a workshop for March 12th : "Marketing our Programs in Tough Times and Building a Strong VOICE Chapter." We promised to collect stories from parents who depend on DSS subsidies to keep their jobs and stay in school to share with our US Senators and Congressman who vote on our federal budget.

With more than 200 members, we are on our way to a strong VOICE Chapter in Monroe County.

VOICE Members Make a Difference in Westchester County

We are celebrating a child care victory in Westchester County. The Westchester legislature over-rode a majority of child care budget line-item vetoes made by County Executive Rob Astorino.

On December 23, the Board of Legislators passed the 2011 County Budget. Included in that budget is funding for a parent co-pay of 15% (down from 20%), $895,000 for Title XX and $3.6 million for low-income child care.

Maria Felix, a VOICE member in Mt. Vernon rallied with parents and child care providers in White Plains and Mount Vernon (see photo on right ).

She said, "It was not easy but we did it. Carpooling to public hearings, rallying throughout the county of Westchester, staying focused on the end result kept child care funding in this year's budget."


VOICE members, with parents and child care center staff, also attended legislative board meetings and public hearings and contacted elected officials by phone and email to fight these proposed cuts.

Joan Brown, a VOICE member in Mt. Vernon said, "As a family child care provider I am so grateful for the support we and the childcare community have received from our County Legislators. They get it. This is why we were able to keep Title XX and not have to raise parent fees. It has been hard work and a struggle but because we have all stood together we have made it possible for this to happen. Now I can continue to provide quality care for single parents who have been struggling just to pay parents fees. And give parents with special needs children the opportunity to have quality care and the foundation for them to move forward to a better life."

Patrick and Deloris Hogan, group family child care providers and VOICE members in New Rochelle stated, "We were victorious because the Childcare Community 'flexed' our muscles collectively. VOICE providers and parents were out in force at the Legislators Town Hall Meetings along with all the other stakeholders in Westchester County. Phone calls, e-mails, knocking on doors were part of our every day routine. It was not easy but there was too much at stake to just sit idly by and let our County Executive run over us."

The Westchester County Scholarship Program was not re-instated following Astorino's veto. We won a big part of our battle this year. Our struggle continues to ensure that families keep earning while children keep learning.

VOICE Leaders Adopt Action Plan

On November 5th and 6th, we gathered in Albany. We all agreed that we've come a long way since 2002 when we formed VOICE and began working to eliminate barriers and build the support systems we need to deliver quality early learning and care to the children and families we serve.

We talked about the enormous challenges facing New York providers and the families we serve during these hard economic times. Then, we put our heads together and adopted a plan to build VOICE membership and power in 2011.

Over the next several months, working with our VOICE CSEA staff, we'll talk with registered family and licensed group family child care providers across the state. Our goals are to grow our membership, engage more members in our work and establish 25 VOICE chapters. We established three action teams to take on issues we know are important to us in every county across the state: the market rate survey and reimbursement rates; affordable and accessible business and health insurance; and regulations on play equipment safety surfacing.

On May 14th, hundreds of us will gather in Albany to celebrate our journey so far, adopt an Action Plan for 2011, and let legislators and public officials from Albany to Washington DC see and hear our "VOICE".

Child Care

Janet Turner - Albany County Provider

As a regulated child care provider running an independent small business, I am pleased that our right to organize a union has been made into law.

Read Times Union Opinion Article

New law strengthens child care provider rights

Family child care providers across New York State and their union, CSEA, the Civil Service Employees Association, commend Governor David Paterson for signing S.7451/A.10764, allowing child care providers to organize themselves for the purposes of discussing with the State the conditions of their employment.

CSEA President Danny Donohue notes: "I applaud Governor Paterson, the State Senate and the State Assembly for this action. I congratulate CSEA's VOICE and CCPT member child care providers, and those represented by the UFT in New York City, who have worked since 2002 to gain recognition and negotiate an agreement. We know that investing in early learning and care produces both short-term and long-term returns for our communities and our State." The legislation enacts into law the Executive Order signed by Governor Eliot Spitzer in 2007 granting independent child care providers the right to union recognition.

Family child care provider Cassandra Stanfield of Syracuse said, "Passing this legislation is an important step in securing the foundation for family child care we've worked to build since 2002. As a member of VOICE/CSEA, I have more support than I've ever had running my program. That means I can provide the quality, nurturing early care and learning that children need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond."

VOICE/CSEA member Roxanne Savage from Long Island stated, "There are over 14,000 registered family and licensed group family child care providers and 53,000 informal child care providers in New York. The work we do every day keeps parents earning and children learning. In signing this bill, Governor Paterson shows our state is committed to supporting children, families and our child care workforce."

CSEA's VOICE and CCPT child care organizations have ratified first Agreements with the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. The Agreements include quality program grants and expand opportunities for professional development and affordable health insurance. In addition, VOICE and CCPT members are working to secure federal dollars for child care subsidies and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Download Press Release

A Major Step In The Right Direction For Erie County

Eligibility Levels For Child Care Subsidy Assistance Increased to 175% - Children, Parents, Providers and Employers to Benefit.
"This is great news for everyone in Erie County. Affordable, reliable child care for low income, working families allows parents to work while their young children are cared for in safe, regulated early learning environments."

Bonita Whitlock
Group Family Child Care Provider
CSEA/VOICE Member
Buffalo, NY.

CSEA/VOICE/CCPT is pleased to announce a major victory for providers, parents, children and employers in Erie County. The eligibility levels for parents to qualify for child care assistance has been raised from 125% of the Federal Poverty Level to a more reasonable level of 175%.

When County Executive Chris Collins drastically reduced the eligibility levels in January of 2010, the serious implications of this new policy were obvious and immediate. Hundreds of working families were suddenly faced with placing their children in often substandard, unreliable care to prevent losing their jobs. Family/Group Family Providers and Child Care Centers suffered dramatic drops in enrollment resulting in layoffs and closures. Employers lost experienced, dependable workers.

CSEA/VOICE/CCPT members sprang into action.

CSEA/VOICE/CCPT members joined an alliance of community groups - the Women's Task Force, Voice-Buffalo (a faith based organization) and the Women's Leadership Committee - to combat this destructive lower threshold. In coordinated efforts, hundreds of phone calls were made to politicians and community leaders. Press conferences were held. Petitions and support letters were delivered. A successful march and rally in the middle of a snowstorm was executed on the steps of the County Building.

All our hard work has paid off.

1.7 million dollars in stimulus funds have been received and an additional 6 million dollars of Federal Block Grant monies dedicated to child care has been added by New York State to the 2010-2011 Erie County child care subsidy allocation.

Due to these increases, the Department of Social Services has committed to maintaining the eligibility levels at 175% for the entire fiscal year. Intake has been reopened for parents to apply or reapply for assistance. Low income working families now have the option of placing their children in safe, regulated, quality care. Family/Group Family providers and Child Care Centers have the opportunity to replenish their enrollment levels. Employers will benefit by having reliable, productive employees unburdened by child care worries.

CSEA/VOICE/CCPT members along with our many allies should take great pride in this accomplishment.

VOICE Members and Staff Attend NAFCC Conference

This year's National Association for Family Child Care Conference (July 15-17 in Nashville, TN) rejuvenated and inspired VOICE member attendees Doreen Aristy, Kim Bannister, Brenda Massard, Sharon Gombatto, Roxanne Savage, Cassandra Stanfield and Pam Wells.

The theme of this year's conference was "Creating Harmony: Tuning in to children through partnerships and professionalism". The conference is a great way for child care providers to network with family child care leaders from other states. Workshops on best practice early learning and care, running a family child care business, and federal legislation and funding kept our members busy from morning to night.

Roxanne Savage, a group family day care provider in Suffolk County said: "While meeting all these wonderful brothers and sisters in day care, we had the opportunity to attend numerous workshops to assist us in meeting all of our needs. The selection was literally across the board. I chose those workshops that would best suit my needs. Generally speaking, they were outstanding and not only did I benefit from these workshops, but I came home with materials I can use for both the business side and for the everyday side with the children in day care."

Cassandra Stanfield, a group family day care provider in Onondaga County said: "Attending the conference has given me so much insight into my business, and in my personal life. I walk away feeling energized and empowered, not to mention the benefit of networking with people from all over; especially with the powers that be, at the federal and state levels."

Doreen Aristy, a group family day care provider in Cortland County added "many family childcare providers from all around the world united. There were trainings, presentations, and workshops for three days. The best part about attending the conference was the ability to see what is happening around the country in regards to childcare. I came home rejuvenated and impressed with the work of others. I felt a sense of mutual respect by educated people who held important work positions. I would suggest to all childcare providers that they plan now to attend next years NAFCC conference in Nevada. "

Mount Vernon Rally for Child Care

The Westchester County community continued the fight against childcare subsidy cuts by rallying in Mount Vernon on Saturday, June 26, 2010. The Westchester County Executive is proposing $1.5 million in cuts and changes to day care programs including ending the scholarship program, ending new Title XX subsidies, and increasing the family fee for subsidized childcare from 15% to 20%. These subsidies are important to working families and the providers who care for their children every day: To ensure the continued safety and well being of our future generation.

See photos from the Rally

Governor SIGNS A.8827A/S.3895B – OCFS Issues Guidance on Implementation

Governor Paterson signed A.8827A/S.3895B on Wednesday, June 16. Since the late 1990’s, home-based child care providers across New York have been working to secure the changes to ratios that are included in this bill. We made securing ratio changes a top priority when we sat down to negotiate with OCFS. Finally, the Bill that enables OCFS to implement the changes we negotiated has been passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor. Our e-mails, phone calls, the on-going work of our CSEA lobbyists in Albany and our focused persistence in the face of the challenges were the combined ingredients of our success.

OCFS has developed a plan to implement the provisions on ratios and licensing renewal. The OCFS implementation plan was designed to balance the agency’s mandates to both roll-out the new provisions in the law across the State while ensuring health, safety and quality standards.

Read OCFS Letter and Bill Summary for information about how the Bill’s provisions on ratios and licensing renewal will be implemented. OCFS will mail a letter to all Registered Family and Licensed Group Family Providers. DO NOT ENROLL additional children beyond existing ratios before reading the OCFS Guidance on implementation of these new provisions. To maintain compliance with OCFS regulations, registered family and licensed Group Family providers must follow OCFS guidelines and directives.

For more information, contact VOICE at voice@cseainc.org.

VOICE/CSEA Negotiating Team

Kim Bannister Lenora Peterson
Sally Heater Damaris Samolinski
Patrick Hogan Cathey Sandman
Stacy Hoyt Roxanne Savage
Dasie Lockett-Todd Janet Turner
Rose McCabe Pamela Wells
Charlese Mc Clain Emilia White
Fran Nantista Kittrell Whitlock
Wendy Nashid-Jackson Katherine Williams
Cheryl Oare Amy Yencer

Read OCFS Letter and Bill Summary
Visit the OCFS Website

Cuts to Child Care Subsidy Thwart More Job Seekers

Read New York Times Article

Westchester Rally 4 Kids

Westchester Rally
 VOICE/CSEA Family Child Care Providers, Maria Felix and Dionysia Clovis, both from Mount Vernon in Westchester County joined hundreds of fellow child care advocates at the "Rally 4 kids" last week in downtown White Plains. Organized by a coalition of Westchester child care groups including VOICE/CSEA, they stood with other VOICE members to demonstrate that children and youth are still a priority for Westchester, even during tough times. Recent cuts to children’s services in Westchester County have threatened both the foundation for early learning and parents’ ability to work and earn a living. Child care subsidies and children’s services are important to Westchester’s working families, children and the providers who serve them every day.

See Photo Gallery of the Rally

Provider Appreciation DayVOICE and OCFS Celebrate National Provider Appreciation Day

Bill Gettman, Executive Deputy Commissioner and Janice Molnar, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care visited Christine Kresloff's Albany County Group Family Child Care Program to deliver Governor David Paterson’s Provider Appreciation Day Proclamation. Christine was joined by fellow VOICE members Pam Wells (Washington County) and Wendy Nashid-Jackson (Westchester County).

The Governor's proclamation designated May 7th as Provider Appreciation Day "in order to acknowledge and express gratitude to child care providers, teachers, and educators of young children and to commend the selfless dedication, commitment and compassion they demonstrate each and every day." Celebrated nationally each year on the Friday before Mother's Day, Provider Appreciation Day was launched in New Jersey in 1996.

View Slideshow
Read the Proclamation

Provider Appreciation Day Provider Appreciation Day Provider Appreciation Day

VOICE/CSEA members waiting to see VOICE/CSEA leader.
VOICE/CSEA fights child care program cuts in Westchester County

VOICE/CSEA members took action at the Westchester Board of Legislators meeting in April urging leaders to support child care programs that help families work. VOICE/CSEA is working with a coalition of Westchester Child Care Groups to protect child care subsidies for working familes.


VOICE/CSEA Onondaga County Providers receive honor at FCCANYS conference

At the 19th Annual Family Child Care Association of New York State Conference held in Lake George recently, VOICE/CSEA Onondaga County providers brought home the banner for having the highest number of attendees. The award is given each year to the County with the greatest number of conference participants.

Seen here receiving the honor are VOICE members: Martha Clemons, Cassandra and Norris Stanfield, Vera and Arthur Hines, Valerie Morris, Charlese Davis, Gloria J. Blatche and Lottie W. Appleton and two other Onondaga providers Marlene Haven and Rosemary Walker.

Update: VOICE continues the fight to restore Erie County subsidies

On Tuesday, March 23, VOICE/CSEA joined with the YWCA of Western New York (WNY), the WNY Women's Bar Association, the WNY Women's Fund, the EveryWoman Opportunity Center, the League of Women Voters and over 250 individual women leaders to announce signing the "Women's Leaders Statement."

The statement crirticizes the direction of the Collins administration and its many decisions which damage the health and well-being of women and children. It also calls on County Executive Collins to restore day care subsidies for 90 days while working with Senator Gillibrand's office to secure federal stimulus funds for the program.

VOICE/CSEA spoke on the importance of restoring the subsidies for families and providers.
Read the Women's Statement
Read VOICE/CSEA testimony

VOICE/CSEA members rally outside of Erie County's Rath Building Tuesday to fight against drastic cuts in child care subsidies for working families. Click on image for a larger view.

VOICE/CSEA members join coalition to rally against child care subsidy cuts in Buffalo

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, VOICE/CSEA joined with Voice-Buffalo, a coalition of faith-based organizations and the YWCA's of Erie County to a rally to protest drastic cuts in child care subsidies for working families.
VOICE/CSEA activist Benita Whitlock, center, along with a child to whom she provides day care, rally against subsidy cuts in Buffalo. Click on image for a larger view.
Over 900 families with 1,500 children are impacted by these subsidy cuts. Many child care providers may also be forced to close or to lay off employees.
A 90-day moratorium, already endorsed by the County Legislature. has been proposed to the County Executive. The Erie County Comptroller has argued the cuts are not necessary. The moratorium would allow time for more investigation and the development of solutions while allowing the parents and children to still have access to safe, affordable care.
150 providers, parents and community members attended the rally.





CSEA officers and VOICE activists celebrate the new VOICE contract. Click on image for a larger view.

VOICE Members VOTE YES to Ratify First Agreement

On February 8th, VOICE members gathered in Albany, Syracuse, Long Island and Buffalo to count ballots. Members voted nearly unanimously to ratify this first historic VOICE agreement. Moving forward, we will work with our members, OCFS and the Department of Health to roll out our program grants, professional development fund and Family Health Plus Expanded Eligibility Plan. We'll set up a VOICE/CCPT Member Resource Center and establish 25 VOICE Chapters across the state.

In the next month, we'll join activists across the country to advocate for the $1.6 billion increase in the Child Care Development Block Grant that the President proposed in his budget. NYS needs this money to help fill our child care budget gap. We'll also mobilize support for two bills - S. 4479, introduced by Senator Gillibrand, and H.R. 4402, introduced by Rep. Tonko. These bills call for improvements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, raise reimbursements, reimburse an additional meal, expand eligibility for Tier 1 rates, and simplify paperwork.

Read Our Union Contract Summary
Lea nuestro resumen en español Contrato de Unión

CSEA Commends U.S. Rep. Tonko for Nutrition Bill

Legislation to Reduce Child Obesity, Improve Health, and Enhance Development

ALBANY - U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko has introduced the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009 to update the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) by adding additional resources to pay for healthier meals and expanding the program to include more children. CACFP provides healthy, nutritious meals to 3 million children each day who are in Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care programs in both centers and family child care homes.

"Proper nutrition is essential not only to a child's physical growth, but their intellectual growth as well," said CSEA President Danny Donohue. On behalf of the 25,000 child care providers who recently formed a union with CSEA, we applaud Rep. Tonko for his help in improving young children's access to healthy foods in child care."

Healthy eating and good nutrition are critically important for all children and particularly important for children from infancy to age 5 as their brains are rapidly developing. This is also a key time to set health eating patterns. As our country faces a childhood obesity epidemic of 30%, CACFP plays an important role in educating children, families, and child care providers about healthy nutrition and providing resources for at-risk children to eat healthy meals.

Family child care provider and VOICE/CSEA member Doreen Lawson of Kingston also commented on the bill: "With parents being rushed, they are relieved to know that their child will get a healthy meal at my day care. The children are developing good eating habits because of my participation in the food program. I have been able to attend great workshops put on by my local child care council and I have even received some great recipes from them!"

The program rates, however, have not kept up with the rising costs of food and increasing costs from revisions in the Dietary Guidelines.
Background

A.8827 passed the Assembly unanimously!

The bill introduced by OCFS (based on items agreed to with the State in our contract negotiations - and supported by VOICE/CSEA) would extend our licensing and renewal period and improve ratio requirements. Record numbers of e-mails from VOICE providers and messages sent from the VOICE website were critical to this effort.

This Bill Explained/ Extended VOICE/CSEA talking points

VOICE/CSEA Joins the Public Fight for Health Care Reform.

VOICE/CSEA activist Damaris Samolinski, far right, addresses a health care rally on Long Island. VOICE/CSEA member Luisa Lucero also addressed the rally. Click on image for a larger view.

Negotiating team member Damaris Samolinski, Suffolk County, Long Island (LI), recently spoke to a Long Island Business News Reporter about the importance of health care reform. This comes on the heels of a recent health care rally where CSEA and VOICE spoke out to the community and influential lawmakers about the need for this crucial reform. Both VOICE/CSEA's Luisa Lucero and Damaris Samolinski gave testimony at the rally. READ THE STORY.



Albany VOICE Provider, Joanna Zwink honors and remembers community icon, friend and union organizer

Zwink held a fundraiser to benefit Shriner's Hospital Burn Unit at "Grow With Me Daycare" in honor of Michael Romano Sr., a pillar in the community and dear friend of her childcare.

Romano founded Albany's firefighters union in 1969 when he began organizing firefighters and was elected the first president after much hard work and a tough fight much like our very own union.

"He was a great man. He was always giving of himself. He was great with the kids at my daycare too. Before he passed, he would walk with us in the neighborhood and the kids just adored him," said Joanna.

Last year, the Times Union, daily newspaper in Albany wrote of Romano:

"The former battalion chief founded Albany's firefighters union. He began organizing firefighters in 1969. By 1970, the Albany Professional Permanent Firefighters Association was formed, with Romano elected the first president. But recognition from the city was not forthcoming; the Erastus Corning 2nd-Dan O'Connell regime fought the unionization efforts, and Romano and other organizers were reassigned and harassed.

"Mike and the other charter members that were with him put their jobs on the line to form the union, and knew they would be targeted, but did it anyway," said Sam Fresina, the current union president. "I would say all of us owe him and all of our charter members a lot of gratitude."

Romano's son said he can remember a period of threats, and his father telling him he would not be deterred. "He loved the city of Albany and he loved the fire department," the younger Romano said. "The younger guys don't realize what he fought for. What they have -- protections, vacation, medical -- came from unions."

The fundraiser was a success, with many parents, friends and neighbors of "Grow With Me Daycare" stopping in to purchase baked goods and artwork made from the children's fingerprints, contributing to Shriner's Hospital and honoring a great union leader and community member.

See Times Union clip from Saturday July 25,2009
See Photos from the fundraiser

Being Politically Active

Kelly DeGrace, active VOICE member and President of President of The Family Daycare Association of Oneida County (FDCAOC) recently invited Assmblymember RoAnn Destito-D (NYS Dist. 116, Utica) to her family child care home.

"This is beautiful!" Destito said. "I think this is wonderful that there is this kind of care in the city of Utica. We need to make sure that providers can continue to care for their own while caring for others and make a viable business out of it. I am so pleased to be here. I am going to use Kelly as a resource when it comes to childcare legislation. One thing I didn't realize was how organized you are as an organization. This is wonderful, it really is."

They spoke about the need for child care in Assemblymember Destito's district - especially the waiting list for infants and need for non-traditional hours and weekend care.

"I appreciate the fact that she took the time to come here," said Kelly. "When I first spoke to her she said she hadn't been to a group daycare home and I wanted her to see what it was like. We have common goals. I hope that this will influence the decisions that she makes about family child care in the Assembly. I was very pleased to see her enthusiasm and concern." See Photos

Ulster County Providers Meet For June Contract Update.

Kingston Area Providers packed Jane Alsdorf's Child Care on Saturday morning to hear the latest on our VOICE/CSEA contract updates. The providers discussed at length, the ratio/renewal legislation which was very recently reintroduced to the Senate, Providers Bill of Rights, a grievance process, the changes to the OCFS website which recently went into effect benefiting providers, the Quality Stars Rating Improvement System and what that means for providers, insurance, new Ulster County challenges including making VOICE meetings better accessible to providers who live on outlying areas of the County and recent troubles with fire inspections. See photos.

Livingston County VOICE showing pride with parade float.

Photos and read more...

Monroe County Committee meets to discuss issues.

See photos from the Monroe County VOICE Committee meeting held April 25, 2009. Members discussed Monroe County issues including DSS concerns, subsidies and upcoming collective actions at their monthly meeting. Photos

Improving visibility for Family Child Care Providers

Albany County Providers Loretta and Craig MacKenzie recently opened their Group Family Child Care to WMHT cameras to tape for the "Provider Tip of the Month" which is airing June-October on the Capital Region PBS station, WMHT-TV. Pam Wells of Washington County taped her segment at the WMHT studios in late April and Sheila Long of Schenectady opened up her daycare for all to see in late May as well. The 15 second "Provider Tips for Parents" give a glimpse into Family Child Care and the commitment and knowledge of VOICE Providers. See photos from the TV shoot.


VOICE negotiating team meets via video conference technology at CSEA headquarters in Albany and at the regional office in Buffalo.

Isn't technology wonderful? CSEA's video conferencing capabilities were used earlier this month as the negotiating team discussed the contract proposal. We are one step closer to an agreement with OCFS thanks to our dedicated team and a little technology.


Click on image for a larger view.

WMHT/PBS Ready to Learn Partnership continues to build in Capital Region

Nearly twenty VOICE providers attended a "train the trainer" workshop given by the Capital Region PBS station WMHT-TV and Capital Region VOICE to learn how to teach the "View, Read Do" method of learning to VOICE providers for their programs. The goal of this pilot partnership is that eventually, the trained providers could teach the workshop concepts to all VOICE members in the Capital Region and beyond, enhancing learning and ensuring all children enter school "Ready to Learn".

***For Capital Region VOICE members within the WMHT viewing area***: Check out WMHT programming M-F 6a.m-5p.m, Sat 6a.m.-8:30a.m. and Sun 7-9a.m. to see our very own negotiating team member Pam Wells deliver a "Child Care Tip of the Month" for viewers. The spots will run beginning in March through the summer featuring different VOICE providers. A VOICE/CSEA underwriting credit will also be shown during the above listed times as well, featuring some of our members.

  • See photos from the workshop

  • A new approach to children and TV
  • Read more about Ready to Learn

    • President Obama's economic stimulus package has been signed into law.

    According to reports, the $789 billion plan includes a $2 billion block grant for childcare assistance of which, $98.6 million will be on it's way to New York.

    This funding for childcare would allow the state to provide childcare assistance to hundreds of thousands of children in low-income working families hit hard by the economic crisis and create work for nearly 200,000 providers.

    Nearly 100 providers came together in Sufffolk to fight Subsidy Cuts.

    We shared our stories and asked questions of a panel of local Legislators who accepted VOICE/CSEA's invitation for the talk including the DSS Commissioner of Suffolk County who explained the recent economic crisis. They listened to heartwrenching accounts from the front lines. We were successful because the Commissioner did say that they will work to restore at least $1M of the funding deficit and discussed other needed changes.

    SEE PHOTOS

    Union Women Building a Better Future

    VOICE members Roxanne Savage and Damaris Samolinski attended the CSEA Women's Conference: Union Women Building a Better Future. More than 500 CSEA members and activists attended the union's Women's Conference in Hauppauge (Long Island) over the November, 2008 weekend.


    VOICE Childcare Crisis Rally Draws Nearly 200 people.

    Monroe County providers have been working hard to fight funding cuts displacing 1,100 familes from childcare. SEE RALLY PHOTOS

    A Step in the right direction in Suffolk

    VOICE provider and negotiating team member, Damaris Samolinski and Long Island Region CSEA President, Nick LaMorte delivered a childcare petition with over 600 names signed in protest of the subsidy funding cuts from Suffolk County to County Legislator Kate Browning. The signatures were collected by Suffolk County VOICE members and represent providers, parents and the community support for a hearing to be held to investigate the roll over. Legislator Browning said she would look into why the county decided to stop all new subsidy cases. In the mean time she encouraged VOICE to seek out other county legislators to inform them about what is happening as well.

    DSS meetings catch on around state

    Cattaraugus County Providers are the latest to report that they are planning a meeting with DSS too. Child Care Providers met to discuss issues and decided to draft a letter for a meeting request and began planning the agenda.

    Meeting was hosted by Jane Ingenito-Cooper.


    Orleans County Providers strategize for a meeting with DSS to discuss provider concerns.

    Providers in the Albion, NY area, Orleans County, attended a planning meeting Monday, August 11 to decide whether they wanted to have a meeting with DSS of their own to discuss Orleans County concerns. The vote was unanimous among the twelve who attended to pursue the meeting and begin work on the agenda together right away.

    Debbie Sanders, Provider Orleans County, opened up her daycare activity room after hours to host the meeting.

    VOICE attends and participates in the National Association for Family Child Care 18th Annual Conference titled: Family Child Care Challenge for Excellence.

    VOICE/CSEA joined our sister AFSCME child care affiliates from around the country in a workshop called, Unions and Associations "Working together to make a difference." We all shared information with other childcare providers about how we have worked with family childcare associations and early childhood advocates to support child care through our union and offered conference goers' information and expert advice on how to get active in improving quality in the child care field. See photos from the conference in Chicago, Illinois.

    Photo credit: Patrick, Hogan, Provider Westchester County.

    Protecting Yourself and Your Business: Insurance for Family and Group Family Child Care Providers.

    VOICE/CSEA strongly urges ALL Family and Group Family Child Care Providers to attend videoconference Monday, September 8, 2008 6:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. Find dozens of locations in each region throughout the state. If you have never attended a video conference before, you can learn step- by-step, how to register here: Registration Form Site Locations

    Why is this particular videoconference so important to attend? The videoconference will be a platform by which the state will survey us about our insurances. This is a great sign that the state is listening to us in our negotiations and is now investigating our needs with regard to all types of insurances. We need to give the most accurate and complete picture about our struggles. Our negotiating team Insurance Committee worked with the state to amend the survey to improve its effectiveness. It is VITAL that all providers in NY participate and attend at least to fill out this survey. The training will also offer shorter term solutions; information on protection, how to update your paperwork and tips on keeping up with the business side of child care.

    Warren County Providers meet as first of many focus groups to be held across the state to discuss insurances.

    Providers enjoyed the beautiful evening at Crandall Park in Queensbury but the discussion was not a walk in the park. Tough questions were asked about insurances; health, homeowners, liability, the lack of, affordability of and challenges providers face with existing state programs. Providers discussed income based qualification requirements,lack of coverage and alternative medical coverage. Information gathered from the insurance focus groups will be reported back to the VOICE Insurance task force, a specialized committee on the negotiating team working with a State task force instructed by the Governor to gather information about Childcare Providers' insurance needs. Our insurance committee has also been given the immediate task of giving feedback on a survey drafted by the State which will eventually be mailed to all providers. Negotiating team members present found the discussions valuable to recommend changes to the survey to ensure its effectiveness. See photos

    VOICE/CSEA attends WMHT Ready to Learn Workshop

    Twenty-one VOICE/CSEA members attended a pilot workshop held in Albany called, Ready to Learn. The program was offered as a pilot workshop as part of a recent partnering of CSEA and a local Albany PBS affiliate TV station. See photos Read more about Ready to Learn

    Unspent child care funding:Childcare Subsidy Rollover is Found to be a Statewide Epidemic
    $51 million lost

    See county subsidy rollover amounts (2005-2008) Compare allocations from 2007-2008 to 2008-2009.
    For the last three years many New York State counties failed to distribute millions of dollars intended to help thousands of children and families. We organized in part because late payments from the counties were forcing many great family and group family child care providers out of the business. The problem is epidemic with 47 of the 57 counties outside of New York City having rolled over in excess of $51M from fiscal year 2006-2007 into 2007-2008. This money was specifically given by the state to the counties to be distributed among families in need of childcare assistance. This is unacceptable and irresponsible for the counties entrusted to not pass this money on. TOP OFFENDERS Eleven counties had rollovers in excess of $1M, with Erie and Suffolk Counties at the top of the list at $8M and $6M, respectively, for fiscal year 2007-2008. 1. Albany $2,805,964 2. Cattaraugus $1,329,190 3. Duchess $1,110,129 4. Erie $8,461,727 5. Essex $1,171,390 6. Monroe $5,890,032 7. Niagara $2,825,524 8. Oneida $2,130,134 9. Steuben $1,036,582 10. Suffolk $6,162,240 11. Westchester $5,94,273

    OCFS agrees to modify legislative proposal

    As a result of VOICE/CSEA members' ongoing work to negotiate a contract with New York State, OCFS agreed to modify their legislative proposal to include several of our requests. Legislation has been introduced, and we need every VOICE member to call Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and your own State Senators and Assembly Members. IF PASSED: Ratios will change to benefit both group family and family providers improving consistency and the number of children who can be cared for. *Ratios will change for Group Family Providers from a maximum of 10 children plus two school-aged (if an infant is enrolled) to 12 children plus four school-aged children (if an infants is enrolled). *Ratios for Family Providers will go from a maximum of five children (if infant is enrolled) to a maximum of six children plus two school-aged children (provided there is sufficient room to care for eight children). *Each Family or Group Family provider (or assistant) can care for 2 infants under this proposal without the loss of any other slots. **The proposal also would change the licensing/registration period from 2 years to 4 years after initial licensing/registration period.** These changes would allow providers across our state to add thousands of children and earn millions in increased income.

    VOICE members finding new radon system requirement tough to deal with

    Many renewals are delayed due to the new requirement of a $1500-$2000 Radon system installation. Many providers who are having trouble paying for this. There are resources available for financing residential radon mitigation costs. You may qualify for assistance.

    Onondaga County VOICE members work for fair share

    In May 2008, Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney gave county contracted Child Care Centers a 4 percent increase in contracted subsidy rates due to the recent closing of 3 centers in the County. Mahoney gave no increase to Family and Group Family providers. When Child Care Centers close they make news. Family and Group Family providers close all the time and go un-noticed. Because of this, contracted Family and Group Family providers in Onondaga are coming together as a union and signing a petition to ask for the same 4 percent increase that the centers received. Over 80 percent of the contracted Family and Group Family providers in the county have signed the petition and will present the request at the contracted meeting with the County Department of Social Services on Tuesday, June 10 in Syracuse. This is a great example of we can unite as a union and tackle issues in our respective counties.

    VOICE attends important local child care conferences

    VOICE/CSEA attended the Ulster County Child Care Council's annual conference last weekend, bringing information about our union and our recent victories including news of negotiations with the NYS Office of Children and Family services. VOICE will also be attending the Family Child Care Association of NYS annual conference in Lake George this weekend.

    Monroe County VOICE Providers, elected officials and community supporters delivered a petition

    to the Monroe County Legislature with 1,700 signatures at a rally to say RESTORE MONROE COUNTY CHILD CARE FUNDING CUTS. Over 125 people attended to protest the cuts. See flyer for action.

    VOICE delivers a petition signed by 600 providers and community members to Suffolk County legislator, Kate Browning.


    Labor Day Parade a time for VOICE pride

    Provider requested DSS meetings catch on around the state.
    Elmira County added to growing list of pioneering DSS meetings

    VOICE negotiating team member welcomes new Gov. David A. Paterson at upstate public address in Rochester

    VOICE negotiating team member, Katherine Williams took her activism to Rochester's Mid-town Plaza Mall to welcome our new Governor at an event where he addressed the Upstate Initiative. Williams, of Monroe County, introduced herself to NY's new Governor as a Monroe County daycare provider and active member of VOICE/CSEA and said, "Welcome. I hope we have a long prosperous relationship." Of the Governor she said,"He was very warm and personable. He seemed so down to earth and I got the feeling he knows the working man." Governor Paterson acknowledged VOICE and its accomplishments and also posed for some photos with three children from her daycare.

    VOICE Negotiations work continues

    The VOICE/CSEA negotiations team are continuing to meet and discuss details of a first contract this week. They are very close to a first draft to submit to state officials for a first go-around. They meet next on Thursday to continue this work. Pictured above: Wendy Nashid-Jackson, Westchester County child care provider, speaks out about small business concerns providers have. In the background, Patrick Hogan also of Westchester county and Sally Heater of Onondaga county.

    VOICE/CSEA local 100A met for its second negotiating session with the Office of Children and Family Services. A segment of the agenda included an opportunity for Voice to speak out against the OCFS website. The agency asked how VOICE/CSEA would like to see information presented and agreed to research how those changes can be made. Some specific changes discussed were the map which currently provides sex-offenders easy access to daycare locations and how providers are portrayed on the website with regard to inspections results.

    VOICE member,Cathey Sandman from Lockport NY testifies in Washington DC in front of the House Committee on Small Business in a hearing titled, "Limited Health Care Options for Small Businesses in the Small Group Market." Cathey talked about the issues small businesses (childcare providers) face with affording health insurance. She was invited to represent childcare providers and small business owners by the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business.)She spoke of the importance of unions and her current financial hardship dealing with debt associated with rising health costs and not being able to carry insurance for her family. READ MORE


    VOICE members speak with Assemblymember Susan John and Assemblymember Brian Kavanaugh at NYS Assembly hearing. Childcare issues remain a top concern as the panel searches for logical solutions and ways they can help Olivia Adams, Schenectady Provider, Janet Turner, Albany Provider and Ethel Hammond of Delaware County recently spoke about neighbors overstepping boundaries, sex offenders living very close to daycares and the need for Voices to be heard to stop turn over in the industry. Read the story


    READ ETHEL'S TESTIMONY
    READ JANET'S TESTIMONY READ OLIVIA'S TESTIMONY



    Erie County provider Kim Bannister adressed the same panel when they were in the western part of the state. She spoke out on whether the State's licensing and or regulation requirements need to be strengthened or relaxed relating to prospective providers going into the field. READ KIM'S TESTIMONY

    VOICE members meet with presidential candidate and New York State Senator Hillary Clinton in Washington D.C

    They met on Capitol Hill to discuss the problems with New York's childcare system. Later in the afternoon they stood by her side along with fellow AFSCME providers from around the country as she announced a plan which includes increasing childcare funding by $200M.Watch the press conference http://www.afscme.org/members/16658.cfm

    Clinton took New York on Super Tuesday by a wide margin, 57% to 40%, giving her a sizable majority of New York's delegates. Senator Clinton also won delegate rich California and Massachussetts.


    Celebrating our Voice

    Representing VOICE/CSEA, Ed Gresco spoke to an audience of nearly 100 labor leaders and local clergy at the Labor in the Pulpits Holiday Celebration. He spoke about our recent VOICE victory and joined Rev. Alexandra Lusak, Worker Rights Board Member and Labor in the Pulpits Pastor, on the importance of child care unions. He offered thanksgiving and relayed hope to others who are still fighting for their union.


    Child care top of mind for other key politicians around the state. State Assemblywoman Susan John holds hearing for those involved with child care

    Assemblywoman John discussed industry concerns, especially those of people on fixed incomes. Information was provided and requests made for additional state dollars for child care. John is taking the information back to Albany to see where changes can be made for affordable, high quality child care for all. Read the story from R-News, Rochester.

    In Solidarity,we can and will make the necessary changes to New York's childcare system.

    DEMOCRACY IN ACTION: September-October 2007 VOICE Holds Pre-negotiations meetings

    Throughout the state VOICE members packed meeting rooms to discuss which issues are most important to them. These sessions helped to form the basis of top issues to negotiate for during our talks with the State and OCFS. See negotiations updates pages for details.

    VOICE Attracts media attention in the state capital;a key location

    Childcare Providers Find A Voice: "Union assists its members in bureaucratic struggles with county, state governments."
    August 23, 2007 Read the story



    Members of Voces Latinas celebrate together on August 2, 2007

    New York State Declares VOICE/CSEA Certified: Historic Certification affects over 7,000 child care workers

    The New York State Employment Relations Board (SERB) certified VOICE/CSEA (Voice of Independent Child Care Educators) as the exclusive bargaining representative for over 7,000 registered family and licensed group family child care providers yesterday, July 23, 2007.
    "We now have the framework for real change in this industry. This is an important day for providers, parents and children," said CSEA President Danny Donohue.
    Read the press release

    VOICE members attend Spring Workshop

    VOICE providers attended the 2007 CSEA Spring Workshop held in Rochester on June 8-10, 2007. They shared tearful stories of accomplishment with an audience of close to 1,000 CSEA members and officers and presented CSEA president, Danny Donohue with a "BIG thank you" card in appreciation.
    View photos

    CSEA/VOICE file for recognition with State Employment Relations Board


    CSEA filed for certification with the New York State Employment Relations Board Tuesday, May 15, 2007 organizing more than 7,000 registered family and licensed group family child care providers.
    Read the press release

    We Did It!

    We are pleased to announce that as of May 8, 2007 Gov. Eliot Spitzer has issued an executive order granting New York state's independent childcare providers the right to join a union.
    VOICE will file with a solid majority of signed providers for recognition from the Employment Relations Board.
    CONGRATULATIONS to all who have worked long and hard to make this possible.

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