“Serv and Return” is an occasional series that spotlights a recent exchange on the Alliance listserv—a widely used channel for the network to provide rapid-response resources and support to one another.
Advocates in Denver, Colorado recently asked their peers if any states, cities, or counties have included child care educators who are paid through state or federal funds such as Head Start, child care subsidies, or local pre-K—in state or municipal employee health care pools.
The Alliance Listserv community jumped in to share a variety of resources:
DC allies shared a local program called HealthCare4ChildCare, which provides free or reduced-cost health insurance to employees of licensed child development centers and homes. Rather than placing workers directly in the government employee health insurance pool, DC uses local funding from its Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund to cover premiums through DC Health Link, the District’s health insurance marketplace. Eligibility is based on working at a licensed child care program rather than on funding source, so workers qualify whether their program is funded by child care subsidy, Head Start/Early Head Start, local pre-K, or private tuition. The program currently covers more than 2,000 child care employees.
Child Care Providers Unite, the family child care provider union in California, was successful in negotiating a CCPU Health Care Fund. Eligible California providers can receive financial assistance from the Child Care Providers United (CCPU) Health Care Fund to help with medical expenses, as well as free dental and vision insurance and other benefits. Learn more about the fund here.
Michigan Advocates shared their state resource Nurture Benefits. A program shaped directly by the voices of Michigan’s licensed child care providers. In Michigan, only 35% of providers currently receive health insurance through their employer. This program addresses that gap.
NAEYC published a brief outlining strategies to support providers with a range of benefits, including access to health insurance. The brief includes examples from DC, Louisiana, and Washington.
NAFCC (National Association for Family Child Care) shared a brief (also available in Spanish) featuring benefit options accessible to family child care providers, including inclusion in some state health care pools. NAFCC also held a webinar on this topic earlier this year.