At times, early learning advocates are fighting for a new program, initiative, or funding stream to support children and families. In the case of Oregon’s Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) subsidy program, advocates are celebrating the state legislature’s reinvestment in a successful program that has been a difference-maker for Oregon families for years.
The Oregon state legislature paused funding for ERCD in the fall of 2023, and the result was a growing waitlist of thousands of families who relied on the subsidy to afford child care. In response, advocates from Family Forward Oregon, APANO, Child Care for Oregon, and others joined forces to launch a statewide campaign to reinstate and grow Oregon’s ERCD investment.
The successful campaign resulted in the Oregon legislature investing $172 million in the program during the 2024 Legislative Session.
Centering Impacted Families for a Successful Campaign
“We know child care is the work that makes all other work possible,” said Marchel Marcos, Political Director for Family Forward Oregon and Co-lead of the Child Care for Oregon Coalition.
Marcos described how they were able to build momentum among parents and child care providers to demonstrate their essential need for the ERCD and early childhood support broadly. They held a Parent & Provider Activist Summit prior to the 2024 Legislative Session, a platform to share stories and align the coalition’s mission, vision, values, and policy pillars with what parents and providers needed. Later, they held an in-person day of action at the Oregon Capitol to communicate their priorities to legislators and staff. Parents were provided spokesperson training so they felt comfortable and confident sharing their personal stories and lived experiences.
“Our values are to center the voices of the most impacted families and child care providers,” said Marcos.
From Parent Representative to Advocacy Leader
One of these parent advocates was Lisa Ebony, a single mother of four, who relied on the ERCD to provide quality care for her children when they were young. She described her experience as a young mother who desperately needed support to keep her family fed and housed. “It’s super scary. When you’re in the thick of it, it’s terrifying,” she said.
Ebony’s children are older now and no longer need early childhood services, but she continues her role as an advocate for child care access for Oregon families.
“There is so much work that still needs to be done,” said Ebony. “If we want a healthier society, we need to start by taking care of our children,” she said. Ebony continues that work as part of the parent cohort for Child Care for Oregon.
The Value of the Alliance’s Child Care NEXT Initiative
Parent advocates like Ebony weren’t the only key to success for Oregon’s child care subsidy investment. The coalition of advocates relied heavily on Child Care NEXT, an initiative of the Alliance for Early Success that supports state advocacy communities that:
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- Authentically listen, engage, and share leadership with people who are most affected by child care policies and systems;
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- Advocate for transformative state policies and investments that will serve children, families, providers, and educators effectively and equitably; and
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- Build a sustainable base of political power in communities and states that will ensure progress is durable.
“What I really appreciate about being in the Child Care NEXT group is we’re able to share strategies and policy solutions with advocates across the country that all want to see universal child care,” said Marcos. “Without this network, it would feel like such a heavier lift,” she said.
“Through the network, we know that everyone in there is values-aligned with how they are creating and crafting policies. That makes it such a more nimble and quick way for us to get prepared for our next session, share strategies, and win” said Marcos.
The Advocacy Work Continues with the Strongest Strategy for Change
Marcos and the Child Care for Oregon coalition are motivated to continue advocating for child care solutions for Oregon families, including additional funding to eliminate the ERCD waitlist and holding the state agency accountable for connecting families with child care providers.
Marcos is also dedicated to building the strength of coalitions that elevate voices from across geographic and demographic lines. Family Forward Oregon supports a cohort of 11 parents in rural and urban areas across Oregon that are activated to get trained on our values and become leads in the work. They also prioritize working with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) groups that represent all Oregon families.
“That’s my story too,” Marcos said. “I don’t come to this work with a political science degree. I come to this work as a survivor of domestic violence who was struggling looking for community and found advocacy. Now that I know how powerful our voices and our vote can actually enact change I found my role in the movement to share this information with folks in the most impacted communities.”
