Maine needs a system of early care and education that truly supports the needs of our youngest children, families, and workforce. While this critical system was already fragile, the current public health crisis has laid bare the issues of funding, access, and affordability that now put the entire system at risk of failing. By utilizing data, developmental science, and research, we can rebuild a child care system now that will work better for Maine families and providers.
Creating a stronger system will require significant collaboration, a commitment to public investment, and most importantly, leadership. We urge the administration, legislature, and the Economic Recovery Committee to prioritize support for early care and education as one of their top considerations to rebuilding a healthy Maine economy.
Now is the time to envision a system that will work better for children and providers. Priorities for this system should include the following. Innovation
The Maine Children’s Alliance works with early childhood partners as part of a coalition called Right from the Start. The coalition coalesced this year around legislation advancing First4ME,
modeled after an Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership program that improves quality, expands opportunities for children and families, and improves wages for early educators.
A significant strength of the model is that it requires community engagement to ensure the unique needs of the community are met. It creates a framework that recognizes that the needs of a community like Portland or Lewiston will look different than those in Washington or Waldo county. The First4ME legislation
was tabled during the last session of the legislature, which ended abruptly due to the threat of COVID-19 in our state. A future session of the legislature should consider this important model for comprehensive, community-based early care and education in our state. Better Data
A public investment in data collection by the state is necessary to help match parent needs with the availability of providers. Maine should invest in real time supply and demand data matching systems
to support the needs of families and providers.
Another set of data necessary to inform good policy decisions is related to the early childhood workforce. Maine should conduct a child care workforce study to determine demographic, education, and professional development needs to support the field. The Cost of Care
Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services recently decided to utilize a preferable “cost of care” model, instead of the previous “market rate study.” For the first time Maine will have data that examines the true cost of providing care, which will allow for rate setting that supports the actual needs of providers. Resource and Referral
Choosing a child care provider is one of the most significant decisions parents will make for their young child, yet reliable information is often difficult to find. Local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies
can fill that need for both parents and providers. These agencies help match parents with providers in their area who have openings, and offer parents information about child development and criteria for high-quality child care. Staff also support providers with coaching, mentoring, and continuing professional development.
Maine’s regional network of Resource Development Centers were defunded and eliminated in 2012. Maine is now one of only two states in the country without a Child Care Resource and Referral agency. The state should move to reinstate this critical support system for parents and providers. Utilizing Contracts
States can use contracts with providers to establish payment rates, performance measures, and reporting requirements. Utilizing contracts can provide stability for parents and providers and allows the state to target underserved areas and at-risk populations, such as children in the child welfare system or children with disabilities. The state should take advantage of opportunities to engage in contracts especially with high-quality child care providers. Shared Service Networks
Shared Service Alliances
are networks of early care centers and/or family child care homes within a region that share costs and administrative and program services. These groups may use a range of different business models, but have a common purpose: to strengthen child care businesses so they are more efficient, sustainable, and better able to deliver high-quality services.
A Shared Service Alliance can be helpful with group purchasing, staffing services, and sharing of resources. By banding together, participating child care providers can get business support, while maintaining their independence. Based on this national model, a Maine Shared Services Alliance was created and supported by philanthropic funding until 2018. The state should consider bringing this model back to support our state’s child care providers now. Supporting the Early Childhood Workforce
The average hourly wage for a child care worker in Maine is $13.51 an hour
, or $28,100 a year for an annual salary. With most also not receiving benefits
, it is no surprise employers are having a hard time finding and retaining staff. If we value and want early educators to stay in the profession, public investment is needed to ensure a living wage - including benefits.
Teacher preparation and training is also crucial to supporting high quality care for children. Increasing access to higher education and professional development through Maine Roads to Quality
, the T.E.A.C.H. program
, and apprenticeship programs are all ways for early childhood educators to gain and maintain skills.
Improving the Early Childhood Infrastructure
Early childhood programs need to invest in creating and maintaining safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate spaces for young children. Public support for facilities can help remove a significant ongoing cost burden for providers to offer such quality care. Public investments can support the planning, design, financing, and maintenance of these spaces.
In 2019, Governor Mills proposed a $5 million bond
for grants and loans to support the new construction or expansion of existing early childhood facilities.
While an economic crisis may not seem like the time to consider new revenues, our economic recovery is at stake as many existing child care providers are on the verge of collapse, while parents going back to work are struggling to locate or afford child care. Maine leaders need to understand early childhood brain science
, the economic value of early childhood education, and most importantly commit to child care as a public good. Maine business and community leaders can lead the way to support this vision. Maine parents can tell their stories of struggling to find and pay for child care so they can work. Child care providers can share what would help their businesses survive the current crisis and better support their work caring for and educating children moving forward. And we can all advocate for public revenue dedicated to supporting an improved child care system that will support Maine’s children, families, and our economy.
Improving the Early Childhood Infrastructure
Early childhood programs need to invest in creating and maintaining safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate spaces for young children. Public support for facilities can help remove a significant ongoing cost burden for providers to offer such quality care. Public investments can support the planning, design, financing, and maintenance of these spaces.
In 2019, Governor Mills proposed a $5 million bond
for grants and loans to support the new construction or expansion of existing early childhood facilities.
While an economic crisis may not seem like the time to consider new revenues, our economic recovery is at stake as many existing child care providers are on the verge of collapse, while parents going back to work are struggling to locate or afford child care. Maine leaders need to understand early childhood brain science
, the economic value of early childhood education, and most importantly commit to child care as a public good. Maine business and community leaders can lead the way to support this vision. Maine parents can tell their stories of struggling to find and pay for child care so they can work. Child care providers can share what would help their businesses survive the current crisis and better support their work caring for and educating children moving forward. And we can all advocate for public revenue dedicated to supporting an improved child care system that will support Maine’s children, families, and our economy.