The following is an advocacy alert from the Success Equation which is the advocacy arm of Children First/Communities In Schools. United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County provides annual funding for this effort.
Urgent Child Care Advocacy Opportunity
We’re asking advocates from across WNC to call on your senators in the NC General Assembly to ask them to support increased funding for child care and to continue compensation grants for early childhood educators. Without additional support, our early childhood education sector faces a looming funding cliff. The consequences will be dire for families, teachers, businesses, and most importantly, kids.
Take 5 minutes to call the key western NC Senate budget leadership today and ask them to do what’s right for the future of child care. No time to wait – the Senate budget negotiations are happening NOW.
Sen. Ralph Hise (919) 733-3460
Sen. Kevin Corbin (919) 733-5875
Sen. Warren Daniel (919) 715-7823
Here is a sample phone script:
Hi, my name is ______. I am a parent/teacher/business leader/etc. and I live in ____County. I am calling to ask you to support increased funding for early childhood education in our state budget. Please continue child care teacher compensation supports created by the child care stabilization grants. We can’t cut child care teacher pay. Without better teacher compensation, we can’t attract and retain child care workers and parents will have even fewer options. We need an updated subsidy rate and a market rate floor across the state. Thank you for your attention to this important issue. [If you have a personal story about child care’s impact on your ability to work, run a business, or foster your child’s development – feel free to share.]
Nervous about making a call?
You don’t need to be an expert to express your opinion. Most likely you will leave a voicemail or leave a message with the legislative assistant as legislators rarely are in the office to answer the phone. Calling is an effective and important way to speak up, so take a deep breath, dial, and make your voice heard.
Want to make another phone call? Call your NC Senator with the same message. Wondering who represents you? Look up your legislators’ contact information here:
https://www.ncleg.gov/
Thank you for making your voice count for kids,
Greg Borom, Director of Advocacy
