Child Care Providers Together (CCPT) is currently in the process of bargaining over ERDC rates for providers, and we are advocating that all providers get paid equitably! In the past we have had separate rates for each age group by provider type by rate zone where rural providers make less for doing the same work as providers in the Portland metro area! This is not right and it's time to change.

The work involved to provide child care from Baker to Medford, Klamath Falls to Portland, The Dalles to Florence is THE SAME. The pay should also be the same. ALL CHILDREN are equally worthy of funded child care programs that can provide safe and high quality care. When we don't equitably fund child care programs for all ERDC-eligible children, child care programs in rural and frontier Oregon are financially and economically suffering.

Our children deserve equal treatment - regardless of where they live. Women with young children, who are likely economically fragile, many of whom identify as a person of color and may be a single parent, are disproportionately affected by lower reimbursement rates beyond Portland. Operating and owning a licensed family child care is an economic driver for these families allowing them independence, a higher quality of life, and a path out of poverty, through achieving financial success!

The market price study on child care costs in Oregon says it all -- the rate zones are no longer valid -- paying less than providers in Portland for child care is unsustainable.

Tell the Governor's office to support an equal rate for all child care providers!