As home childcare providers, we perform one of the most important jobs in our society: caring for and teaching our future generations. We are the partners of working parents, making sure the children in our communities are fed, educated, and secure while in our care.  We are professionals who create a space for learning and play that contributes to the development of the whole child in a homey and comfortable environment.

We understand the unique needs of working families and each day we offer the scheduling flexibility that allows parents to obtain and sustain employment with peace of mind knowing their children are safe and close to home. Home childcare providers also assume the role of mentor to young parents, working together with them in order to raise healthy children prepared for grade school and beyond. 

 Despite working 40 plus hours a week, many of us are not paid correctly or on time.  Program for Parents and the State of New Jersey regularly make decisions which directly impact our daily work without our input. Below are a list of rights and working conditions childcare providers are ready to fight for as union and community members.    

• Overhaul of the e-Child electronic tracking system including: a streamlined process for resolving pay discrepancies, a more accurate, efficient, and speedy check-in/out process, and an option to return to vouchers
• Timely communication with Program for Parents including: reduced wait time on phone calls, bilingual options, and immediate notification to providers regarding changes to a parent’s contract
• Compensation for mandatory trainings and for those trainings to be scheduled at times that do not interfere with providers’ regular working hours
• Access to referrals for new clients from Program for Parents on a weekly basis
• Increase in the maximum limit on the number of children each provider can care for from 5 to 8
• Partner with daycare centers to access waiting lists and pick up overflow
• Defining an eight-hour day as a legal day's work
• Overtime pay at the rate of 1.5 times the regular rate of pay after 40 hours of work
• Extra pay for children with diagnosed special needs such as autism, ADHD, or physical disabilities
• One day of rest in each calendar week (should coincide with worker's day of worship)
• Overtime pay if a provider agrees to work on her day of rest
• Three paid days off after one year of employment
• Workers compensation insurance for full-time and part-time home childcare providers
• Access to employer-paid health benefits and pension