SACRAMENTO
New agreement between the State and the Child Care Providers Union will provide benefits to family child care providers throughout California
California has reached a historic agreement with Child Care Providers United (CCPU) that will provide funding for health care and a plan for future retirement benefits for California's family child care providers. These first-ever investments include a $100,000 contribution to establish a health care benefit trust, a $100 million contribution to the health benefit trust, and another $100,000 contribution to establish a retirement trust.
This agreement with CCPU, which was ratified on September 14, 2022, also follows additional recent investments to support child care providers. In April, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) announced $289 million in supplemental rate payments for eligible family child care providers. Further, since early 2020, several rounds of stipends were sent to eligible family child care providers to stabilize the child care and development field.
"California's child care workforce continues to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to children and families," said CDSS Director Kim Johnson. "In addition to numerous recent investments which included supplemental rate payments and multiple rounds of stipends, this agreement provides further, long-term support for California's child care workforce."
These investments were included in the recent 2022-23 budget agreement, which contained additional, significant investments to expand health care in California. The agreement includes:
- $100,000 contribution to establish a health care benefit trust.
- $100 million contribution to the health care benefit trust, once it has been established, for the purpose of providing health care benefits. This will provide health care premium and out-of-pocket assistance for family child care providers enrolled in health insurance plans through Covered California, Medicare, Medi-Cal, or a partner's/spouse's employer-based plan.
- $100,000 contribution to establish a retirement trust.
- $100,000 contribution for the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to hire a consultant to provide recommendations on retirement benefit models to improve family child care providers' access to retirement benefits.
- $40,000 to design and conduct a survey to help determine family child care providers' current access to retirement benefits and assess potential unmet needs.
"Family child care providers who are members of the CCPU are proud to have reached this historic agreement with the State to fund overdue health care needs and create a basis for future retirement benefits," said Julie Moore, a Riverside County provider and CCPU member who proudly voted to ratify this agreement. "When providers come together and make our voices heard, we've seen the difference we can make that will save providers' lives, for example. We look forward to continuing to advocate for full retirement funding alongside our allies in the legislature and appreciate the state's desire to continue to work with providers to reach funding amounts that will allow providers to retire with dignity."
Family child care providers are defined as licensed family child care home operators or license-exempt providers who participate in a state-funded early care and education program.
For additional information on the agreement, please see the following letter of agreement online at https://www.calhr.ca.gov/Documents/2202.06.17%20Health%20&%20Retirement%20Benefit%20Trusts.pdf
—Submitted
LAKEPORT
Lakeport seeking art for Lakefront Park Proposal. Deadline Extended to October 11
The deadline for proposals for mid-range to large-scale sculptural and/or innovative, mixed or multimedia installations to be showcased in the new lakefront park development in downtown Lakeport at 800 and 810 North Main Street has been extended to Tuesday, October 11, at 4 p.m.
Awards to successful applicants will range from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the scale and budget of the proposed work, which includes materials, artist's labor, installation needs, and any necessary travel expenses. Proposals with interactive components are encouraged.
Lake County artists and Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) are strongly urged to submit proposals; there are no geographic restrictions for applications.
Proposed art works must be made of materials that can endure the outdoors and extreme weather in a public setting. All object-based sculptures must be securely mounted to the ground or a plinth base at the designated site; all work must be safe for pedestrian traffic.
The call for artists may be viewed on the City's website, www.cityoflakeport.com/bid_opportunities.php The Request for Proposal includes specific application requirements and a map of the lakefront park with designated spaces for art.
In January 2020, the City of Lakeport was awarded a competitive grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation funded by Proposition 68, the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018. After two years of design, the project is ready for construction. The new park consists of approximately 6.9 acres and will include, in addition to the public art, a basketball court, splash pad, skate park, concession building with restrooms, shade structures, picnic areas, fitness equipment, a pavilion, lighting, irrigation, and landscaping. Estimated completion date is Spring 2023.
For more information, contact Jenni Byers, Community Development Director, (707) 263-5615, Ext. 201, jbyers@cityoflakeport.com.
—Submitted
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