Providers, parents rally in New London amid a 'child care crisis'

New London — Marisol Lopez loves her job. As an assistant teacher at Thames Valley Council for Community Action's Little Learners Early Education Program on Bayonet Street, the 51-year-old said she's able to accomplish the rare feat of making a real difference in the lives of those she encounters. "I get to help children, and their families, become better people in the world," Lopez said. But with two children in college and a husband out of work, her paycheck is frequently stretched thin. "I've thought sometimes about getting a second job," she said. Lopez was joined Wednesday morning at the center by more than 20 of her fellow staff members, parents and lawmakers, who rallied for affordable child care for parents and a living wage for providers. The "Morning Without Child Care" event was one of 14 scheduled at early education facilities across the state — including in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford — aimed at drawing attention to child care cost and pay inequities. The rallies, sponsored by the Child Care for CT coalition, were held as several new pieces of related legislation are being debated by the state legislature. The grassroots organization is pushing for a series of child care overhauls, including capping costs at 7% of a parent's income and setting a $25 an-hour-pay baseline for providers. In addition to New London, TVCCA operates child care centers in Norwich, Groton and Griswold and serves 300 children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. In New London, 40 employees work with 110 youngsters up to nine hours a day every weekday, said Director Debbi Poirier. But a lack of a living wage has stymied attempts to attract and retain qualified providers. "On average, they're paid $30,000 a year, compared to public school teachers making up to $80,000 annually — and they tend to work longer days and all year," Poirier said. "These jobs require a degree, and many are paying off student loans, so the pay keeps people away. Or requires them to work second jobs." Parents, too, are struggling. Poirier said a week of day care can amount to between $10 and $225 a week, even with the facility's sliding fee schedule. "We're hopeful with some of the bills before lawmakers this year, and we know the issues are on their radar," she said. Hoping for more than Band-aids A slew of House and Senate bills aimed at addressing birth-to-5 child care issues are winding their way through committees, including proposals to cap costs for income-qualifying parents and bumping providers' hourly pay. Poirier said a lack of affordable, accessible child care leads to parents leaving jobs to care for their kids, an outcome that negatively affects the state's economy. And if children don't have early learning opportunities, special education needs increase and graduation rates drop. Inside a brightly decorated playroom at the New London center on Wednesday, Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, Child Care for CT coalition director, stood near posters calling for better pay and lower costs pinned alongside photos of smiling children above nooks filled with games, books and toys. Bermudez Zimmerman said while the proposed bills fall slightly short of her group's demands — including the creation of a dedicated, sustainable funding source — they still represent "a strong start." "Up to now, we've had Band-aids," she said, noting the field still hasn't recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic when 30% of the workforce left. "There are currently 4,000 open child care provider jobs open in Connecticut. This year's bills represent a big step toward what we need. But the current system is broken. We're in a child care crisis." The coalition estimates parents allot an average of 27% of their yearly income to child care. Norwich resident Melissa Brady said she began researching child care options even before her 2-year-old granddaughter, Bailey, was born. While she waited months for a slot to open at TVCCA's Griswold child care facility, she was paying $400 a week at a private center. "I'm in a living wage bracket, so I don't qualify for any cost breaks," said Brady, a school speech pathologist, as she shook a pair of maracas on a play mat. "I previously was basically working to pay for day care. And with gas, insurance and mortgage bills, the only wiggle room for some people is how much to spend on groceries. And those teachers deserve a livable wage — cashiers at Target are making the same amounts for moving boxes. They are not compensated to the level of the work they're doing." j.penney@theday.com