Your story deserves to be heard. Be it success or challenges, we want to learn about your experience with early childhood care in Illinois.
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Our children may be returning back to school, but we're not going back to normal. This year in Illinois, families and educators are teaming up to collect our #RightToCare. We demand early childhood care families can afford, access and trust and fair pay to educators that dedicate their lives to our children. Our children may be returning back to school, but we're not going back to normal. This year in Illinois, families and educators are teaming up to collect our #RightToCare. We demand early childhood care families can afford, access and trust and fair pay to educators that dedicate their lives to our children. Our children may be returning back to school, but we're not going back to normal. This year in Illinois, families and educators are teaming up to collect our #RightToCare. We demand early childhood care families can afford, access and trust and fair pay to educators that dedicate their lives to our children. Our children may be returning back to school, but we're not going back to normal. This year in Illinois, families and educators are teaming up to collect our #RightToCare. We demand early childhood care families can afford, access and trust and fair pay.
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Every family deserves the support of a doula
All I could do in the weeks after my baby was born was breastfeed and attempt to sleep. Forget about showering! I really struggled with postpartum depression, and without the help of my doula, I wouldn't have sought out additional care resources for myself. Our babies need care. And so do we.
Postpartum Depression and Childcare Costs
I always wanted to be the fun mom. Instead I felt wrecked by postpartum depression, unsupported in my time of crisis, and stressed about the cost of childcare even though I worked full time. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, I worked with kids pretty much my entire life. I thought I knew what it was like. I was ready for the crafts, the books, and the adventures! What I wasn't prepared for was the total lack of support for working mothers. I loved my career as a children's librarian, but I felt that I had to cut my hours so that my children could have the care they needed. And even then, it was still difficult to afford the pre-k experiences we wanted and our children deserve. It was luck, not choice, that my daughter was able to get into a great program. Being a part time librarian is incredible, but I will always wonder what I could have been if childcare had been more accessible.
The Need for Affordable, Quality Childcare
My family could no longer afford quality childcare when our second child was born, since the cost was more than my husband's salary. We made the difficult decision to transition to a single-income household until our children are both school-aged. My husband now stays at home with our children while I work full-time. It is very difficult to make ends meet, let alone build any savings. I have a lot of stress about what would happen to our family if I lost my job.
Educators Do Their Best With What They Have
I think that the most positive thing about being an educator is knowing that I am helping children learn and develop. It is such a great feeling to see the tremendous progress of my kids when they first start in my classroom compared to when it is time for them to move into the next classroom. One of the most challenging things for me has been advocating for better quality services for children and families, as well as advocating for more resources for myself and other educators. The requirements to be considered a lead teacher at my center are not very high, so many of the teachers are unequipped to best serve the students in their care. But on the other side of that, for an educator to further his/her education is especially difficult because doing so can be expensive and time-consuming, and we do not have the resources (i.e., fair pay, paid time off from work to attend classes, etc.) available to us to make it happen.
There Aren't Enough Options for Families
My husband and I work nearly opposite shifts, so we did not need child care everyday. Had we not had help from family and friends, we would have had a difficult time getting childcare due to most places wanting children there more than once or twice a week. Cost is a huge factor for us because after having my second child in 2012, I went part time until last fall.
Due to Covid restrictions, our family wasn’t comfortable taking care of our kids. Therefore, either my husband or I or both of us were with them 24/7 for over a year. While it was great for all of us to be together, it was also hard trying to work and take care of them at the same time. It was draining. I hope there can be more affordable options for childcare in our state. It would also be great to see more options in the amount of childcare a family might need, like if a family only need childcare 1 time a week, it would be great to see that as a viable option in childcare facilities.
We Are Not Glorified Babysitters
When I worked in an ECE classroom it was the bond and relationships I formed with the children. Nothing makes your day better than knowing how much of a positive impact you have. Now, working for a larger agency I enjoy knowing that what we do on a daily basis impacts so many young lives for the better.
I knew from day one that it was never about the money. I remained in the field for many years being paid less than I knew I could make elsewhere. It is all about the kids. However, I understand that this is not the case for everyone. Part of the reason I moved from the classroom to an administrative role was however money motivated. If we can pay teachers more and provide more supports for challenging behaviors I think we could improve workforce retention
Unfortunately, many parents see us as \"glorified babysitters\". I wish there was more respect for the profession as a whole.
Early Education Must Be Inclusive for All
My daughter has bilateral sensorineural mild-moderate hearing loss. She is also only Spanish speaking. It has been a challenge, and a fight every step of the way with the district understanding her and many other kids should be placed properly in a duo language class where they can equally participate. I'm grateful that I got to be there for my daughter through remote learning. If I had not seen the way she was being taught, I would never have understood any of what was being done, and how that related to her attitude. I saw my daughter struggle, as so many of her Spanish speaking peers, parents only communicating with the aide because that is all there is.Maybe it's not everyone's experience, but since I can remember I was told to trust the teachers, trust the system, that they would always have a child's best interest. That isn't always the case. If so much emphasis is being put into Early Childhood Education, maybe it should be delivered accordingly with the same respect as k-12 understanding not every child has the same needs, not every child will fit in the same boxes. The goal is to have our babies succeed.
Make Sure You Have the Information You Need
My greatest challenge has been, not qualifying for the child care assistance program anymore, due to me having a bad health issue and being unable to work. I would be paying out of pocket if the school hadn’t given me a scholarship. I wish that I’d known that you’d had to be a two parent household in order to receive child care assistance if a parent is disabled and unable to work due to health issues. Make sure that as parents you get as much information that is needed, if you have health issues and are unable to work, because it’s really hard not having the funds to pay for your child’s child care needs, and also not being able to receive help from the child care assistance program The location that my son attends is amazing. With the teachers and directors working together to make sure that my son has everything that he needs in order to learn and comprehend what he’s doing.
I live in a childcare desert
I live in a childcare desert. The closest licensed childcare center is 25 minutes from my house. It’s high quality but also high cost. I didn’t have anyone to rely on. I had to cutback from my full time job. Luckily my boss was accommodating and I wasn’t fired.
Finding high quality center that is diverse in staff AND families that’s affordable. I currently pay 40% of my paycheck for childcare.
Finding Good Care for My Children Is Hard
When I first needed childcare I had to quit my jobs because finding care for the hours I needed was impossible. Once you find a place you think is good you find out it cost a million dollars a month. As a single parent paying this is unrealistic.
It has been different since covid. I was able to walk my daughter into her class and help her put her stuff in her cubby before signing her in. Now they have you sign them in at the door and take them. That was hard because my son did cry a lot and since we had to wait for everyone else to sign in and their kids to get inside as well, he did cry for a bit. It was 2 teachers with 18 kids 3-5 yrs old crying because their parents can't bring them inside. I knew it would take time and the crying would stop (which it has). My son did tell me that his teacher does take good care of him. My 3 yr old even told me himself he likes her and she takes good care of him.
Children Need Educators Fairly Compensated for Their Professional Knowledge Now
Every day my team evaluates children who need special services. Many, if not most, of these families need their child to be in care from 9-5 (or longer) each day. Half of our classrooms providing services are half-day. While we will bus children to another daycare or preschool within the school district boundaries for the rest of the day, the other daycares and preschools are understaffed and are not able to take our students for the other part of the day. This results in children needing services who are not receiving them because parents need to work.
Early Childhood Education....we don't just play all day.
I think we all know that most of us who go into Early Childhood Education don't do in for the enormous paycheck. Most people expect you to say the lack of pay, benefits, teacher retention and, or the long hours are what is most challenging about choosing this career path, but I disagree. The most challenging part of my job is hearing that I am not a real teacher, that I play all day, or that my job isn't important. Those outside of the world of early childhood education don't quite grasp how important play is, or that me spending 10 hours making a paper mache cow that the kids can practice milking for a farm unit just so the kids can do more than just read about it, doesn't make me a real teacher. Our job teaches more than abc's. Our job teaches children how to hold a spoon correctly, how to take turns, settle arguments, as well as trust. I have a 4 year old boy in my current prek class whom I have known since he was 12 weeks old, working his way up room to room. I get the opportunity to watch him grow, it's amazing.
Providers outlook, need for Assistive Technology!
Every day waking up - it's the beginning of a day that could change the life of a child/family forever. Just being there for the parents who are scared, frustrated, worried, crying, stressed, exhausted, and motivated....teaching them how to help their child. Every child in our program has a minimum of some kind of delay. It can be movement, vision, hearing, cognitive, developmental, the list goes on... Families have dealt with elation of a birth, scare of near death, months in NICU, sudden injury...so many factors can change in a minute. As providers, we try to be their rock, their shoulder, and sometimes their voice of reason. We strive to make every child as functional and independent as possible. We don't want them seen as what they can't do but what they can do. How successful they can be, how to celebrate all the little victories. The need for assistive technology is essential as early as possible to assist in making those successes possible. Children change daily and any prevention in that process can hender future capabilities. Funding for their equipment needs are extremely important. It is essential to achieve provider and family goals. Each child is like family!
The Little Things that Add up to something Truly Rewarding
Being an early childhood educator is a very rewarding career because I get to help set children and their families to a path of success through support and early intervention. Knowing that parents trust me with the wellbeing of their child(ren) is a great and humbling feeling. Although I do not have a very long time in this field, I have already gotten to form relationships with different parents. It makes me glad to know that I helping a families who may be in disadvantaged positions get adequate care and the resources they need. I also love that I am able to communicate to Spanish-speaking parents in their native language, and that they do not have to worry about not being able to express their concerns and needs!
A day in the life
When we first met, the family often described their life as chaotic. Often times, it had to do with being able to receive services for the child. They had a hard time with development and keeping up with what was age appropriate. Doctor's often mentioned a diagnosis. The family at last got the opportunity to receive services for the child at a convenient location and time and the changes it has made. The family is now able thrive.
Challenges
The most rewarding part about being a provider is being able to provide affordable and caring child care for needy families. To be able to see families thriving at a new job and their children thriving at our center is very rewarding. Some of the biggest challenges is when families who need child care do not qualify based on their income or because one parent does not have a job yet but they need childcare to find a job. The poverty guidelines to qualify for our free head start program can also provide a challenge when families were getting unemployment during the pandemic and would not qualify for head start program when they are barely getting by.
Early Childhood Education Should Be a Priority
I somewhat landed in the field of Early Childhood Education. I work as a Family Support Specialist where we recognize the strengths and resilience of families and children in our community and understanding that the parent is the child's first teacher. The most rewarding experience is seeing a family achieve their goals even with so many challenges and obstacles they face. As a Family Support Specialist, we have had to provide support to families in crisis, young children that have lost their father to gun violence and families living in domestic violence. Without the support of the our center, some families would not receive the referrals and support to mental health specialists, early intervention, domestic violence shelters, etc. We see families wanting to work but need childcare to be able to do so. Fortunately, we are able provide this service to families. We provide service in an area where violence is prevalent. There was one instance where we did not have a slot at that time for a toddler and parent cried in the office. This memory sticks with me as this same parent was on the media crying that her child was killed. Childcare has to be priority.
I needed childcare, and I sought a degree in it.
As a mom and an educator, I can see both sides of the fence. I needed childcare, and I sought a degree in it. At first, I said, “Let me just drop my daughter off. They have a teacher, that's like a babysitter.” By the time I finished my education, I learned that it's way more than that. We as child care providers and educators are there to set the foundation for education, social and emotional development, and fine motor skills. There are so many people outside and within my community that lack the knowledge of what good educational child care agencies can provide. We need partnerships with parents. We are not babysitters. We are setting foundations for the education of your child. We are giving your children the best start. Achieving socioemotional development goals trickles down to all the other educational skills, like talking, writing, going on to preschool, and even high school. If parents realize that, partner with us, and think of us as educators and not babysitters, then there’s no limit. If we are paid equitably and receive acknowledgement from the state that we are professionals who provide solid educational foundations for young children
Head Start Programs Matter
Hi, My name is Iliana Alban, I work at Carole Robertson Center for Learning at Albany Park, I am a Family Support Specialist. I have been working in childcare for 10 years, during this time I have learned so much from the families and children I have served. I have worked as a teacher aid, lead teacher and now, family support specialist, and in all of my roles I have always tried to make a difference in the lives of the families I served. Many families not only in the city but in the country struggle to find affordable childcare and quality education for their young children. I have many stories to share, but the one that I hold dear is this one single mother of an infant child who shared with me her struggles and goals for her and her child. She had struggle with finding affordable housing, a job and she had just left an unhealthy relationship. I worked closely with this family to find them affordable housing and after a couple months, mother found a job and a new apartment.
The path to success starts with childcare.
My name is Moira Matos,
I am a family Support Specialist at Carole Robertson Center for Learning at Albany Park. Over the years I have seen the impact that child care has on families generations down the line. As young as 17, I have been involved in my community and have seen the greatness childcare does, not only for the child, but for the families as a whole. It allows the child to grow in different aspects such as STEM and Art, developing them and setting them up for success before they even enter a classroom. Families have the opportunity to advance their careers, have education options and develop plans to not only support their families but to enhance the family experiences.
Thrive over survive
I work as a family support specialist with Carole Robertson Center for Learning in Albany Park in Chicago and have observed the immensely positive impact that having access to early childhood education has on children, their families, and the community. I have support families in navigating the complexities of paperwork, waiting periods, and financial planning to get their children into early childhood care and education. Parents are willing to go through anything to make sure their child can be in a positive learning environment that is preparing them to thrive while the parents are able to work and achieve stability for their family. Having early childhood care and education accessible for everyone allows families to be in a place where they can thrive rather than exist in survival mode. This reality benefits the entire community as children and their families are able to contribute their gifts to the community rather than worry about how they will get to the next day. Seeing the smiling faces of children everyday who are excited to get to school where they learn and explore makes me even more committed to the fact that all children deserve access to this sort of education and support.
Sadly, we keep passing up really great candidates at our
To be honest, the reason I started working in childcare was because I had no idea how my family was going to afford it.
Now, I run a daycare center that my child attends. I can tell you firsthand that we aren’t just asking these teachers to educate our children; they’re modeling allyship and teaching them how to care for one another.
Sadly, we keep passing up really great candidates at our center because we can’t afford to pay them with our current funding. It’s impossible to find passionate teachers that are able to make $12/hr to come in and make a difference.
The stress and pressure of working full time while taking
I’m a single mom taking care of my son full time while maintaining a job at a local community college. The COVID-19 pandemic hit my son and I’s life hard. The stress and pressure of working full time while taking care of my son started to take its toll on both of us. But when my daycare was able to open back up, with many safety procedures in place for the protection of all the children , it helped us both immensely. Childcare is so important when the parents have to work. As a single parent, if I didn’t have quality child care I could not work at all. It’s imperative these programs receive the necessary funding to continue.
Finding the right childcare changed my life, but it shouldn’t
Finding the right childcare changed my life, but it shouldn’t be this difficult. When I found my daycare center, Little Angels in Chicago, I realized they don’t just lay kids on a blanket, they’re developing their emotional skills. All four of my kids have attended Little Angels. Mrs. Greer and her staff have stuck around my family for 10 years. Not a lot of parents can say that. Sometimes in life, we have no one we feel comfortable talking to, but Little Angels took the time to build a relationship with me and my kids. They helped me look for gifted schools, fill out applications, and find housing. When it comes down to it, my kids’ safety is my number one concern. So when I sensed they were comfortable, I knew I picked the right organization.
Am I Doing Enough?
I feel vulnerable every time I drop my son off at daycare. I'm worried about him getting COVID, but I know that I can't keep him home and keep working. I'm overwhelmed with worry about doing the right thing, and I constantly second guess myself. Are we being too cautious or not cautious enough? Is my son missing out, should we be doing more? Parenthood is always hard, it's always scary. Pairing that with a pandemic is devastating. I wouldn't change anything about when my son was born, but I long for normalcy. I want to plan his first birthday without worrying about someone having a fever. I want to take him to the aquarium and let his grandmas kiss his cheeks. It all just makes me really sad, and while I know I'm not alone it is so very isolating.
Working parents and child care providers are not valued.
I live in a small town, a rural area where every parent I know struggles with the availability, quality, and affordability of child care. Our local library has hosted discussions on the topic and has even provided free classes to learn how to become a licensed child care provider. Most in-home daycares are continuously full and you pretty much have to know someone who knows someone to get into one. The daycare centers all have a long waitlist, are crowded, and only a couple have decent reputations. When COVID hit, my daycare had to reduce capacity and my child was never accepted back. I was lucky to have a family member available for a year so I could work. A brand new Montessori daycare opened up just in time for me to get a spot and it quickly filled up. They are building a second center because the need is so high. It's a great place, but because it's privately owned, it's very expensive and I have to provide my own meals for my child. To add, child care positions available in our area usually pay minimum wage. It's just not sustainable for parents or providers.
Affordable Child care
I would love to see families to able to pay for child care, with no worries ( specially when you have to pay rent , bills ( Gas /Light/ phone bill), gas for your car or even paying for the CTA , Children school supplies , uniform and more . As a parent and FSS I remember back them when I have to look for affordable child care and didn't qualify for child care. My yearly income was approximately $24,000 and my child care cost monthly approximately $900, since I didn't qualify for assistant for child care. I still remember when they told me that I didn't qualify because of my income. It sad to said , but I did struggle financially. Specially , when you don't have other income or support . I manage every single penny in order to able to have my daughter in child care and I was private pay, since I didn't qualify for Assistant. With the cost of living this day and everything going up on price. Families does need affordable child care, so they could go to work with no worries and how they are going pay.