Jacqueline Cañola, Professional Development & Technical Assistance Program Manager with the Service Employees International Union Education and Support Fund, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the challenges faced by family child care educators, support efforts through the We Empower Providers Assembly (WEPA) Conference and progress made through collective bargaining.
Family child care educators, often “Latinx” immigrant women running businesses from their homes, face significant challenges, including low pay, poor benefits and a lack of recognition as early childhood educators, Cañola explained. The pandemic exacerbated these issues, with many providers experiencing a decline in enrollment due to parents working from home. Cañola emphasized the need to address these challenges and improve conditions for this vital workforce.
The annual WEPA (We Empower Providers Assembly) conference, now in its sixth year, aims to combat isolation, build community and celebrate family child care educators. WEPA, Cañola said, is a slang word used primarily in Latin American Spanish to show excitement, perfect for celebrating these family child care educators. She said the initiative has empowered providers to take on leadership roles, co-design events and participate in curriculum development. She added that the conference has increased national attention and recognition for these educators, helping to shift perceptions and potentially influence policy.
Finally, Cañola discussed how collective bargaining has been crucial in improving conditions for these child care educators. For example, she pointed to the decades-long struggle that earned educators in Rhode Island the right to unionize in 2014. Even the SEIU ESF was won through collective bargaining, Cañola said. In 2019, SEIU 1199 New England negotiated a contract with the Rhode Island Department of Human Services that included funding for a training fund. This led to establishing the SEIU Education and Support Fund in Rhode Island, which has provided more opportunities for child care educators.
Listen to the full episode for more insights on empowering family child care educators.