These one-time agreements with the State of California are essential for rebuilding our child care system and supporting both providers and working families. Yet both of these victories are only temporary, making our current negotiations over a long-term contract even more essential. Only through a strong contract can we build an equitable child care system that makes high-quality and affordable care available to all families, regardless of race, income, or zip code. Please sign our petition today, and be sure to share it with your friends and family. By working together and ensuring your voice is heard, we can create real change in California and build a brighter future for every child and family.

First COVID-19 Agreement

with the State of California

Date Tentative Agreement was Reached: Monday, April 19, 2021
Date Tentative Agreement was Signed by Governor Newsom: TBD

This agreement will allow hundreds of millions of dollars in much-needed financial support to reach thousands of child care providers, helping many stay open or re-open.

This is our second and largest COVID-specific tentative agreement with the state, and we know how vital these funds are to making sure the needs of both families and providers are met without delay. Through online actions, phone calls, and in-person events, we’ve shown the power we have when we stick together and fight for what is right. We know child care is a critical part of our social infrastructure, and it’s time California’s leaders finally acknowledge this fact too.

  • Waives family fees and reimburses providers in full for Fiscal Year 2021-22.
  • Offers financial support to all licensed providers and family, friend, and neighbor providers serving subsidized children to address higher costs, fluctuating enrollment, and other economic hardship operating during a pandemic:
    • Provides a $600 stipend per subsidized child enrolled in an family child care home for all state-subsidized programs.
    • Provides a $3500 stabilization stipend for all licensed providers, including those temporarily closed.
  • Provides 16 additional paid COVID closure days for all subsidized providers for FY 2021-22 to ensure they can re-open after shutting down to quarantine..
  • Continues child care subsidy policies to stabilize child care:
    • Reimburses providers based on enrollment, not attendance, to ensure families on variable schedules or working part time can continue to recieve care even if their child does not attend the program every day.
    • Waives signatures for families sheltering in place (until public health declaration ends).
    • Invests $25M in the Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP) to expand child care capacity and address unmet child care needs in geographies and with infants and toddlers. Funds will support new providers opening and assist closed providers in reopening.
    • Funds mental health supports designed to support the expertise, best practices, and well-being of providers and the families they serve impacted by COVID.

Grievance and arbitration process for any disputes that arise related to the agreement, ensuring more consistent and fair enforcement so that the rights of both parents and providers are respected.

Second COVID-19 Tentative Agreement

with the State of California

Date Agreement was Reached: February 8, 2021
Date Assembly Bill 82 was Signed by Governor Newsom: Tuesday, February 23, 2021

The members of Child Care Providers United reached their first COVID-19 tentative agreement with the State of California on February 8. This victory wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work of so many providers who kept the pressure on the state until they understood how vital our demands were to both CCPU members and families across California! AB 82 is helping providers meet additional COVID-19 operational costs of cleaning supplies, PPE, forced closure after exposure, AND keep child care open for essential workers.

  • A one-time stipend of $525 per child enrolled in a subsidized care program in November 2020.
    • This includes children enrolled in Family Child Care Network programs.
    • The state is providing regular updates to CCPU on the stipend distribution progress, including when providers can expect to receive these funds.
  • 16 additional paid non-operational days when a provider closes due to COVID-19. This brings the total number of non-operational days available to providers to 40. These 16 additional days are available retroactively from September 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.
    • The paid closure days also apply to Network providers, which wasn’t the case before this agreement.
  • A workgroup consisting of the state and CCPU members will meet to discuss spending priorities for the remaining available federal COVID-19 relief funding.
    • This led to our Second COVID-19 Tentative Agreement
  • This agreement includes a grievance process to resolve any disputes that arise over it quickly.
  • Finally, while not part of the formal agreement, the state has agreed to spend over $150 million to continue expanding emergency childcare for essential workers.