Insights gained from your interviews regarding current advocacy efforts and needs in your area of interest within the field of early childhood.
One major insight that I gained from my interviews is that middle income families are not having access to affordable child care like many low-income families are having. I have always been overly concerned with quality and affordable child care for low income families and never thought about what may be hard for other families who make larger salaries. Per my discussion with a Kim, program director from University of Illinois Child Care Center, states "her center is limited to grants and other funds because they do not service low-income families", "It is a catch 22 because it is hard for these families to make ends meet". Many middle income families make nice salaries but it is still not enough for them to have to pay for all of their child care expenses. She states her center faces hard hits when middle income families may have acess to quality care, however, with other financial responsibilities it can make it hard for them to pay $230/wk for child care. Kim also stated that a single parent who has a salary of $40,000/yr will not qualigy for the child care assistance program because of her income and family size. Per interview with Nataly Barrera, Adocate Coordinator at Illinois Action for Children, stated that some families have had to deny a pay increase just so they will still qualify for the child care assistance program. Many middle income families have to make choices like the example above when it comes to child care and they should not have to!!!!!
How these interviews may have influenced your decision about which area of interest and topics to choose for your research paper
These interviews have influenced my decision about the topic I am going to do my research paper on. These interviews have allowed me to look at different concerns and perspectives. I have gained some insight about some of the concerns that other families are facing and also what are some current advocacy issues dealing with child care.
Which area of interest you are thinking of focusing on for your paper as well as the related three specific topics
My area of interest is affordable and quality child care for all children. One specific topic, why can't guidelines for child care assistance programs decrease so that many more families can have access to the child care and assistance programs?
How can these guidelines be changed?
How to get more families involved with decision making about afordable child care issues?
Interviewed Professionals:
Nataly Barrera 7/12/12 11:00am Advocacy Coordinator, Illinois Action for Children, Chicago, IL
Kim Kull 7/13/12 2:25pm Program Director, UIC Child Care Center, Chicago, IL
