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EXPRESS YOUR VOICE AND "HELP PACK THE HOUSE" Ohio AEYC has been working in collaboration with a number of organizations concerned about the proposed redefinition of full-time and part-time reimbursement for subsidized child care and ELI and the potential negative impact this may have on the supply and quality of child care in Ohio. Go here - http://tinyurl.com/bqvlvq to read the attached legislative brief if you are unfamiliar with the issues. You may use this brief with any visits you are able to schedule with your legislators. The projected savings from this change is estimated by the state to be 45 million dollars. This savings would come directly from reduced payments (based on the redefinition of the hourly rate) to child care providers who provide subsidized child care. OACCP (Ohio Association of Child Care Providers) is coordinating testimony on this issue scheduled on Wednesday, March 18th at 1:00 p.m. We want "pack the house" and Ohio AEYC would like to encourage all early childhood professionals around the state to join them in showing our concern about this issue. If you are interested in attending please meet us in the Statehouse Rotunda at 12:30 P.M. (Go here http://tinyurl.com/delvmd here for directions). We realize this is short notice, but we need to make sure our voices are heard on this issue, so we encourage as many as possible to attend to show the strength of our support. Please keep in mind that Governor Strickland has been and continues to be very supportive of early childhood education in Ohio. We are thankful for the investments that have been made by his administration and should express this to legislators. However, we believe the redefinition of the hourly rate could have an incredibly harmful effect on the child care industry in our state. If you are unable to help "pack the house" on Wednesday, please take a moment to tell us what you would like to share with the legislators about this subject. Go here http://tinyurl.com/achp73 to submit your comments. **Note your comments will be submitted anonymously ** Kimberly Tice Ohio AEYC Executive Director Deborah Zurmehly Ohio AEYC VP of Public Policy |