Melanie Mendoza | Imperial Beach, CA | Child care provider for 8 years

I’ve always had a passion for working with children. I have a degree in teaching, and I use it to provide early education in my home-based daycare. I try to give kids a nurturing home away from home when their parents are working, and help prepare the young children for school. I’ve helped many of the kids in my daycare learn to read before they even step foot in a classroom.

I would like to do more for more children, but too many families fall through the cracks. I know of many low-income families who desperately need subsidized child care, but because they are barely above the income cap, they don’t qualify. I’ve had to lower my rates 30-40% in many cases, so they can afford to pay me out of their own pockets.

These are the issues I believe we need to address together to fix the child care system.