Terrie Maldonado | Child care provider for over 20 years

Our daycare has been in my family for three generations. Giving children a safe and warm home environment when they are away from their parents is what we love to do, and we do it well.

We also strive to help families who need child care, but are unable to afford it. We’re often flexible with payment dates, and have even erased a parent’s debt when their financial situation became too dire. We pride ourselves on being there for parents and children at any time of day to accommodate nontraditional work schedules, and will continue to help where we can in the future.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy. I don’t think we’ve had a rate increase in over three years, and it is time for one. What’s best for children is a daycare where the providers have invested in quality educational materials, and that’s tough when costs increase, but wages remain stay the same.

Child care providers like us want a voice so that we can help make improvements to the child care system in California and protect early education for our children.