Interweaving With Vonetta T. Rhodes: “Child care is a civil right and a public good”
Author’s note: When I started studying New York State child care policy in spring 2023, I met Ms. Rhodes, co-founder of Western New York Child Care Action Team, while supervising a qualitative study of Erie County child care providers. Ms. Rhodes introduced me to local providers and coached me through the ins and outs of a complicated industry seeking concrete reforms at the State level. Now, I am embedded in the Child Care Community of Erie County and remain inspired to effect political change, beginning with workforce compensation reforms which will improve wages for child care workers. My passion for this work is largely influenced by Ms. Rhodes’s mentorship, helping me understand the nuances of early childhood education and care, as well as connecting me to other researchers, advocates, providers, and parents who are impassioned about child care policy reform. Inspired by our Interweaving podcast, I had an opportunity to interview Ms. Rhodes and to publish the interview here with the support of Weave News.
Vonetta T. Rhodes
Vonetta T. Rhodes is a proud Mother, Educator, Administrator, Trainer/Consultant, Adjunct Professor, and Advocate. She has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education since 1993. She also earned a Master's Degree in Elementary Education (n-6) with a concentration in Language Arts from the University at Buffalo. Rhodes is a Co-founder of the Western New York Child Care Action Team (2019) and humbly serves as: Live Well Erie's Working Families Focus Area- Child Care Subcommittee (Co-Chair), Empire State Campaign for Child Care - Executive Committee Member and H.E.A.R.D. Co-Chair, ROW: Reimagining Our Work by the Exchange Leadership Initiative (Leadership Transition Team), Buffalo Kwanzaa Committee, Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo- Maafa Committee, Community Action Organization of Western New York (Board of Directors) and Malika Kambe Umfazi Sorority, Incorporated. Her motto is "Care is Education and Education is Care."
“All children, regardless of immigration status, have a right to early care and early education. I personally call it ‘The Children First Act’ because regardless of citizenship status, they are children first!”
What is the Child Care Community? What role(s) do you play in this community?
The Child Care Community is the total village that surrounds and cares for children ages birth-12 years old, inclusive of parents, family members, directors/owners and their workforce, trainers, consultants, therapists and service providers, advocates, lobbyists, public and government officials…anyone who cares for and works with children through child care. Young children are at the core of their work.
As a parent, advocate, educator, former Child Care Director, and co-founder and Leadership Representative of WNY Child Care Action Team, I am constantly in contact and conversation with and in service to child care professionals and the field overall.
In your opinion, what are the 2-3 biggest issues impacting the Child Care Community?
There are many big, critical, and urgent pressing issues! However, a few are:
Wage equity and justice for the Child Care Workforce.
Universal Child Care for all children and families. Child Care is a civil right and a public good.
Presumptive eligibility and enrollment: First, families have a right to be presumed eligible and place their children in child care while they are waiting for the Social Service approval or denial letter for Child Care Assistance and Providers are paid regardless of the final decision. Second, Child Care Professionals are fully paid for the families’ enrollment based on the school year, not attendance days only.
All children, regardless of immigration status, have a right to early care and early education. I personally call it “The Children First Act” because regardless of citizenship status, they are children first!
If you could achieve one big goal in child care for 2024, what would it be?
The Universal Child Care Bill passes both NYS Assembly and Senate houses and [is signed by] Governor Hochul. This will include, first and foremost, the immediate implementation of the Child Care Workforce Compensation Fund.
How do you believe the Governor could help you achieve your goal(s) for child care?
Pass and initiate the Child Care Workforce Compensation Fund now!
Keep Child Care as one of her urgent and important priorities every year of her term(s), stay connected and include Child Care Providers and Parents, specifically, at all tables of discussion and decision-making.
Extend the term of service of the current NYS Child Care Availability Task Force to 2025-2027 at least, so they don’t just draft the blueprint but roll out the first phase of the NYS Universal Child Care System, like its inaugural key administration, policies, procedures, central department office, and model cities in each region.
