Location of Meeting: Virtual (GoToMeeting – available for one month)
In Attendance:
Board:
Rebecca Compton Dr. Day Care
Joseph Tomchak Boys & Girls Club Newport
Amy Vogel Dr. Day Care
Haley Paige Coggeshall Club/Haven Middletown
Guest speakers:
Rick McAuliffe Mayforth Group
Members:
Rebecca Madden Little Acorns Academy
Mike Scarpetti Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence
Marissa Gallagher Hope St ELC.
Denise Greene West End Community Center
Susan Rachette Kinderdance and Fitness
Beni Arroyo
Natalie Boys & Girls Club Northern RI
(members arriving after 1:05 were not recorded)
Agenda:
Welcome and introductions
Legislative Update: Rick McAuliffe, Mayforth Group
Review goals and priorities for this year
Determine new priorities for next year
DLT Hiring Grant check in
Member questions & discussion
Next meeting: November 25, 2024
Meeting Notes:
- Amy ran the meeting
- Members introduced themselves
- Rick McAuliffe, Mayforth Group, introduced himself. Thanked BOCA for hiring a lobbying firm to represent us. Helps to have a voice at the state house.
- Last year, were able to get more money that we were not expected to get. Plus also the income eligibility piece.
- Able to get increases in 5 star rating system
- DHS $ for enrollment, not attendance
- Thanked Amy for listening to BOCA members to help show the state what works best.
- Last year was a good year, this is an interesting year coming up.
- Article in today’s Journal, RI has received more federal dollars
- 2 major pots of money – covid relief fun and American Rescue Plan Act ($1.2 billion to RI)
- Budget comes out in mid-January, based off of numbers as of today.
- CCAP program is almost ½ of what it was
- RI is going to be facing a bit over $3million in the red (first time in 6-7 years)
- Governor has made it clear he’s a proponent of childcare and education. However, doesn’t plan on any new funding.
- Hoping he doesn’t cut anything that’s important to us to make up the deficit
- 2 big proposals that he thinks we should focus on:
- Article in today’s Journal, RI has received more federal dollars
- Last year, were able to get more money that we were not expected to get. Plus also the income eligibility piece.
1- Continue to fund child care for child care workers program
- Has been successful in other states. They don’t have an income barrier.
- See it as an important tool for us to use for hiring/retaining staff.
2- Looking for money to recruit, market, and retain employees in the industry.
- Fingerprint price – making sure that the program continues
- Going to look at other things like application fees
- Going to be talking to DLT about people saying they applied but never showed up for interviews regarding retaining unemployment
- Would like to see more money for BrightStars, but doesn’t think it will happen with the deficit
- Kids Count has been dealing with one of their priorities, change the income eligibility for a divorced parent
- If you have a relationship with someone in government (family member, student, someone you know) – knowing this helps Rick to be able to share stories
- Amy – Priorities: reviewed already, asked if anyone else had anything to add. If you have any input or suggestions on our previous or our upcoming priorities, please reach out so we can all support each other.
- Amy – DLT update: DLT has not sent the check yet to go out to BOCA members. Should come out soon.
- Next meeting Nov. 25th
Meeting ended at 1:28pm
Next meetings:
November 25, 2024
Skipping December
https://bocari.org/upcoming-boca-meeting-dates
Minutes submitted by Rebecca Compton