Sample Letters

Letter to U.S. Legislator

(your address)

 

(Legislator’s name)
(Legislator’s address)

Dear (Legislator’s name),

I am writing this letter because I am concerned about the current circumstances of working families who must rely on daycare. As you are probably aware, many low-income, working families who work must place their infants in full-time daycare so that they can work full-time to support their families. Although many daycares claim that they provide quality care, their standards fall far short of the ideal situation that an infant requires.

Unfortunately, many working families do not have a choice in staying home with their infants. For these families, a state-sponsored At Home Infant Care Program may be the answer. At Home Infant Care Programs, which have been adopted in Minnesota and Montana, provide qualifying working parents the choice between utilizing a state childcare subsidy when returning to work after the birth of a child, or staying at home and collecting a monthly stipend. The Senate's version of the Child Care Development and Block Grant reauthorization bill (S.2758) includes a provision which would allow funds to be used for At Home Infant Care Programs. Please be sure that this remains in the bill as it goes through Congressional review. Additionally, I request that you support the Senate Finance Committee's bill providing funds for demonstration grants to states for the establishment of At Home Infant Care Programs. Establishment of such a program in Idaho would help thousands parents who must choose between quality childcare for their young children and keeping their jobs, which are often menial and do not pay a livable wage.

You may contact me at (insert your e-mail address) or at the mailing address above. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

(your name)

Return to At-Home Infant Care Legislation

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Letter to State Legislator

(your address)

 

(State Legislator’s name)
(Legislator’s address)

Dear (Legislator’s name),

I am writing this letter because I am concerned about the current circumstances of working families who must rely on daycare. As you are probably aware, many low-income, working families who work must place their infants in full-time daycare so that they can work full-time to support their families. Although many daycares claim that they provide quality care, their standards fall far short of the ideal situation that an infant requires.

Unfortunately, many working families do not have a choice in staying home with their infants. For these families, a state-sponsored At Home Infant Care Program may be the answer. At Home Infant Care Programs, which have been adopted in Minnesota and Montana, provide qualifying working parents the choice between utilizing a state childcare subsidy when returning to work after the birth of a child, or staying at home and collecting a monthly stipend during the first year of a child's life. I am asking that you consider introducing legislation to establish an At Home Infant Care Program in our state. Doing so would help thousands of families spend more time nurturing their infants and would not cost the state any more than is already spent subsidizing child care for these families. Information about the law in Minnesota can be found at <http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/119B/061.html>. The programs in Minnesota and Montana have been funded primarily with state money.

The U.S. Congress is considering two bills related to At Home Infant Care Programs. One would allow AHIC programs to be funded with Child Care Development and Block Grant money. Another would provide federal grants to certain states for pilot AHIC programs. I am following the progress of the federal legislation and will be happy to share information with you as I learn about it. I've written to our U.S. Senators and Congressional Representatives about the federal legislation.

You may contact me at (insert your e-mail address) or at the mailing address above. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

(your name)