CCDI CCDInews - TARGETED solutions

Please visit us on the web at www.ChildspaceCDI.org.
5517 Greene Street | Philadelphia, PA 19144
Childspace Cooperative Development, Inc.
CCDI news
Fall 2007
Provider Luncheon a Success | Over 300 Attend Worthy Wage
CCDI news
Fall 2007
Fair | Early Childhood Action Day | PA Budget Victory | Business
Training and Support Make a Difference | Subsidy Payment
System Unified | Dealing with Debt- One Woman’s Story
Provider's Corner
Dealing with Debt - One Woman's Story
At first it was the promise of a dollar for dollar match of her savings
that enticed Verina Drake to be part of the “Take Control of Your
Money Class”. “I had hoped to save enough money to start a business”, she explained. After taking the class, however, she learned
that the first step she needed to take was to get rid of her outstanding debt, and improve her credit rating. Like many women who
have devoted their career to the under-compensated field of early
education, she had gotten in debt and had trouble getting out.
“I am proud of the fact that I have learned to manage my money
better and to face into reducing my debt” said Ms. Drake. “Before
taking the class I was overwhelmed by the debt and didn’t even
open the bills when they came.”
“Tracking my expenses really helped. Although I always saved receipts, I hadn’t added them up to see what I was spending my money
on. This helped me decide where I could
cut back on my spending and make a budget I could live with,” Drake explained.
One thing Ms. Drake learned about in
the class was how to receive a free credit report and where she
could go to get credit counseling. The counselor she saw at Dixon
House (call 215-236-3511 for more information) reinforced the information she had received in class – to make a budget, save where
possible, develop a plan for reducing debt over time and negotiate
with companies where possible. “I have already taken care of some
little things like returning an overdue library book, and paying the
fine, and paying an old doctor bill I had forgotten” she explained.
“I would recommend this class to anyone – to learn how to manage their money to avoid mistakes in the future, or begin to correct
problems they already have.” 
Appro
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FOLDED VIEW
in this issue
Provider Luncheon a Success 1
Early Childhood Action Day 3
Over 300 Attend Worthy Wage Fair 2
Subsidy Payment System Unified 3
Business Training and Support Make a Difference 2
Provider's Corner - Dealing with Debt 4
PA Budget Victory 3
CCDI news
Fall 2007
Provider Luncheon a Success!
How important it is for us to Recognize and celebrate our Heroes and She-roes!
-Maya Angelou
Approximately 125 attendees gathered at the Carousel House for
good food, excellent entertainment, helpful information, inspiration, and lots of fun. Providers were reminded how important it
is for them to be actively involved in the process of improving the
early education field. This message was part of the theme throughout the event; and was reinforced by program speakers. Many of
the attendees signed up to go to Harrisburg, or to get involved with
the Providers Committee of the SEPA Early Childhood Coalition.
What is the Providers Committee?
There are so many different organizations involved in child care
that this is a natural question. The Providers Committee is one of
the committees of the SEPA Early Childhood Coalition. The Coalition is comprised of individuals and groups in the Philadelphia region who want to work collaboratively on efforts to improve early
education. The Providers Committee focuses its work on issues of
immediate concern to child care programs, such as improving the
subsidy payment system, raising reimbursement rates and sharing
information and resources. Childspace CDI co-chairs the Committee and provides staff support.
The Committee meets at different member child care programs
every other month when the Coalition does not meet. For more
information call Janet at 215-842-3050.
Continued on page 2
Left: Dr. Gerald L. Zahorchak joined by Co-Chairs Marie Pleasant (left), and Yvonne Thompson- Friend (right) came to the luncheon to accept a hero’s
award for Governor Edward Rendell. Right: Diane Connor was one of the practitioners who won a prize from Philadelphia Alliance for Better Childcare as a
participant in the Keystone Stars program.
Caring for children is your business. Helping you succeed is ours.
COVER VIEW
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that the
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Deali
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in this issue
At first it was the promise of a dollar for dollar match of her savings
that enticed Verina Drake to be part of the “Take Control of Your
Money Class”. “I had hoped to save enough money to start a business”, she explained. After taking the class, however, she learned
that the first step she needed to take was to get rid of her outstanding debt, and improve her credit rating. Like many women who
have devoted their career to the under-compensated field of early
education, she had gotten in debt and had trouble getting out.
“I am proud of the fact that I have learned to manage my money
better and to face into reducing my debt” said Ms. Drake. “Before
taking the class I was overwhelmed by the debt and didn’t even
open the bills when they came.”
“Tracking my expenses really helped. Although I always saved receipts, I hadn’t added them up to see what I was spending my money
Dealing with Debt - One Woman's Story
on. This helped me decide where I could
cut back on my spending and make a budget I could live with,” Drake explained.
One thing Ms. Drake learned about in
the class was how to receive a free credit report and where she
could go to get credit counseling. The counselor she saw at Dixon
House (call 215-236-3511 for more information) reinforced the information she had received in class – to make a budget, save where
possible, develop a plan for reducing debt over time and negotiate
with companies where possible. “I have already taken care of some
little things like returning an overdue library book, and paying the
fine, and paying an old doctor bill I had forgotten” she explained.
“I would recommend this class to anyone – to learn how to manage their money to avoid mistakes in the future, or begin to correct
problems they already have.” 
Provider's Corner
Training and Support Make a Difference | Subsidy Payment
Fair | Early Childhood Action Day | PA Budget Victory | Business
Provider Luncheon a Success | Over 300 Attend Worthy Wage
5517 Greene Street | Philadelphia, PA 19144
Please visit us on the web at www.ChildspaceCDI.org.
Fall 2007
System Unified | Dealing with Debt- One Woman’s Story
Childspace Cooperative Development, Inc.
CCDI news
CCDI news
Fall 2007
Provider Luncheon a Success 1
Early Childhood Action Day 3
Over 300 Attend Worthy Wage Fair 2
Subsidy Payment System Unified 3
Business Training and Support Make a Difference 2
Provider's Corner - Dealing with Debt 4
PA Budget Victory 3
CCDI news
Fall 2007
Provider Luncheon a Success!
How important it is for us to Recognize and celebrate our Heroes and She-roes!
-Maya Angelou
Approximately 125 attendees gathered at the Carousel House for
good food, excellent entertainment, helpful information, inspiration, and lots of fun. Providers were reminded how important it
is for them to be actively involved in the process of improving the
early education field. This message was part of the theme throughout the event; and was reinforced by program speakers. Many of
the attendees signed up to go to Harrisburg, or to get involved with
the Providers Committee of the SEPA Early Childhood Coalition.
What is the Providers Committee?
There are so many different organizations involved in child care
that this is a natural question. The Providers Committee is one of
the committees of the SEPA Early Childhood Coalition. The Coalition is comprised of individuals and groups in the Philadelphia region who want to work collaboratively on efforts to improve early
education. The Providers Committee focuses its work on issues of
immediate concern to child care programs, such as improving the
subsidy payment system, raising reimbursement rates and sharing
information and resources. Childspace CDI co-chairs the Committee and provides staff support.
The Committee meets at different member child care programs
every other month when the Coalition does not meet. For more
information call Janet at 215-842-3050.
Continued on page 2
Left: Dr. Gerald L. Zahorchak joined by Co-Chairs Marie Pleasant (left), and Yvonne Thompson- Friend (right) came to the luncheon to accept a hero’s
award for Governor Edward Rendell. Right: Diane Connor was one of the practitioners who won a prize from Philadelphia Alliance for Better Childcare as a
participant in the Keystone Stars program.
Caring for children is your business. Helping you succeed is ours.
CCDI news
Fall 2007
Provider Lunch, Continued from page 1
Providers received gifts and accolades made possible
by the following supporters:
Becker’s Parent –Teacher Store
Child Care Information Services, N.E.
Childspace Cooperative Development, Inc
City of Philadelphia, Dept. of Recreation
Discovery Place Pre-School
Norma Finkelstein
Free Library of Philadelphia
Rabbi Shlomie Issacson
Portia Lewis
Sharon Neilson
Khadijah Sabir, a provider spoke about child care. She encouraged the attendees to get involved in the decision making process concerning early childhood education.
Ivy Cuervo and Gloria Navas-Stuhl showing off one of
the centerpieces made by children attending Philadelphia
early learning programs.
Nonprofit Finance Fund
The Hon. Frank L. Oliver
Philadelphia Alliance for Better Child Care
Philadelphia Citizen for Children & Youth
Marie Pleasant
Taylor’s Learning Tree
Terri Lynn Lokoff Foundation
Lorraine Thomas
Yvonne Thompson-Friend 
Marion Brown of One Stop Shop, was one of many
resource organizations at the event explaining how
programs could benefit from their services.
Marie Pleasant, Co-Chair of the Providers Committee
joined Catherine Smith-Hall, and Sharon Neilson in
the skit, “A Day in the Life of a Provider.” The point was
well made that providers are expected to wear many hats
to get the job done. Unfortunately, as a rule, they are not
fairly compensated.
Over 300 Attend Worthy
Wage Fair in Germantown
May 8, 2007 – Over 280 young children came with their teachers and parents
from 18 different early education programs
to enjoy activities and to get out the message that teachers need more funding for
fair compensation. The Cat in the Hat read
to children, and they made tie-died art, as
the teachers and parents signed letters asking Pennsylvania elected representatives to
budget increased funds to cover minimum
wage and cost of living increases. Teachers
and directors attending also had a chance
to discuss these issues with public officials
attending including eighth district Council
candidate Irv Ackelsburg, along with representatives from the Paulmier campaign and
Senator Washington, Representative Youngblood and Councilman Rizzo’s office.
This event was made possible by the cooperative efforts of the Northwest Worthy
Wage group. Chaired by Deb Hayman,
and staffed by Childspace CDI, the group
was able to coordinate their talents and resources to pull off an extraordinary event.
Special thanks go to Sherell Hamilton and
the Germantown Boys and Girls Club who
donated the site, the food and give-aways
for the event, and to the Childspace teachers who staffed the majority of the activity tables (because their centers close for
Worthy Wage Day each year). 
Subsidy Payment
System Unified:
Some Implementation
Problems Reported
After years of pressuring the Department
of Public Welfare to simplify the subsidy
payment system, it was finally “unified”
this year so that all payments to providers
are made through the CCIS offices. This
should result in significant efficiencies and
cost savings for child care businesses in the
long run, but there have been some challenges as a new system is phased in.
One challenge was a cash flow shortage for those businesses that were used
to receiving two checks per month – one
from County Assistant Offices early in the
month, and one from CCIS offices later
in the month. With unification all subsidy
payments are paid monthly. In anticipation
of this, Childspace CDI offered workshops
in June on how to implement internal policies that bring in revenue, and also how to
seek bridge funding for any delayed payments. According to Gwynn Gaines, Director at VIP Day Care, “After the workshop we changed our co-pay collections
procedure and we collected almost $1,000
from parents for late payments”.
Ann Nicholas, of Community Concerns
#13, said “The bridge funding is necessary not just for late subsidy payments,
but other funding as well. We may have
to wait 90 days for pre-K reimbursement,
for example.” 
My Experience at Harrisburg Early Childhood Action Day
by Doris Young
I felt as if the bus ride was productive, and I liked how everyone was
communicating and sharing experiences from their different centers. I
thought that the legislators were really listening to what we had to say.
-Janice Jones
I thought that the trip to Harrisburg was
inspiring. A lot of people came to Harrisburg to get legislators to cast a vote for
more money for early childhood education.
On the bus trip we learned what to expect
when we arrived in Harrisburg and we got
a chance to make posters to use at the rally.
It was nice to see so many people, including children, show up for the rally in the
capitol building in Harrisburg. Since the
money would be benefiting the children
Seated in front, staff from the Germantown Women's Y joined the crowd in Harrisburg applauding messages to better fund
early education at the May 8th rally in the State Capital.
CCDI Business Training and Support Makes a Difference
The Pennsylvania 07-08 Budget Victory!
“Ever since Yvonne first visited our site,
my business has benefited from the work
of Childspace CDI,” said Elaine Johnson,
of Johnson’s Child Care. Ms. Johnson and
her Assistant Director Khadijah Sabir have
attended a number of business trainings offered by CDI trainer Susan Kavchok, and
been assisted by mentoring. “Susan showed
us how to change our payroll schedule
Thanks to early education activists’ efforts across the state, the Pennsylvania
Budget for 2007-08 was passed on July 9,
2007, including the following items:
• $75 million for Pre-K Counts to serve
11,000 children
• $86 million in new funding for Child
Care Works to increase rates and slots
from once a week to twice a month and it
has really helped us manage our cash flow”
continued Ms. Johnson. “We need to help
all providers understand that they should
be charging their true cost of care,” said
Ms. Sabir. Johnson’s is celebrating recent
achievement of Keystone Star Two level,
on their journey towards continuing quality improvement. 
Shontae Campbell (L), and Georgianna Ragland (R),
were part of the committee that helped organize theWorthy
Wage Fair. In the center is LaTanya Reese, teacher at Germantown Boys and Girls who hosted the event.
why not have them along to advocate for
themselves? A lot of people are visual, and
by seeing the children hold up their poster
board or wearing their tee shirts in favor
of more money might have swayed some
of the legislators. It was nice of the legislators to take time out of their schedules
to hear what we as providers had to say.
My only regret was it was difficult to hear
the speakers at the rally. Other than that I
would have not changed anything else. 
• $ 9 million in new funds for Keystone
Stars to support its continued growth
and a restoration of the financial incentives to previous, higher levels.
These funding levels represent 100% of
what we asked for this year!
Subsidy reimbursement rates have been
increased as of August 1, 2007, and as of
September the Department of Public Welfare is adding an additional amount per
child in facilities rated Star Two or above,
in recognition of the added expense of
reaching increased quality levels. 