STAR-ADVERTISER
Children from Central Union Church Preschool play with wooden cutouts during a one-day day care event at Bishop Museum in 2008.
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As a licensed family child care provider on Oahu, I see the critical need for competitive wages in our industry. This profession takes a certain type of individual — one who not only has the physical and mental capacity, but more importantly an unconditional love for children.
Our profession is highly undervalued here in the islands, yet we are the ones spending the most critical and vulnerable years with Hawaii’s keiki. With the shrinking numbers of child care providers, parents find themselves out of options. Parents need to work, and children need a safe and nurturing environment to learn and grow. Our profession is essential to sustaining our local economy.
For the sake of our families, I urge the passage of House Bill 1964 to establish a child care provider subsidy and bonus program. This bill will help retain our dedicated child care professionals and attract more to our field.
Kelly Friel
Kailua
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