Nearly 6,000 home-based child care providers across Maryland now have a united voice for their profession, after voting in a statewide election to form their union with SEIU Kids First by 80 percent.

“This is an exciting day for family child care providers and the kids and parents who depend on us,” said Madie Green, a provider in District Heights for more than 25 years. “Now we have the strong voice we need to stand up for affordable, quality child care in Maryland.”

The rates at which providers are reimbursed by the Maryland Department of Education are so low, and payments so unreliable, that many can’t afford to stay in the profession. Since 1994, Maryland communities have lost nearly 3,000 licensed family child care providers.

“Parents trust child care providers every day to do what’s right for our kids,” said Donya Paul, a mother from Wheaton who uses family child care. “With a united voice, our providers can work together to make child care a better place for our children and more reliable for working parents.”

Providers worked together for nearly three years to gain the right to vote for their union—forming a statewide steering council and organizing committee, and joining with parents and community advocates to lobby elected officials.