When did you join Child Action, Inc.? Tell us about your journey to your current position.
Hello, I’m Heidi Keiser, Director of Government Affairs for Child Action, Inc. (CAI), where I’ve worked for five years. I represent CAI at meetings, events, and hearings, primarily around the CA Capitol, Sacramento County Building, local city halls, and occasionally other capitals. My work includes monitoring and analyzing legislative, budgetary, and policy proposals at various levels, building relationships with decision-makers to influence policy change, and communicating CAI’s interests. I also represent CAI on child and family-centric boards, including serving as chairwoman of policy and advocacy for the Sacramento County Children’s Coalition advisory board.
My interest in public policy began while navigating the US immigration system as a Brit, which was complicated enough but far more difficult for those from countries with less straightforward immigration treaties. While waiting for my residency paperwork, I worked at the Citizens Advice Bureau in the UK, advising people on legal issues. I realized many laws were outdated or broken. This experience led me to law school, where I aimed to change legislation and policy—working in DC for a senate committee and President Obama’s chairwoman of federal labor solidified my desire to pursue this path.
Besides child care, what other issues have you tackled?
Before joining CAI, I was with the Cardiff office of London-based National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). My policy and advocacy work there focused on children’s mental health and online safety. Concurrently, I taught Constitutional Law at Cardiff University. During law school, I completed my doctoral fellowship and clerkship under leaders in both the executive and legislative branches in Washington DC, before the 2017 transition. My work in DC focused on regulatory affairs, cybersecurity, and labor relations.
After observing California State child care policy, what changes are needed to make it more accessible and affordable?
- Rate reform: Child care providers should receive reimbursements reflecting the true cost of care.
- A one-stop shop for families to verify all qualifying programs, simplifying the enrollment process. If a family qualifies for CalFresh, they should be pre-qualified for our subsidy program.
- Families should not lose child care subsidies immediately after a slight pay increase. A gradual reduction in subsidies as income grows would provide more stability.
- Parent choice for child care: The inclusion of all community and home-based care settings within California’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten system.
- The federal government should update tax provisions to reflect the rising cost of child care.
- Employers should offer child care benefits.
What opportunities do you see to expand access to child care services and programs in coming years?
- The Federal CCDF regulations encourage states to make changes that benefit both families and providers. For example, the regulations make it permissible for states to pay providers before care starts. This is a hugely beneficial policy for providers that would enable them to cover some of the upfront costs associated with providing care before the child is in their care. California can implement these policies to better serve families and providers. For more information on the federal changes, click here.
- Rate reform: California is currently moving towards a new rate methodology. Hopefully, we will see a reimbursement rate that better reflects the essential work that child care providers do. This change could truly help maintain our current workforce and attract new talent.