2020-05-19 Erin McCandless
Charlene Way
From:Erin McCandless <emccandless@idahoaeyc.org>
Sent:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 10:42 AM
To:City Clerk
Cc:jimjust27@gmail.com
Subject:Support for Elisabeth Songe re: Frazier Council Appeal
Dear Meridian City Council,
I am writing today in support of Elizabeth Songe and her appeal to the Meridian City Council in regards to her in-home
childcare business. I have worked with Elizabeth and Didier as part of my employment with IdahoSTARS.
IdahoSTARS is the state of Idaho’s overall quality improvement initiative for childcare that is based on a vision
that every child in Idaho must have access to the highest quality child care and early education. At IdahoSTARS
we directly oversee the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP subsidies) state licensing, the Professional
Development System Registry, Steps to Quality program (the state’s quality rating and improvement system),
academic and training scholarships for providers, assessment services, and multicultural programs.
As part of our multicultural programs, we support refugee childcare providers as they navigate the process to
meet all health and safety standards for their operation, background checks, CPR and First Aid, fire safety, and
ongoing professional development and training. The refugee childcare business program has provided an
invaluable service in the Treasure Valley, providing the opportunity for refugee families to earn income
through owning a small business while providing childcare for (most often) refugee children so their parents
and work and/or go to school. Without small businesses like Elizabeth’s, there would be an enormous gap in
the system where refugee parents would be unable to access affordable childcare so they can earn a living.
At IdahoSTARS we work with over 100 refugee childcare providers, all of whom own very small businesses
watching less than 6 children in their homes. We support these providers to ensure they are meeting and
exceeding all standards of care and Elizabeth is no exception. She has successfully owned and operated her
business for over 2.5 years with no issues, and as she mentioned in her own letter, zero complaints from
neighbors.
As the former Director of Community Engagement at the non-profit Create Common Good, I also personally know Didier
from when he came through our foodservice training program. Already an employee at the Boise Co-Op, he was
determined to gain additional training so he could earn a better wage with the Co-Op to better support his family. This
goes to show that Didier and Elizabeth are incredibly hard workers who have seized every opportunity presented to
them since arriving in America. Additionally, they saved for years to purchase their home, without Elizabeth’s childcare
income they may be unable to afford their mortgage.
I hope you will consider their appeal so that Elizabeth can continue to operate her in-home childcare business and that
this family can continue to be productive, contributing members of their community and our great state.
I am happy to answer any questions you might have for me.
Sincerely,
Erin McCandless
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