FAQ’s about the Merger

1) What is the American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation (AFTEF)?
The AFTEF is a 501(c)(3) foundation that: conducts, sponsors and disseminates studies and research in education and related fields with the main objective of improving and restructuring the educational system.

2) Why did CCW merge with AFTEF?
The AFT and CCW shared a mutual interest in working together on early care and education workforce issues, and both organizations had a history of advocacy on behalf of the needs of children and those who teach and care for them. By discontinuing as a freestanding organization and becoming a program of the AFTEF, CCW/AFTEF has expanded its reach with regard to public policy, public awareness, grassroots organizing and unionization of the early care and education workforce. In providing an organizational home for CCW through the AFTEF, AFT is strengthening its capacity to influence early childhood education policies and programs at every level, and to assist state and local affiliates in organizing early care and education professionals. Together, CCW/AFTEF and AFT are establishing a strong and unified voice for the early care and education workforce and the children and families they serve.

3) What projects has CCW/AFTEF undertaken to build a strong voice for child care workers?
CCW/AFTEF leads efforts to influence public policy, advocating for improved jobs for child care workers, and exploring creative organizing models to create a unified voice for the child care workforce. CCW/AFTEF’s primary activities include tracking and developing public policy, supporting union and grassroots organizing activities, and advancing public awareness on these issues.

4) Is CCW/AFTEF a nonprofit organization?
Yes. The AFTEF is a nonprofit organization under the AFT umbrella, and CCW/AFTEF is a project within the AFTEF. This means that CCW/AFTEF’s activities adhere to the requirements of the AFTEF’s 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status. These activities are financially supported through CCW/AFTEF’s independent fundraising activities. CCW/AFTEF continues to receive resources from a variety of sources including foundations, individual donors, and sales from CCW-developed publications. Click here to find out how you can contribute.

5) What happened to CCW’s training programs?
Before merging with the AFTEF, CCW identified two organizations that are were well-equipped to continue the trainings that have come to be so highly valued in the early care and education field. Visit our Trainings page for more information.

6) What happened to the Summer Institute?
The Summer Leadership Institute lives on! Although CCW’s annual Summer Institute had its final convening in June 2002 in Boulder, Colorado, the tradition that the Center for the Child Care Workforce (CCW) began in 2000 with its first Summer Leadership Institute is continuing under the leadership of MassLEAP, housed at the Child Care Resource Center, Inc. in Cambridge, MA, and Community Allies for Children in Raleigh, NC.

7) What does CCW's new affiliation with the AFTEF mean for Worthy Wage Campaign members, and Worthy Wage Network members?
CCW served as the national coordinator of the Worthy Wage Campaign, which was originally designed over ten years ago as a five-year public awareness campaign. Over the years, local Campaigns have grown and thrived, resulting in the development of many local leaders and activists. In many communities, Worthy Wage Campaigns have been one of the most important vehicles for action for those actively engaged in efforts to improve child care jobs. They played a crucial role in helping CCW, as a national organization, stay connected to grassroots organizing efforts of child care teachers and providers.

Launched in 2000, the Worthy Wage Network was designed to be an easy-to-join network of not only teachers and providers but parents, directors, trainers, educators, resource and referral staff, policy makers, union members, and child care advocates and allies of all kinds. All Worthy Wage Campaign members are part of the Worthy Wage Network.