For a child, the first five years last forever.
FEATURED PRIORITIES
2026 Early Head Start and Head Start
Head Start has a long history of giving kids a strong start through comprehensive early learning, health, and nutrition services. We are focused on continuing to bolster overall support for this essential program at the federal level.
Appropriations FY2027
For FY2027, Congress should protect, prioritize, and expand these investments in programs including the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Early Head Start/Head Start, and the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5).
Child Care is an Affordability Issue
“Affordability anxiety” is particularly high for parents of young children, where child care consistently stands out as one of the most significant and unavoidable expenses.
Modernizing Child Care
Modernizing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is essential to ensuring more working families can access the quality, affordable child care care they need.
FFYF’S Sarah Rittling Named to TIME Magazine’s First Ever Visionaries List
TIME named First Five Years Fund Executive Director Sarah Rittling to the inaugural TIME Visionaries list recognizing leaders driving meaningful impact in the lives of children across education, health and wellness, technology, economic opportunity, and more.
POLLING: VOTERS SPEAK OUT
Voters nationwide and across multiple states agree: child care is part of the affordability crisis and they want action.
FFYF 2026 Head Start State Fact Sheets
These state fact sheets have data that show the impact of Head Start in all 50 states, including funding, enrollment, unmet need, and the reach of local programs and partnerships.
Latest News
& Resources
The Friday Five: The Latest Child Care and Early Learning News
The child care and early learning news you don’t want to miss. Check here for updates every Friday for the latest information you need to know.
Head Start and Early Head Start: The Program Overview
This one-pager provides data and information on how Head Start works and who it serves.
Making News: MIECHV Grants, 2026
MIECHV is making headlines! The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program provides federal funding to states to use to pair families with very young children with trained …
