For a child, the first five years last forever.
Congress: End the Shutdown. Protect Head Start.
Families with young children are feeling the pain of the federal shutdown. If Congress doesn’t act now, tens of thousands of children could lose access to Head Start along with the care, education, nutrition, and stability it provides. Tell your Members of Congress to protect Head Start and end the shutdown today.
POLLING: Rural Voters on Child Care and Head Start
Rural Parents have been hit particularly hard by child care challenges, with a significant number saying they’re having trouble finding work, are cutting back on basic necessities, and are putting off growing their families due to a lack of affordable options that meet their family’s needs. In a new poll from First Five Years Fund, Rural Americans say money is tight, and child care is a significant part of that burden.
Child Care and Early Learning State Fact Sheets
FFYF’s State Fact Sheets from 50 states and Washington, D.C. show how federal investments in child care support working parents, children, and the economy. Federal funding and programs benefit families nationwide and serve as the foundation for America’s child care and early learning system.
Latest News
& Resources
JOINT STATEMENT: Groups Call on Congress to Protect Head Start, End the Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Families with young children are feeling the pain of the federal shutdown, and without immediate Congressional action, tens of thousands of children could lose access to Head …
POLL: Strong Louisiana Support for Head Start Amid Federal Funding Uncertainty
As Head Start programs across Louisiana face financial hardship and closure due to the ongoing federal shutdown, new polling shows that Louisiana voters remain overwhelmingly supportive of the program and …
STATE OF PLAY: Federal Shutdown and Child Care/Early Learning Programs
UPDATE 10/27/25 What We’re Watching: National Day Of Action The child care and early learning community is uniting around a Day of Action on Wednesday, October 29. If Congress does …
