STATEMENT: Protecting Children In A Time of Uncertainty

The first few years of life set the foundation for children’s health, learning, and behavior. During this crucial birth-to-five period, a child’s brain is especially adaptable—but also vulnerable. Repeated exposure to stress can permanently alter a child’s development and well-being. 

This is an especially unstable time for many young children. The recent government shutdown has forced Head Start programs across the country to close, cutting off access to early learning, nutrition, and essential health services. Interruptions to SNAP benefits and medical services have further increased family instability. And events like the incident outside a Chicago child care facility this week, where children witnessed the arrest of a caregiver, further add to the distress and fear young children are already experiencing. No child should experience fear or confusion in a space meant to nurture their growth and safety. 

As a bipartisan child care advocacy organization, children are at the center of what we do. And as a nation, we have a shared responsibility to shield children from toxic stress. They deserve stability, supportive relationships, and safe environments to thrive. Protecting them from trauma is not only a moral duty—it is an investment in the health and future of our country.