TOOLKIT: Prioritize Child Care Programs Day of Action – January 20th

On The Hill: Increased attention on child care and early learning this month means increased outreach from advocates needed. This is a critical moment to remind lawmakers of the importance of child care and early learning programs and their impact on young children and their families. 

MESSAGE: Support families with young children. Urge Congress to protect and prioritize funding for child care and early learning. 

More than a million families rely on the federal child care program to afford the quality child  care and early learning they need to be able to go to work and provide for their family.

Federal programs like CCDBG and Head Start makes it possible for families in every state and congressional district to afford the safe, quality care their children need while parents work or go to school. Without it, child care would be unaffordable, causing increased financial strain, employment disruption, stress, and instability for families across the country. 

Join us for a Day of Action to urge Congress to protect and prioritize child care investments during the Appropriations process, building upon efforts to increase access to affordable, quality child care.

Talking Points

• Child care is essential for working families with young children. 
• Federal child careand early learning programs like Head Start and CCDBG make it possible for hundreds of thousands families – in every state and Congressional district – to afford safe, quality care and learning for their children.
• Here’s a story about child care and early learning in my family, state, or district.
• Congress: Protect and prioritize child care investments and continue to build on efforts to increase access to affordable, quality care and learning.

Activate Your Network

Below is a template message you can share with your network. We encourage you to customize this text to fit your organization’s messaging and calls to action.

Congress is making decisions RIGHT NOW concerning vital federal child care funding.

More than a million families across the nation rely on federal programs to afford safe, quality care for their children while parents work or go to school.

Federal child care programs are foundational to the health and wellbeing of our nation, strengthening families, young children, and our economy. Funding for programs like the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start helps families in every state and Congressional district find and afford the child care and early learning they need. When Congress invests in these programs, it gives children a chance to learn and thrive, helps parents work or go to school, and builds a stronger economy for everyone.

Join me in taking action today: Tell your Members of Congress to protect and prioritize funding for federal child care and early learning programs. 

Social Content

Between 11am and 2pm on January 20th organizations from across the country will be calling on Congress to protect and prioritize child care funding! Below are some template posts and a graphic, you’re welcome to customize the social copy to fit your organizational needs.

• Families across every single Congressional district and state rely on federal child care funds to afford the quality early learning and child care they rely on. #childcare
• Congress is making decisions RIGHT NOW concerning vital federal #childcare programs. Please protect and prioritize funding for programs like CCDBG and Head Start!  
• Congress: Support working families while providing opportunities for our nation’s youngest learners. Protect and prioritize funding for child care and early learning in this year’s appropriations process! #childcare

Ways to Take Action

Below are the actions FFYF will be sharing for people to contact their members of congress, please feel free to use our Action Center or post your own organization’s Actions!