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New Resource Highlights Workforce Crisis in Child Care and Early Education
This month, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) at UC Berkeley released their 2024 Early Childhood Workforce Index, which provides an overview of the policies and …

FFYF Capsule Collection: Tax Policy and Child Care
Millions of American families today are struggling to find the affordable, reliable, quality child care they depend on to go to work. This has a devastating impact on our youngest …

White House Convening on Child Care
On September 27, First Five Years Fund (FFYF) attended the White House States Convening on Child Care, joining leaders from 34 states across the country as well as key stakeholders …

Side-By-Side: Comparing Tax Bills, 2025
The federal tax code contains benefits designed to help working families offset the expense of child care. Unfortunately, these provisions have not been updated in decades. Today, they have not …

Side-By-Side: Comparison of the Child Care & Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2024 to Current Law
The Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the primary federal grant program that provides child care assistance to low-income working families with children under age 13. It plays …

Child Care Choices: An Overview of Early Learning and Care Settings
Finding child care that is affordable, safe, and developmentally appropriate is critical for children and families alike. Families also need choices to meet their specific needs. Children experience both short- and …

State by State: Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
It’s a struggle for millions of hard-working American families to afford quality child care. Federal programs and policies help support working families with child care expenses, but they are limited …

Survey Finds States Make Difficult Trade-offs When Pandemic-Era Child Care Funding Runs Out
The bulk of child care relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) expired last September, and the remaining $15 billion is set to expire next week. This funding …

The First Five Things To Know About: Child Care Is Infrastructure
This week Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) reintroduced her “Child Care Is Infrastructure” package, two bills designed to make critical investments in child care facilities and the early education workforce. …

The First Five Questions for: Senators Tim Kaine and Katie Britt
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) hosted Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) in the latest segment of our First Five Question Series – a …

Head Start Final Rule Makes Big Changes to Staff Compensation, Program Eligibility, and More
The Office of Head Start (OHS) published the final rule on August 21st, titled Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming, updating the Head Start Program Performance Standards. …

Safety, Quality, and Accountability: Understanding Child Care and Early Learning Regulations
There are numerous policies in place to ensure the safety and quality of care for young children. Understanding the different levels of oversight that hold early care and education (ECE) …