News & Resources
Posts
Subscribe to FFYF First Look
Every morning, FFYF reports on the latest child care & early learning news from across the country. Subscribe and take 5 minutes to know what's happening in early childhood education.
Shutdown 2025: Impact On Head Start Programs
UPDATE 11/7/25 – Day 38 of the Federal Shutdown As the shutdown continues, Head Start programs in 40+ states did not receive their scheduled funding on November 1st. This put …
STATE OF PLAY: Federal Shutdown and Child Care/Early Learning Programs
UPDATE: Day 38 of the Federal Shutdown 11/7/25 As the shutdown continues, Head Start programs in 40+ states did not receive their scheduled funding on November 1st. Head Start sites …
The Friday Five: The Latest Child Care and Early Learning News
Friday, November 7th Since the November 1st funding deadline for Head Start has come and gone, programs in states across the country have had to close their doors leaving more …
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 …
FFYF’s Sarah Rubinfield on Early Childhood Chats Podcast
Government shutdowns disrupt the lives of families whose little ones rely on Head Start. FFYF Government Affairs Managing Director Sarah Rubinfield recently joined Early Childhood Chats from the Institute for …
Building the Foundation: Head Start Strengthens Early Learning Nationwide
Head Start provides funding directly to local grantees who operate in rural, urban, and suburban communities across the country and tailor programs based on their community’s specific needs and resources. …
TOOLKIT: End the Shutdown Day of Action – October 29th
What an incredible Day of Action! Yesterday, voices nationwide united with a single message to Congress: Protect Head Start and end the shutdown. Nearly 50 organizations across the country took …
MIECHV: Overview
The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program provides federal funds to states, territories, and tribal entities for voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services.
Employer-Provided Child Care Credit (45F): Overview
The Employer-Provided Child Care Credit, also known as 45F, is one way to address the needs of both working parents and employers. Under 45F, employers receive a tax credit for …
Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP): Overview
Through flexible spending accounts, the DCAP exclusion gives parents flexibility to choose the type of care that best suits their needs — whether that’s a licensed child care center, home-based …
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC): Overview
With the average annual cost exceeding $13,000 per child, millions of American families struggle to afford quality child care. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) provides some financial …
