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STATE OF PLAY: Child Care Accountability and Oversight
Update: 1/7/26 What’s Happening News this week is focused on reports of persistent fraud in Minnesota and the announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services would be freezing …
STATE OF PLAY: Appropriations
Update – 1/7/26 What’s Happening Get Up To Speed Bookmark the FFYF Appropriations State of Play for frequent updates as this continues to develop. Reading List Politico 1/3/26A month out, …
FFYF Briefing Room: Accountability and Oversight, Essential To Affordable Child Care
Prevent Fraud – Protect Children The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the primary federal child care program that makes it possible for hundreds of thousands of families …
STATEMENT: FFYF on Safeguarding Integrity of Child Care Funding
The following is a statement from First Five Years Fund Executive Director Sarah Rittling in response to recent reports of potential fraud concerning child care funds. “Federal funding enables millions …
UPDATE: 23 States Receive Grants To Strengthen Child Care
Good news for child care this week. Twenty-three states have been awarded new federal grants to strengthen their child care and early learning programs. The Preschool Development Grant Birth through …
The Friday Five: The Latest Child Care and Early Learning News
The child care and early learning news you don’t want to miss. Check here for updates every Friday for the latest. December 19 As we close out 2025, we are …
Statement: National Defense Authorization Act Includes Critical Child Care Support for Military Families
Today, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, taking an important step toward addressing the critical child care needs of military families. Nearly 40% of service members have children, many …
Job Posting: Staff Assistant
Location Washington, D.C. (hybrid; remote work Monday and Friday; in-office work Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) About First Five Years Fund At First Five Years Fund (FFYF), our mission is to ensure …
A Year of Progress: 10 Bright Spots for Child Care & Early Learning
Even in a year marked by a government shutdown, political turbulence, and general unpredictability in Washington, 2025 gave us plenty to celebrate for child care and early learning. Families, advocates, …
Cost Estimation Models: Increasing Child Care Stability Through More Accurate Provider Payment Rates
Cost Estimation Models allow states to better align provider payment rates with the actual cost of providing quality child care. This strengthens the workforce, enhances the quality of care children …
The First Five Things to Know About: Employer-Provided Child Care Credit (45F)
In the United States, two-thirds of young children live in households where all available parents are working. meaning child care is essential for families’ ability to stay in the workforce. …
