News & Resources
FEATURED PRIORITES
Appropriations FY2027
For FY2027, Congress should protect, prioritize, and expand these investments in programs including the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Early Head Start/Head Start, and the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5).
Child Care is an Affordability Issue
“Affordability anxiety” is particularly high for parents of young children, where child care consistently stands out as one of the most significant and unavoidable expenses.
Modernizing Child Care
Modernizing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is essential to ensuring more working families can access the quality, affordable child care care they need.
2026 Early Head Start and Head Start
Head Start has a long history of giving kids a strong start through comprehensive early learning, health, and nutrition services. We are focused on continuing to bolster overall support for this essential program at the federal level.
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FFYF Statement on H.R.7726: Concerns and Recommendations around Accountability and Access
Accountability and access are not mutually exclusive. The families and providers who depend on child care deserve policies that reflect both priorities, and we encourage Congress to renew their focus on advancing constructive, bipartisan policies that support the care and early learning needs of our nation’s families with young children.
Federal TANF Expenditures in FY 2024
TANF provides grants to states to help design and operate programs that support low-income families, including through increased access to child care and early learning opportunities, which helps parents to enter or return to the workforce.
Understanding Improper Payments: Child Care and Development Fund
Fundamental to understanding this system is recognizing that while all fraudulent payments are considered improper, not all improper payments result from fraud.
State Data: Child Care Ratios – Adult-to-Child Ratios for Center-Based Care
Caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is labor-intensive. To keep children safe and give them the attention they need to learn and thrive, child care programs must maintain appropriate adult-to-child ratios.
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 information you need to know.
New Report Shows Nearly Half of All Young Children Live in Child Care Deserts
The Center for American Progress recently released a report updating their data on the current state of our nation’s child care supply, as well as a map that provides a visual representation of child care deserts across the country.
“Child Care Makes It Work!” Reception on Capitol Hill
On May 20, First Five Years Fund hosted “Child Care Makes Things Work,” a bipartisan reception celebrating the essential role child care plays in supporting working families, businesses, and the economy.
VIDEO: The Child Care Modernization Act
The bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act would enable states to better meet the growing child care needs of working families, providers, and employers.
State Of Play: Rules and Regulations
As part of a “Child Care Reform Package” released on May 11, the Administration issued four separate policy actions: a Head Start Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Final Rule, a Temporary Assistance for Need Families (TANF) Information Memorandum, and a CCDF Dear Colleague Letter.
Celebrating Mother’s Day and Provider Appreciation Day with the FFYF Team
It’s important to recognize and appreciate the important partnerships between mothers, child care providers, and early educators.
TOOLKIT: CCDBG Fact Sheets
MESSAGE: CCDBG helps working families with young children afford child care. FFYF’s new fact sheets have data and information on how CCDBG works in each state. Please help share these …
