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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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Factsheets

Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships: Overview

April 23, 2024

Early childhood education apprenticeship programs provide an accessible way for educators to acquire the knowledge and skills they need, along a pathway to the credential or degree needed to advance …

Events & Hearings

White House Highlights Wide Range of Approaches for Child Care Support

April 19, 2024

On the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers (Care EO), the White House brought together governors, advocates, and business leaders …

Press Releases & Statements

FFYF Statement on White House’s “Making Care Work” 

April 18, 2024

On Wednesday, April 17, the White House brought together governors, advocates, and business leaders to underscore the important role child care plays not only in supporting working families but in …

Data & Analysis

New Poll: Small Business Owners Need Federal Action on Child Care 

April 11, 2024

(Washington, DC) – A new report from Small Business Majority – a national small business organization with a network of 85,000 small businesses – has found that more than two-thirds …

Videos

First Five Questions For Reps. Tenney and Schneider

April 11, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) hosted Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Congressman Brad Schneider (D-Il) as part of our First Five Question Series – a monthly …

Press Releases & Statements

FFYF Statement on POTUS Care Economy Event

April 9, 2024

Today, President Biden joined care workers to discuss his administration’s focus on expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care and other care priorities. FFYF’s Executive Director Sarah Rittling released the …

Data & Analysis

The Biden Administration Gives Added Flexibility to Serve More Children in Head Start

April 8, 2024

On March 23, 2024, President Biden signed into law two changes that give Head Start programs additional flexibility to enroll children in Tribal communities and children of farmworkers.  Tribal Head …

Factsheets

The First Five Things to Know About: The Child Care Investment Act 2023

April 8, 2024

Millions of working families with young children need quality child care, but affordable, reliable options can be hard to find. Without it, many parents are forced to miss work or …

Data & Analysis

The Fundamental Role of Child Care in Supporting Women

April 2, 2024

Last month, the Center for American Progress (CAP) published a new report, “Playbook for the Advancement of Women in the Economy.” Aligning with Women’s History Month, this “playbook” provides a …

Data & Analysis

A Selection of State Accomplishments During the First 3 Years of PDG B-5

March 29, 2024

Last week, the Administration for Children & Families at HHS released a report to Congress highlighting grant activity for the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program, Highlighting …

Policy Letters

FY2025: Community Letter to Appropriators Calls For Robust Funding for Child Care and Early Learning

March 28, 2024

WASHINGTON – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) and a coalition of 36 major early education advocacy organizations have a new letter to Congressional appropriators calling for increased funding for …

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