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STATE OF PLAY: Child Care Accountability and Oversight
Update: 1/10/26 On Friday, January 9, a federal judge ruled that the White House “cannot block federal money for child care subsidies and other programs aimed at supporting needy children …
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 A month out, no …
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. …
How 45F Helps Employers Strengthen Child Care Options: A Look at Hudl and Primrose in Nebraska
Reliable child care is essential for today’s workforce: two-thirds of young children in the U.S. live in households where all available parents are working. But too often, families struggle to …
Hot Topic: PDG B-5 Grants, December 2025
UPDATE 11/25/25 The deadline for applications for Systems-Building Grants is swiftly approaching. A few notes: Last week, Start Early, BUILD, EducationCounsel, and the Alliance for Early Success hosted a webinar …
TOOLKIT: FY26 Appropriations
The Ask Congress: Please act quickly to provide increased stability for families, children, and programs by passing the Senate FY26 Labor-H appropriations bill that prioritizes funding for child care and early learning programs for a full year. Step …
NEW: “High Cost of Child Care Shapes Families’ Choices and Futures”
A new 2025 American Family Survey shows a sharp shift in how Americans view the cost of raising children. Seven in ten respondents now say raising kids is too expensive, …
