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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Study Finds Quality Child Care Supports Long-Term STEM Outcomes
It’s no secret that a child’s early years influence the rest of their lives. Research has shown time and time again the long-term benefits that high-quality early care and education …
FFYF Joins White House, SBA for Child Care Roundtable
This week, the White House and Small Business Administration (SBA) announced new actions to support small businesses that offer child care for working families. FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling joined …
The First Five Questions for Hollis Wells Silverman
In this month’s FFYF’s First Five Questions series – which brings together interesting leaders, experts, and voices together to talk about child care challenges and solutions – Executive Director Sarah …
2024 Hill Briefing: ABCs of Federal Child Care and Early Learning
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) hosted Congressional staff for its annual bipartisan “ABCs of Federal Child Care and Early Learning” briefing. The session focused on the …
FY2024 Funding Bill Includes $1 Billion Increase for Federal Early Learning and Child Care Programs
The newly announced spending package for FY24 contains $1 billion in increased funding for programs that provide the foundation for child care and early learning. The following is a statement …
New BPC Report Outlines State Steps to a Competent, Stable Early Care and Education Workforce
When it comes to improving access to high-quality early care and education (ECE), strengthening the workforce must be a top priority. Teachers are instrumental to program quality— we know that …
Summary of Recent Rule to Improve Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently finalized a new rule that will strengthen key policies in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) – the program that includes …
New Employer Child Care Survey from CARE.com
A new survey from Care.com finds that child care benefits have become a top priority for employees and employers alike. As Axios sums up, “Child care outranked mental health support, …
FFYF Statement on Child Care, Early Learning in President’s FY25 Budget
WASHINGTON – Earlier this week, the White House released details of President Biden’s FY2025 budget request to Congress, which includes discretionary funding for many of the federal early learning programs …
GAO Report: Opportunities Within Head Start to Better Align Resources with Child Poverty
Recently, GAO released a report on the availability of Head Start throughout the nation. The report finds that the availability of Head Start programs varies widely across states and counties …
2024: The State of Our Union Is Dependent On Child Care
WASHINGTON – In response to President Biden’s March 7, 2024 State of the Union address, First Five Years Fund (FFYF) Executive Director Sarah Rittling released the following statement: “Child care …
