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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Child Care Prices Rose Significantly in 2020, Continuing Decades-Long Trend of Major Annual Increases
The average annual price of child care in America has increased over 220% over the past three decades — considerably faster than other essential family expenses — with significant annual …
Child Care Employment 12.4% Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
Despite January’s strong jobs growth, child care employment remains 12.4% below pre-pandemic levels. Unlike other industries, the child care sector was experiencing difficulties with hiring and retaining workers long before …
High-Quality Early Learning & Care: Understanding the Proven Benefits & Need for Investment
Economic development starts with early childhood development—and the best investments ensure all children who need it have access to high-quality early learning and care opportunities. Evidence shows that increased access …
Child Care Aware of America Shares Winter Update on How States are Spending Relief Dollars
Child Care Aware of America recently shared a winter update on how states are spending their American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act dollars. The ARP Act allocates a total of $39 …
CCDBG: Program Overview
Child care is a necessity for low-income and working parents, yet the cost of quality care often places it out of reach for families. The Child Care & Development Block Grant …
President Leads with Child Care & Pre-K in Meeting with Major CEOs
President Biden opened today’s event promoting the Build Back Better Act by hammering home the urgent economic need for the child care and pre-K provisions of the package. As President …
1 in 3 Child Care Workers is Experiencing Food Insecurity
With many of our nation’s child care providers trying to survive on poverty-level salaries, a new analysis has found that 31.2% of a million child care workers – 1 out of every …
Examining the Significant Return on Investment from High-Quality Early Learning & Care
The Senate is currently considering the Build Back Better Act, which includes historic federal investments that would create monumental impacts for young children and their families by expanding high-quality, affordable …
Without Action, America’s Early Learning & Care System Will Collapse
“The positive impact of the early learning and care proposal would be felt for generations. So too would the consequences of inaction.” WASHINGTON — The following is a statement from First …
Economic Data Underscores the Need for Significant, Sustained Investment in Child Care and Early Learning
As Congress moves closer to consideration of the child care and early learning proposals in President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, it is important to understand the economic impacts of …
FFYF Statement on Build Back Better Status
In response to the news that the Senate will recess for the year without voting on the Build Back Better Act, First Five Years Fund (FFYF) Executive Director Sarah Rittling …
