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Alabama

Facts about Alabama
1

There are 354K children ages 5 and under in Alabama

2

61% of these children have all available parents in the workforce

3

The typical annual cost of child care in Alabama is around $7,500

4

The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 18% of eligible families. This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care

5

Alabama's economy loses $1.3B annually due to child care challenges

Last Updated: August 8, 2023

Working families in Alabama need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children. 

Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Alabama. But too many working families in Alabama are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Alabama economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue. 

Facts about Alabama
1

There are 354K children ages 5 and under in Alabama

2

61% of these children have all available parents in the workforce

3

The typical annual cost of child care in Alabama is around $7,500

4

The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 18% of eligible families. This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care

5

Alabama’s economy loses $1.3B annually due to child care challenges

 

Alabama Resources & News

Resource

The Crucial Role of Early Educators and the Need for Increased Compensation

November 3, 2023

Early educators are underpaid and undervalued for the challenging and important work they do. When determining what factors make an early care and education (ECE) program high quality, it’s the …

Resource

FFYF’S 2023 State Fact Sheets

July 31, 2023

Our new analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. shows that child care and early learning programs have tremendous impacts on young children, their families, and the economy at …

Resource

What Can Advocates Learn From How New Mexico and Alabama Are Transforming Their Child Care Systems?

July 26, 2023

What states have been successful in transforming their early care and education (ECE) landscape and expanding high-quality child care options for young children? How are they doing it? And how …

Resource

The First Five Things To Know About: A New Poll Showing Voter Support For Child Care Funding

July 16, 2023

In July 2023, Public Opinion Strategies completed a poll on behalf of the First Five Years Fund, examining voter attitudes toward the issue of child care and early childhood education …

Resource

The First Five Things To Know About: A New Poll Showing Alabama Voter Support For Child Care Funding

July 14, 2023

In July 2023, Public Opinion Strategies completed a poll on behalf of the First Five Years Fund, examining Alabama voters’ attitudes toward the issue of child care and early childhood …

Resource

New 50 State Analysis Shows Impact of Federal Child Care Program 

May 11, 2023

New analysis of all 50 states and the District of Columbia from First Five Years Fund (FFYF) shows that while the nation’s main federal child care program – the Child …

Resource

How CCDBG Benefits Families in Your State

May 9, 2023

The Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the primary federal grant program that provides child care assistance to low-income working families with children under age 13. The majority …

Resource

FFYF’s 2022 Child Care & Early Learning State Fact Sheets

August 2, 2022

Our analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. shows that the existing patchwork of federal and state early learning and care programs only reaches a fraction of income-eligible families. Federal …

Resource

Learn About the Positive Impact of MIECHV in Your State

June 22, 2022

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program provides federal funds to states, territories, and tribal entities for voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services. This program was reauthorized in …

Resource

Alabama — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities

June 19, 2022

High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …

Resource

2021 State Fact Sheets: Examining the Impact and Unmet Need of Federal & State ECE Funding

August 3, 2021

FFYF has released the latest iteration of its annual state fact sheets, which draw on numerous data sources to offer details about the early childhood opportunities in each state made …

News

Over 160 National and State Child Advocacy Groups Call on Democratic Leaders to Prioritize Child Care & Early Learning Funding in Reconciliation

July 28, 2021

WASHINGTON –  As Congress grapples with many important and competing priorities, more than 160 national, state, and local organizations and child care providers, led by First Five Years Fund (FFYF), …

Resource

Alabama — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities

June 1, 2021

High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …

News

FFYF Releases State Fact Sheets, Highlighting Unique Local Landscapes

September 16, 2020

This summer, FFYF released updated state fact sheets, which draw on numerous data sources to offer details about the early childhood opportunities in each state made possible through federal and state …

Resource

Alabama: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities

June 1, 2020

High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …

Resource

Governors Across the Country Celebrate Federal Preschool Development Grant B-5 Funding

March 2, 2020

The Preschool Development Grant Birth through 5 (PDG B-5) is a $275 million competitive federal grant program designed to improve states’ early childhood systems by building upon existing federal, state, …

News

Preschool Development Grant Funding Awarded to 26 States for 2020

December 20, 2019

UPDATE: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced additional three-year renewal grants are being awarded to South Carolina, Nebraska, and …

Resource

Updated Fact Sheets Show Opportunities for States

September 16, 2019

On Monday, the Center for American Progress (CAP) released their 2019 Early Learning Fact Sheets which provide an overview of early learning in each state.  As in previous years, CAP’s …

Resource

See How All 50 States Use CCDBG Funding to Support Working Families Access Quality Child Care

June 14, 2019

Yesterday, our friends at Child Care Aware of America released a series of state fact sheets on the status of funding through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) …

Resource

Alabama: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities

June 1, 2019

High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …

Resource

Governors Across the Country Celebrate Federal Preschool Development Grant B-5 Funding

January 30, 2019

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Education (ED) announced that 46 states and territories have been awarded funding through the Preschool …

News

46 States and Territories to Receive Preschool Development Grants

January 4, 2019

Big news! 46 states and territories have been awarded funding through the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5), a $250 million competitive federal grant designed to improve states’ existing early …

Resource

2018 Governors-Elect Support Early Childhood Education

November 6, 2018

Over the past few years, there has been a clear understanding among policymakers and candidates at every level of government, particularly at the state level, that early childhood education makes …

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