Groundwork Ohio’s Post

⏰ The clock is ticking for federal early childhood programs. Without timely action from Congress, programs like child care, Head Start, WIC, and others that support young children and families across Ohio will suffer. Yearly funding must be renewed by the end of September, but Congress has often missed this deadline. Failing to pass the FY2025 appropriations bill quickly and without retaining the Senate’s proposed increases will hurt these programs. Early Childhood Education must be prioritized to ensure families have access to the services they need. This issue will likely not be resolved until after the November elections, but it is critical to urge Congress to act now. 👉 Use your BIG VOICE to ask Congress for BIG INVESTMENTS that will protect, prioritize, and expand early childhood programs. https://bit.ly/47TfsFK #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildCareCrisis #OhioFamilies #BIGVOICE #BIGInvestments

Many families face considerable barriers to accessing child care and early education (CCEE) that is affordable and meets their families’ needs. In a new report prepared for OPRE, Child Trends' Patti Banghart Gottesman, Ashley Hirilall, Gabriella Guerra, Katherine Paschall, and Dana Thomson identify actionable steps that state and territory child care administrators, local CCEE leaders, and researchers can take to advance measurement of equitable CCEE access by centering families’ child care needs and preferences. https://lnkd.in/eXWAn5vk

In 2024, states have made significant strides in child care policy, building on the previous year’s legislative momentum. Child Care Aware of America's latest analysis, "State Session Round-Up: Summer 2024," provides a clear overview of this year's key legislative developments. Some highlights include: 🔹 Continued support through stabilization grants and wage boosts for providers 🔹 New requirements from the 2024 CCDF Final Rule 🔹 Increased state funding and improved subsidy reimbursement 🔹 Expanded subsidy eligibility and innovative cost-sharing models 🔹 Boosted funding for mixed-delivery preschool programs You can find the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gBCNRW7t

This is the legislative session to work on child care, says Prichard Committee President/CEO Brigitte Blom, and the Horizons Act is a huge first step toward addressing gaps in early child care and education services in Kentucky. Read more about how the Horizon Act would start to address lack of access to child care and low wages for early education professionals in a story by the Kentucky Lantern, out today. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gqFJrpkt #HorizonsAct #KYGA24 #EarlyChildhoodEducation

The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday passed An Act ensuring affordability, readiness, and learning for our youth and driving economic development (The Early Ed Act – S.2697) to increase the availability and affordability of early education and child-care for families. Find out more here about the policy: https://okt.to/tYqzMA #EarlyEducation #SenateAction #EducationReform

Our partners at Iowa Health and Human Services recently presented at the Senate Finance Committee hearing on leveraging federal investments in early learning and child care to support families and providers. Experts emphasized the role of affordable, high-quality child care in workforce participation and economic growth. Discussions highlighted bipartisan support for federal solutions to improve access and affordability. Check out this summary of the hearing and learn how Iowa is using data to drive decision-making on child care to help families and children! https://lnkd.in/guTgSdaF

Here is our statement on the election: This morning in his victory speech, Donald Trump promised to “not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve.” His running mate, JD Vance, also invoked kids, saying “We're never going to stop fighting for you, for your dreams, for the future of your children.” We are encouraged to hear these words. But they must be more than words. To accomplish what they say is their goal, the incoming Trump Administration must substantially improve its record from the first term where children saw record-low investment, dramatic losses in pediatric health coverage, sizable increases in food insecurity and families experiencing homelessness, and brutal policies that cruelly separated children from their parents as they navigated the immigration or asylum process. Children cannot afford and our nation should not tolerate divestment in children’s needs or a government that subjects them to harm. We are confident that American voters support this position. For instance, in Kentucky, Colorado, and Nebraska voters firmly rejected school voucher proposals in favor of students and public schools. In Austin, Texas and Sonoma County, California, voters also passed initiatives to help make child care more affordable for families. The way we treat children — and the policies we enact to protect them — matter more than others because children are only children for a very short time. When our policies fail them, there is no way to make it right. So we echo the president- and vice president-elect's words when we say that our children deserve better. We will be carefully watching and working to hold the Administration and Congress accountable to this standard."

"Meanwhile, the burden created by our collective failure to build a truly supportive and community-nurturing child care system will grow heavier. And that is how and why pillars crumble." The crumbling childcare system in New Hampshire is not just a crisis for parents—it’s a crisis for our entire community. Without a robust childcare system: 1. Workforce productivity suffers: Parents, especially mothers, are forced to leave the workforce or reduce hours, creating talent shortages across industries. 2. Economic stability falters: Businesses lose valuable employees, and communities lose the economic contributions of working parents. 3. Future generations are at risk: High-quality early education is foundational for children’s development, impacting their lifelong ability to succeed and contribute to society. Strong childcare systems are the pillars of thriving economies and healthy communities, and when they crumble, so do the structures that hold us together. Parents, employers, and community leaders alike need to advocate for policies and investments that prioritize childcare. When families thrive, communities flourish, and together, we can strengthen the future of New Hampshire.

Watch a recording of the yearlong research I conducted on fiscal investments in Montgomery County’s early care and education system. #earlycareandeducation #ECEsystem #zerotofive #fiscalmapping #fiscalinvestments #earlychildhood

The election is over and while much remains uncertain one thing is clear: early education and child care impacts families on both sides of the aisle. The work continues and we will keep fighting for a more affordable, accessible early education system for all. Join our fight ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5GAXBdi