For a child, the first five years last forever.
FEATURED PRIORITIES
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.
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.
Voters Put Child Care Front and Center in the Affordability Conversation
No matter where they live, voters are struggling with the high cost of living and see child care costs as a major part of the affordability crisis.
FFYF 2026 Head Start State Fact Sheets
These state fact sheets have data that show the impact of Head Start in all 50 states, including funding, enrollment, unmet need, and the reach of local programs and partnerships.
FFYF’S Sarah Rittling Named to TIME Magazine’s First Ever Visionaries List
TIME named First Five Years Fund Executive Director Sarah Rittling to the inaugural TIME Visionaries list recognizing leaders driving meaningful impact in the lives of children across education, health and wellness, technology, economic opportunity, and more.
Latest News
& Resources
2026 Oklahoma Poll: Voters Say Child Care Costs Add to Affordability Crisis, Want Action
New statewide polling from First Five Years Fund and the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness, finds that the high cost of child care is a significant part of broader affordability concerns among Oklahoma voters.
New Mississippi Poll: Child Care Costs Drive Affordability Concerns, Voters Want Lawmakers to Act
New statewide polling from First Five Years Fund and Mississippi First, finds that Mississippi voters are deeply concerned about affordability and the strain high child care costs are placing on family finances.
National and State Child Care Polling Roundup
No matter where they live, voters are concerned about affordability and the impact of child care costs on families.
