For a child, the first five years last forever.
FEATURED PRIORITIES
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.
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.
Proposed FY27 House Funding Levels for Child Care and Early Learning Programs
On June 4th, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee released its FY2027 funding proposal, including federal investments in child care and early learning programs.
Child Care Across America: 2026 CCDBG State Fact Sheets
FFYF has a new series of fact sheets which provide state-specific data on how CCDBG works, who it serves, and how it is funded.
Latest News
& Resources
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: How It Works
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) is the only tax credit specifically designed to help families offset the costs of child care while they work, attend school, or look for work.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program Overview
TANF provides grants to states to help design and operate programs that support low-income families, including through increased access to child care and early education opportunities, which helps parents to …
Key Takeaways from the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book
The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released their 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, which has been measuring child well-being across states since 1990.
