FFYF Statement on White House’s “Making Care Work” 

On Wednesday, April 17, the White House brought together governors, advocates, and business leaders to underscore the important role child care plays not only in supporting working families but in strengthening the economy and fostering economic growth. The “Making Care Work” virtual summit highlighted ways government agencies are implementing last year’s executive order directing cabinet-level agencies to determine how they can encourage grantees to provide supportive services for workers. The White House also announced that the Department of Commerce will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in cohosting the first National Child Care Innovation Summit this summer.  

FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling released the following statement in response: 

“Today’s White House announcement is a compelling example of the far-reaching implications that child care challenges have on our families, our children, and our economy. More importantly, it showcases the need for a wide range of approaches, particularly those spearheaded by employers, federal agencies, and governors. Employers today realize that providing child care support for employees with young children has increasingly become a necessity for running a successful business. Working parents urgently need affordable child care options that fit the needs of their families. We look forward to working with the White House, Congress, and the business community to advance solutions that help meet the needs of children, families, providers, and employers.”

Highlights from the event include: 

• The announcement that the Department of Commerce (DOC) will co host the first National Child Care Innovation Summit this summer with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the vital role of child care as economic infrastructure and encouraging action by the private sector as an ally and force multiplier to the public sector.
• The release of the new Seven Facts About the Economics of Child Care from the White House Council of Economic Advisers which highlights seven reasons the economics of child care necessitate policy interventions
• And the release of the Advancing Care as a Supportive Service guide to federal funding streams for which supportive services — such as child care — is a required, allowable, or encouraged use of funds.

Read the full fact sheet here.