White House Convening on Child Care

On September 27, First Five Years Fund (FFYF) attended the White House States Convening on Child Care, joining leaders from 34 states across the country as well as key stakeholders like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA), and the Alliance for Early Success in conversation about state progress and the promotion of increased investment in child care as a mechanism for economic growth. 

Amanda Guarino, FFYF’s Managing Director of Policy and National Partnerships, presented a federal “state of play” at the event, outlining the recent progress made by the Biden-Harris administration and Congress. She highlighted the successes of the 118th Congress, including the introduction of over 150 early learning and child care related bills, many of which have been bipartisan efforts around lowering costs for families, expanding access to quality care, supporting the child care workforce, and updating the tax code to modernize and expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).

Highlights from the administration also included the new Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and Head Start final rules, and the positive impact the changes will have on families across the country. Lastly, Guarino touched on the appropriations wins for child care and early learning over the past two fiscal years, as well as the details on the FY2025 funding outlook, including the passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the government until December 20, 2024.

The convening set the stage for state leaders and stakeholders to showcase improvements made since the 2023 White House Convening, including increased provider payment rates, the expansion of income eligibility for child care subsidies, and the inclusion of child care investments in their budgets. The Biden-Harris administration has demonstrated their commitment to supporting access to quality care and encouraging states to follow suit. FFYF was honored to be included among the state legislators and partner organizations and we look forward to continued work with both groups on behalf of children and families across the country.