News & Resources
FEATURED PRIORITES
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.
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2024 Candidate Briefing Book: Voters and Child Care
An election year provides an important opportunity to highlight issues that are top of mind for voters. In 2024, there is a growing sense of urgency around child care. Voters …
The First Five Questions for: Senators Tim Kaine and Katie Britt
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) hosted Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) in the latest segment of our First Five Question Series – a …
Head Start Final Rule Makes Big Changes to Staff Compensation, Program Eligibility, and More
The Office of Head Start (OHS) published the final rule on August 21st, titled Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming, updating the Head Start Program Performance Standards. …
JOB POSTING: Operations Director & Chief of Staff
FFYF is no longer accepting applications for this position. Thank you for your interest!
Safety, Quality, and Accountability: Understanding Child Care and Early Learning Regulations
There are numerous policies in place to ensure the safety and quality of care for young children. Understanding the different levels of oversight that hold early care and education (ECE) …
State Of Play: Federal Child Care Solutions Gain Steam Going Into The August Recess
June and July brought a lot of Congressional momentum, with multiple pieces of proposed legislation that would bring better support to more working families and young children who need quality, …
Spotlight On: Child Care and the 2024 Olympics
There have been many memorable moments from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Steve, the Pommel Horse guy. Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav bringing the fun as Ambassadors. Simone Biles, …
Senate Appropriators Propose Increased Funding for Child Care and Early Learning Programs
WASHINGTON – This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee proposed $2.3 billion in increased funding for federal child care and early learning programs as part of their markup of the FY2025 …
The First Five Things to Know About: The Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2024
Working families across the country rely on quality child care, but for too many families, child care remains hard to find and even harder to afford. The federal Child Care …
STATEMENT: First Five Years Fund In Support of the Newly Introduced Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2024
Washington – Today, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG), the primary federal child care program that helps working families …
Senators Kaine and Britt Introduce New Bipartisan Child Care Plan
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced a bipartisan package that will help lower the cost and boost the supply of child care for …
