Citizens'​ Committee for Children of New York’s Post

The child care crisis is a growing concern across the U.S., but Vermont’s recent legislative success offers a beacon of hope. With nearly 20% of Vermont’s child care providers fearing closure just last year, state officials took decisive action. A new law, passed in May 2023, has since increased financial assistance for families and improved pay for child care workers, leading to the opening of 1,000 new child care spaces. The initial results are promising, with a dramatic shift in the outlook for child care providers. Dive into how Vermont’s approach could serve as a model for other states grappling with similar challenges at Route Fifty: https://lnkd.in/d-gMi__4

Congress may be a source of inaction when it comes to getting working families access to affordable and quality child care, but that isn't holding back SEIU child care providers from organizing and leading at the state level. Check out this in-depth piece on the contract victories secured by Child Care Providers United (CCPU), a joint union of SEIU and AFSCME in CA that organized with coalition partners to secure meaningful victories to support child care providers and families in their current contract. These victories will be a foundation that we continue to build on as we fight to reimagine the nation's child care system and work to ensure that all child care workers are able to have good, sustainable union care jobs. https://lnkd.in/eBisNyWB

Reaching accross the aisle support the workforce of today and tomorrow? Yes, Please! Reaching across the aisle to support a thriving economy? Yes, Please! https://lnkd.in/gWSiaAex Transforming challenges into opportunties for every child, regardless of their zip code. #boostingsupply #loweringcosts4families

“The impact of the child care crisis does not end with families. It affects our country’s economic growth. A 2023 report found that the U.S. child care crisis has an economic toll of $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity and revenue every year. Tens of thousands of people miss work every month due to child care issues.’ We applaud everyone working to eliminate this crisis! At MomSub we are already implementing solutions that reduce the cost of in-home child care, grow the pool of providers, and increase average pay to child care workers. Our corporate program gives companies access to a benefit that reduces absenteeism, boosts recruitment, increases retention, improves productivity and shows working parents they care about their challenges Reach out to me to see how you can join the movement by getting your company on board to turn around this economic toll and help working parents. #childcare #workingmoms #nanny #sitter #caregiver #absenteeism #recruiting #retention #productivity #economicimpact

From EdNC: "With calls from parents, businesses, and advocates to ease the burden of unaffordable child care last year, legislators created a two-year pilot called Tri-Share in the budget, based on a model in Michigan, that splits the cost of child care between participating businesses, eligible employees, and the state government." Learn more about this pilot program and how our friends at The North Carolina Partnership for Children are helping to make child care more affordable for families! https://lnkd.in/ejCNAacv

Child care is infrastructure and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark has a legislative package to make essential investments in facilities and workforce. Here are the first 5 things you need to know about her child care package: https://lnkd.in/eywndMQG

“As many as 20% of child care programs would close within a year after the federal funding ends.” Last week’s passage of $67.5 million in relief funding for child care is being celebrated as a major win. However, this funding is only a temporary measure, covering reduced compensation grants through December and insufficient to fully sustain programs. As the state legislature works on a longer-term budget, the child care industry continues to grapple with financial challenges, highlighting the critical need for a sustainable solution to ensure high-quality care and economic stability. Read More Below: https://lnkd.in/e6_f25Xx

Affordable, high-quality child care enables parents to work and pursue career opportunities, contributing to economic growth. However, the current state of child care remains challenging, with costs significantly exceeding the federal affordability benchmark and limited access to subsidies due to stagnant funding. Recent progress, such as the Biden-Harris Administration’s rule capping family spending on child care of 7% of income, is a positive step. Yet, with pandemic relief funds expiring in September 2024, these gains are at risk. Creating a well-resourced, publicly funded child care system that is universally accessible and affordable is a crucial path forward. This system should address systemic inequities and ensure fair wages and benefits for providers. Robust funding and transformative legislation will support parents, children, and providers, fostering a stronger economy and a brighter future for all. https://brnw.ch/21wMsIz

TODAY’S MUST READ: Jessica Grose's latest piece in The New York Times highlights the grim reality of child care challenges… and the hope for the future. From bipartisanship to incremental change, read about what it's going to take to address child care challenges: https://lnkd.in/dJxP-yWY

More than 14.4 million—67.8 percent—of children in the U.S. have all available parents in the workforce. But a dire lack of access to affordable, high-quality child care often forces families to make difficult decisions between working or caring for their children. This recent overview from the Center for American Progress highlights how several states are responding to the end of COVID-19 pandemic funding from the U.S. government. While many states have passed new legislation or identified new investments to bolster child care, North Carolina as a state is continuing to struggle. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eHD4HYiJ