Matthew Henry’s Post

For too long, America has viewed issues like #ChildCare as personal problems for moms to solve alone, rather than broad economic imperatives critical for families and the economy to thrive. Moms deserve better. We need leaders with a solid plan to address the child care crisis — and the time for waiting is over. In a recent article from The Chicago Tribune, our Chief Operating Officer, Molly Day, shares how child care shaped the 2024 election, the opportunities for the incoming administration, and why we must ensure that child care remains a top priority. Read the article by Sarah Freishtat here: https://lnkd.in/ezurC9J4

Read this great article about the real-life challenges families are experiencing during the child care crisis. 👏 This article features remarks from Emily Neff, the director of public policy at Trying Together! https://lnkd.in/d7gUZ_tA #ChildCareCrisis #FixChildCare #ChildCareMatters

📣 It's time for change! With new data on the state of #childcare, we urge policymakers to prioritize sustainable funding increases and policy changes to improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of child care. Join us to support working families and fortify the child care workforce. https://hubs.li/Q02zZN2P0

The “Childcare Cliff” and and State funding for childcare centers is not just about paying people a living wage. Or making sure our children have high — quality childcare — as if that isn’t important enough. It’s also about preventing the trauma of having people lose jobs because they cannot go to work if they don’t have childcare. It’s about children being protected by being in safe, stable, nurturing environments. It’s about people who have dedicated their lives and careers to caring for our children being treated with dignity and respect and the ability to earn a decent living. And business will soon find out it’s about keep the NC economy thriving because businesses don’t want to be where people are unable to focus on work because childcare is unstable, unreliable, or unsafe. This is fundamental. Legislators who don’t support this funding need to be turned out. Seriously. If you say you’re for families and don’t support funding this legislation and cause, there is a disconnect between your words and actions. Sharon Hirsch Emma Biggs Stephen Coggins Kristin Stout Benjamin Schachtman

📣 It's time for change! With new data on the state of #childcare, we urge policymakers to prioritize sustainable funding increases and policy changes to improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of child care. Join us to support working families and fortify the child care workforce. https://hubs.li/Q02zZN2P0

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐬: 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 The latest findings from the "Children’s Social Care in England 2024" report bring a wave of optimism and pride to our industry. With 83% of children's homes rated as outstanding or good, it's clear that our collective efforts are making a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable children across England. The report reveals a notable increase in the number of children's homes, with nearly 3,500 establishments now in operation. Impressively, 80% of these homes have been rated outstanding or good by inspection bodies. This reflects a substantial improvement from previous years and highlights the ongoing commitment to providing high-quality care. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 While celebrating these achievements, it's important to remain focused on continuous improvement. The journey doesn't end here. We must continue to strive for excellence, ensuring that every child in care has access to outstanding support and opportunities. Let this serve as a reminder of what we can achieve when we work together. It's a call to continue our efforts, share best practices, and support each other in the mission to provide the highest quality of care for every child in England. We should celebrate this success and use it as a foundation to build upon. Together, we can continue to make a difference and ensure that every child in care receives the love, support, and opportunities they deserve. For a detailed look at the findings, you can view the full report here. Let's keep this momentum going and continue to be proud of the incredible work being done in our industry.   #childrenshome #ofsted #childcare #outstandingrating #goodrating

💲 Urgent fact: The average cost of childcare for two children surpasses the cost of rent in all 50 states. This isn't just a financial strain, it's a crisis that's hitting moms across the U.S. the hardest. 💪The time for action is now. We can't wait any longer for answers, solutions, and actions from our leaders. We demand to know how they plan to combat the childcare crisis and relieve the burden of pushing countless families into debt. 🖤Last night, I had the honor of meeting with other members of #TheMotherhood, and so many of us echoed the same struggles. It was great to find a community and not feel so isolated, but it was also sad to know that so many of us feel the need to fight. 🌟Together, we can make a difference. Stand with us and @MomsFirst as we unite our voices and call on @CNN to prioritize child care in the upcoming presidential debate on 6/27. Let's make #Debates2024 a platform for change. 🖊️Sign the petition at https://lnkd.in/eZVXnAvz to show your support for affordable childcare and to make a difference in the lives of countless families. #PresidentialDebate 🎤 #ChildcareMatters 🍼 #SupportFamilies 👨👩👧👦 #MakeADifference ❗ #AffordableChildcare 💵 #Community 💞 #Motherhood 🦸♀️ #OpentoWork #LetsConnect #Connect #Network

🚫 Waitlist Woes: Did you know that 42% of child care providers surveyed by TXAEYC are grappling with waitlists? At the same time, higher wages in other fields are drawing away potential staff. This double-edged sword is making it harder for centers to operate smoothly. Let's come together to find solutions and support our child care providers! Click this link to read the full results of the survey: 🔗 https://buff.ly/4j9VAUe #ChildCareChallenges #StaffingSolutions #CommunitySupport

Despite the undeniable benefits of affordable, high-quality child care, #CT's child care providers are struggling to stay open. The challenges are immense: low wages, limited benefits, staff shortages, and overwhelming paperwork—all contributing to burnout. Public subsidies cover just 34-58% of the market rate, leaving providers in a financial bind. For example, family child care providers relying on these subsidies would earn only $8.14 per hour—less than minimum wage. The impact? A 47% reduction in licensed family child care (FCC) homes from 2002 - 2023. Keeping providers open means more children in quality care, more parents able to work, and a stronger Connecticut economy. To reverse this trend, we need increased state investment in #earlycare and education, alongside better support for the #ECE workforce. #PoliciesForThePeople #ChildCareForAll