First Five Action
@firstfiveaction.bsky.social
Supporting efforts to ensure all children from birth through age five have equal access to affordable, comprehensive, high-quality care and education.
Vermont's "Act 76 allowed thousands of kids to newly enroll in the state’s expanded child care tuition assistance program, and over 100 new care providers have launched statewide." Read on to learn how Vermont is putting federal funds to good use: vtdigger.org/2026/01/13/n...
New federal funds to help Vermont keep up with rapid changes to child care and Pre-K - VTDigger
Building Bright Futures Director Morgan Crossman called the funding “critical” in a year when state lawmakers face especially tough budgeting decisions.
vtdigger.org
January 31, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Vermont's "Act 76 allowed thousands of kids to newly enroll in the state’s expanded child care tuition assistance program, and over 100 new care providers have launched statewide." Read on to learn how Vermont is putting federal funds to good use: vtdigger.org/2026/01/13/n...
We joined a group of national organizations to issue a joint statement on the federal child care program – read it here: https://www.ffyf.org/2026/01/13/joint-statement-national-organizations-on-federal-child-care-program/
JOINT STATEMENT: National Organizations on Federal Child Care Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is a federal state partnership that makes it possible for hundreds of thousands of families
www.ffyf.org
January 29, 2026 at 8:55 PM
We joined a group of national organizations to issue a joint statement on the federal child care program – read it here: https://www.ffyf.org/2026/01/13/joint-statement-national-organizations-on-federal-child-care-program/
Research shows 1 in 5 families face child care hardships because of child care expenses, and that single mothers are the most affected.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/14/child-care-cost-cuts/
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/14/child-care-cost-cuts/
Parents are cutting back on child care as costs stretch budgets
Research shows 1 in 5 families face child care hardships because of the expense, with single mothers most affected.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Research shows 1 in 5 families face child care hardships because of child care expenses, and that single mothers are the most affected.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/14/child-care-cost-cuts/
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/14/child-care-cost-cuts/
"Babies tend to have signs of delayed brain development if their caregivers are struggling to make ends meet, researchers reported Jan. 5 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."
www.usnews.com/news/health-...
www.usnews.com/news/health-...
www.usnews.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:14 PM
"Babies tend to have signs of delayed brain development if their caregivers are struggling to make ends meet, researchers reported Jan. 5 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."
www.usnews.com/news/health-...
www.usnews.com/news/health-...
Although 2025 is done & dusted, it's crucial and encouraging to look back at the progress we have made last year. Here are 10 bright spots for child care from 2025. 👇
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/2025/
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/2025/
10 Bright Spots for Child Care and Early Learning in 2025
Together, these 10 bright spots in 2025 lay a strong foundation for continued progress in supporting children and families nationwide.
www.ffyf.org
January 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Although 2025 is done & dusted, it's crucial and encouraging to look back at the progress we have made last year. Here are 10 bright spots for child care from 2025. 👇
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/2025/
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/2025/
What is home-based care? It's when kiddos are "educated by adults other than their parents in home-based settings." Read more 👇
https://hechingerreport.org/what-the-us-can-teach-other-countries-about-home-based-child-care/
https://hechingerreport.org/what-the-us-can-teach-other-countries-about-home-based-child-care/
What the US can teach other countries about home-based child care
Around 1,000 people from different countries attended a conference hosted by the National Association for Family Child Care, to discuss how home-based early learning programs face similar challenges a...
hechingerreport.org
January 15, 2026 at 6:54 PM
What is home-based care? It's when kiddos are "educated by adults other than their parents in home-based settings." Read more 👇
https://hechingerreport.org/what-the-us-can-teach-other-countries-about-home-based-child-care/
https://hechingerreport.org/what-the-us-can-teach-other-countries-about-home-based-child-care/
Fraud at any level is unacceptable and takes valuable child care away from eligible families. Here's our take: https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2026/01/ffyf-briefing-room-accountability-and-oversight-essential/
FFYF Briefing Room: Accountability and Oversight, Essential To Affordable Child Care
Concerning reports of fraud in Minnesota have given cause for a broader understanding of how the federal child care program works. Fraud at any level is unacceptable and must be investigated and roote...
www.ffyf.org
January 9, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Fraud at any level is unacceptable and takes valuable child care away from eligible families. Here's our take: https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2026/01/ffyf-briefing-room-accountability-and-oversight-essential/
Congress has just 2️⃣ 3️⃣ days to protect and strengthen child care funding in our country.
January 7, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Congress has just 2️⃣ 3️⃣ days to protect and strengthen child care funding in our country.
Take action with us! You can send an email, make a call, or post on social media in support of child care access: https://www.ffyf.org/take-action/
Take Action - First Five Years Fund
Your voice is needed to expand and sustain federal support for families, children, and our economy
www.ffyf.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Take action with us! You can send an email, make a call, or post on social media in support of child care access: https://www.ffyf.org/take-action/
28 days until the Congressional deadline for appropriations – including funding for child care and early learning programs.
January 2, 2026 at 4:20 PM
28 days until the Congressional deadline for appropriations – including funding for child care and early learning programs.
Happy New Year! We’re so excited to hit the ground running this year and protect and bolster funding for child care, nationwide.
January 1, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Happy New Year! We’re so excited to hit the ground running this year and protect and bolster funding for child care, nationwide.
We join everyone in bidding goodbye to 2025. Warm wishes for 2026! See you next year. 😉
December 31, 2025 at 4:15 PM
We join everyone in bidding goodbye to 2025. Warm wishes for 2026! See you next year. 😉
“Child care centers on U.S. military bases continue to grapple with an employee turnover rate as high as 50% after one year.” Better pay, benefits, and schedules could help. https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-12-09/child-care-staffing-shortages-rand-study-20022468.html
How can the Pentagon reduce child care waitlists? Better pay, benefits and schedules for workers, report says
Military base child care centers continue to grapple with an employee turnover rate as high as 50% after one year, according to Rand Corp. research.
www.stripes.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“Child care centers on U.S. military bases continue to grapple with an employee turnover rate as high as 50% after one year.” Better pay, benefits, and schedules could help. https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-12-09/child-care-staffing-shortages-rand-study-20022468.html
"Cost Estimation Models allow states to better align provider payment rates with the actual cost of providing quality child care." Explore the benefits:
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/cost-estimation-models-increasing-child-care-stability-through-more-accurate-provider-payment-rates/
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/cost-estimation-models-increasing-child-care-stability-through-more-accurate-provider-payment-rates/
Cost Estimation Models: Increasing Child Care Stability
Cost Estimation Models allow states to better align provider payment rates with the actual cost of providing quality child care.
www.ffyf.org
December 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
"Cost Estimation Models allow states to better align provider payment rates with the actual cost of providing quality child care." Explore the benefits:
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/cost-estimation-models-increasing-child-care-stability-through-more-accurate-provider-payment-rates/
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/cost-estimation-models-increasing-child-care-stability-through-more-accurate-provider-payment-rates/
"High child care costs and return-to-office policies are leading working mothers to leave the labor force."
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/child-care-costs-impact-working-mothers-as-high-prices-strain-families-254005829568
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/child-care-costs-impact-working-mothers-as-high-prices-strain-families-254005829568
Working mothers leave work force as child care costs rise
High child care costs and return-to-office policies are leading working mothers to leave the labor force. NBC News’ Christine Romans spoke with a mother of two who was forced to resign to take care of...
www.nbcnews.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:16 PM
"High child care costs and return-to-office policies are leading working mothers to leave the labor force."
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/child-care-costs-impact-working-mothers-as-high-prices-strain-families-254005829568
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/child-care-costs-impact-working-mothers-as-high-prices-strain-families-254005829568
Congress must pass the FY26 Labor-HHS-Education bill to ensure full-year funding for the programs that support child care and early learning for families around the country.
Act Now 👇
https://www.ffyf.org/take-action/
Act Now 👇
https://www.ffyf.org/take-action/
Take Action - First Five Years Fund
Your voice is needed to expand and sustain federal support for families, children, and our economy
www.ffyf.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Congress must pass the FY26 Labor-HHS-Education bill to ensure full-year funding for the programs that support child care and early learning for families around the country.
Act Now 👇
https://www.ffyf.org/take-action/
Act Now 👇
https://www.ffyf.org/take-action/
From everyone here at FFA and the First Five Years Fund, we wish you and all your loved ones a happy holiday season.
December 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
From everyone here at FFA and the First Five Years Fund, we wish you and all your loved ones a happy holiday season.
41 days until Congress must take decisive action to fund the government, and we demand that they prioritize funding child care and early learning programs (like Head Start!).
December 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
41 days until Congress must take decisive action to fund the government, and we demand that they prioritize funding child care and early learning programs (like Head Start!).
"The 28/36 rule states that no more than 28% of your gross household income should go toward housing, and no more than 36% of your gross household income on housing, child care costs, and all debt."
www.investopedia.com/average-fami...
www.investopedia.com/average-fami...
Average Families Face Financial Strain: The Challenge of Home Buying and Child Care Costs
With rising housing and child care costs, many families struggle to follow the 28/36 rule when budgeting monthly expenses, making homeownership a challenge.
www.investopedia.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
"The 28/36 rule states that no more than 28% of your gross household income should go toward housing, and no more than 36% of your gross household income on housing, child care costs, and all debt."
www.investopedia.com/average-fami...
www.investopedia.com/average-fami...
"One in 10 children in the United States under the age of 5 currently suffers from a mental health issue." Head Start plays a crucial role in addressing youth mental wellness.
https://edsource.org/updates/head-start-provides-needed-mental-health-services-study-finds
https://edsource.org/updates/head-start-provides-needed-mental-health-services-study-finds
December 15, 2025 at 11:26 PM
"One in 10 children in the United States under the age of 5 currently suffers from a mental health issue." Head Start plays a crucial role in addressing youth mental wellness.
https://edsource.org/updates/head-start-provides-needed-mental-health-services-study-finds
https://edsource.org/updates/head-start-provides-needed-mental-health-services-study-finds
Rachael McKinney, president of Sutter Health’s Greater Sacramento Division, got her "start" at Head Start.
https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/leaders-head-start-leads-to-investments-in-healthier-communities/
https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/leaders-head-start-leads-to-investments-in-healthier-communities/
Her Head Start Leads to Investments for Healthier Communities | Vitals
At left, Sutter Health’s Greater Sacramento Division President Rachael McKinney is shown graduating from the Head Start program. At right, she receives her Fellow of the American College of Healthcare...
vitals.sutterhealth.org
December 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Rachael McKinney, president of Sutter Health’s Greater Sacramento Division, got her "start" at Head Start.
https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/leaders-head-start-leads-to-investments-in-healthier-communities/
https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/leaders-head-start-leads-to-investments-in-healthier-communities/
"[T]here are a few tax provisions out there that can help offset the rising costs of raising young children." What you need to know:
https://www.miamitimesonline.com/business/it-s-open-enrollment-season-do-you-know-what-your-child-care-options-are/article_8308299d-0cb9-4a0b-a95a-8a0bdb132277.html
https://www.miamitimesonline.com/business/it-s-open-enrollment-season-do-you-know-what-your-child-care-options-are/article_8308299d-0cb9-4a0b-a95a-8a0bdb132277.html
It’s open enrollment season. Do you know what your child care options are?
The United States spends less on child care than almost any other developed nation, leaving parents to foot most of the cost, which can put a significant strain on any
www.miamitimesonline.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:34 PM
"[T]here are a few tax provisions out there that can help offset the rising costs of raising young children." What you need to know:
https://www.miamitimesonline.com/business/it-s-open-enrollment-season-do-you-know-what-your-child-care-options-are/article_8308299d-0cb9-4a0b-a95a-8a0bdb132277.html
https://www.miamitimesonline.com/business/it-s-open-enrollment-season-do-you-know-what-your-child-care-options-are/article_8308299d-0cb9-4a0b-a95a-8a0bdb132277.html
"Two updates to childcare-related benefits will kick in on Jan. 1 of next year."
https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/12/01/republican-tax-bill-employee-benefits-2026
https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/12/01/republican-tax-bill-employee-benefits-2026
December 12, 2025 at 11:21 PM
"Two updates to childcare-related benefits will kick in on Jan. 1 of next year."
https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/12/01/republican-tax-bill-employee-benefits-2026
https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/12/01/republican-tax-bill-employee-benefits-2026
First 🖐️ Things to Know about Employer-Provided Child Care Credit...
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/the-first-five-things-to-know-about-employer-provided-child-care-credit-45f/
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/the-first-five-things-to-know-about-employer-provided-child-care-credit-45f/
The First Five Things to Know About: Employer-Provided Child Care Credit (45F)
In the United States, two-thirds of young children live in households where all available parents are working. meaning child care is essential for
www.ffyf.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
First 🖐️ Things to Know about Employer-Provided Child Care Credit...
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/the-first-five-things-to-know-about-employer-provided-child-care-credit-45f/
https://www.ffyf.org/resources/2025/12/the-first-five-things-to-know-about-employer-provided-child-care-credit-45f/
WATCH NOW - How the government shutdown has impacted families, and child care centers are still recovering.
https://www.livenowfox.com/video/1741822
https://www.livenowfox.com/video/1741822
Head Start, childcare programs, suffer after shutdown
We are hearing reports that thousands of children in several states across the U.S. remain locked out of Head Start programming as of last Friday. This information comes from the National Head Start A...
www.livenowfox.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
WATCH NOW - How the government shutdown has impacted families, and child care centers are still recovering.
https://www.livenowfox.com/video/1741822
https://www.livenowfox.com/video/1741822