Quality, affordable child care

Families want and need access to quality, affordable child care that offers their children a safe environment, nurturing relationships with caring adults, and positive early learning experiences, while supporting their own ability to work. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic further destabilized an already fragile, underfunded child care system that falls short of what babies and families need to thrive and our economy needs to stay strong., Robust public funding is needed to ensure that all families have access to the high-quality programs where and when they need them, and that providers are well compensated for their skills and receive the supports that they need.. Doing so will not only support our economy, but will ensure today’s babies and toddlers – arrive at school ready to learn and prepared for future success.

The Child Care for Working Families Act

This bill would ensure families have access to quality child care options that meet their diverse needs and support their children’s healthy development. It would ensure that no families pay no more than 7 percent of their income for child care, with particular attention to the need to invest in and build a supply of high-quality infant and toddler care. It would also provide increased access to training and professional development, as well as increased compensation for the early educators who do the critical work of caring for our young children.

What it could mean for babies:

More families across the country would have access to high-quality, affordable child care. This would provide more babies and toddlers, including children with disabilities, with the developmental support they need to arrive at school ready to learn and prepared for future success.