Child Care

Quality childcare is essential for young children’s safety, health, and development. And parents cannot work without confidence that their children are well cared-for during the work day. But today, federal investments fall well short of the need. In fact, more than 40 percent of infants and toddlers are in substandard child care environments. First Focus is working for stronger federal policy to improve both child care quality and affordability.
Resources
Comments on changes to the Household Pulse Survey
| May 31, 2023 |
First Focus on Children submitted the following comment to the Office of Chief Information Officer of the Commerce Department. Excerpt from the Comment: For …
WATCH: Advocates Rally for #CareNotCuts
First Focus Campaign for Children | April 26, 2023 |
Faith leaders, service providers, and advocates joined members of Congress today in holding a rally and press conference opposing the House budget plan. The …
Statement: Tackling the nation’s child care crisis
| April 18, 2023 |
In response to President Biden’s announcement today of executive actions to improve child care, First Focus on Children President Bruce Lesley issued the following statement: “We …
30 years after FMLA, children & families need more
Averi Pakulis, Cara Baldari, First Focus Campaign for Children | February 3, 2023 |
Thirty years ago, Congress passed, and the president signed into law, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which enabled some workers, for the …
What’s at stake for kids if Congress doesn’t pass Build Back Better
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald (Former Staff), Conor Sasner (Former Staff), Elaine Dalpiaz, Haley Winter, Kathy Sacco, Michelle Dallafior, Miriam Abaya, Olivia Gomez (Former Staff), First Focus Campaign for Children | December 22, 2021 |
As negotiations have stalled and the fate of the Build Back Better Act hangs in the balance, children stand to lose access to monthly …
Congress has a chance to get child care right. They need to take it.
Averi Pakulis, Conor Sasner (Former Staff), Elijah Nishiura | October 6, 2021 |
Once our children celebrate their 5th birthday, they are welcomed into a public school system that can provide valuable benefits to them and their …
Watch: Child Care: It’s (not just) a Kids Issue | #ChildrensWeek2021
Michele Kayal | June 16, 2021 |
Child care and early learning offer critical developmental support to children, experts told a Children’s Week audience Wednesday, but they also provide vital infrastructure to the larger U.S. economy. “To think about child care as …
WATCH: The American Families Plan: What does it mean for kids? | #ChildrensWeek2021
Michele Kayal | June 14, 2021 |
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today urged viewers during the first event of Children’s Week 2021 to “be a voice for children” by writing …
Letter: The first — and next — 100 days
Bruce Lesley | May 4, 2021 |
First Focus on Children sent the following letter to President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris congratulating them on the achievements of their …
8 ways the American Families Plan offers historic progress for children
Michele Kayal | April 28, 2021 |
The American Families Plan, released today by President Biden, may be the most important piece of legislation for children in our nation’s recent history. …