First Five Years Fund

This bill would: 1) Award grants to eligible partnerships such as institutions of higher education, childcare providers, or relevant workforce training programs with schools and 2) Establish, expand, or support career and technical education and career pathway programs of study in early childhood education.

The bipartisan Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act has been re-introduced! Led by @CongressmanGT, @RepLucyMcBath, @RepMikeLawler, @JohnMannionNY22, @RepJenKiggans, @RepBonamici this legislation would help address the child care workforce shortage. gantnews.com/2026/05/26/tho…

Last week, Groundwork Ohio was on Capitol Hill for the First Five Federal-State Partnership Summit hosted by First Five Years Fund, advocating for Ohio’s youngest children and families. Our team met with 10 Ohio congressional offices to discuss the importance of strong federal investments in early learning and child care programs that help children thrive and support working families across Ohio. Congress is making important funding decisions right now about programs like Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) — and lawmakers need to hear from all of us. Tell Congress to Support Strong Federal Investments in Early Childhood: secure.everyaction.com/gOs3-t7TKEeW2r…

Check out this article in @mtnstspotlight from @trerspencer1 on the child care challenges facing families in WV. This piece highlights the steep prices for families, financial issues for providers, and the child care demand outpacing supply. mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/05/22/chi…

Child care makes it work! Thank you @SenatorFischer, @SenatorCollins, and @SenatorHick for speaking with advocates from across the nation about the importance of child care and their work with @SenGillibrand on the bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act. #ChildCareMakesItWork

Check out this article from @WMUR9 by @AnnieJennemann about growing child care affordability issues for parents. With costs rising, families face the difficult options, including having less children or leaving the workforce altogether. wmur.com/article/rising…

🎂 Happy 61st Birthday, Head Start! Head Start has a long history of giving kids a strong start through comprehensive early learning, health, and nutrition services. Across the early learning landscape, the Head Start Program is upheld as a benchmark for high quality early learning and care. Join us in celebrating this essential program!

Our featured CCDBG state of the day is MICHIGAN! In Michigan, families with the CCDBG subsidy can save families over $12K a year. You can find out how CCDBG supports families in your state here: ffyf.org/2026/04/30/ccd… @SenatorSlotkin @BekiSanMartin1 @isalohgo

Today’s CCDBG state is COLORADO! AZ families with the CCDBG subsidy can save approximately over $16K a year on child care costs. Find out how much families in your state can save here: ffyf.org/2026/04/30/ccd… @SenatorHick @EricaBreunlin @CPRBrundin

Today we are highlighting CCDBG in NEVADA! Working parents in NV can save over $10K a year on child care costs with the CCDBG subsidy. @SenCortezMasto @SenJackyRosen @rociohzz @aprilcore Find your state here: ffyf.org/2026/04/30/ccd…

Today’s featured CCDBG state is ARIZONA! Families in AZ with the CCDBG subsidy can save over $15K a year on child care costs. That’s big savings for parents struggling to make ends meet. Find your state here: ffyf.org/2026/04/30/ccd… @SenMarkKelly @SenRubenGallego @AlexandraHardle

Thank you Senator @PattyMurray for highlighting our new report showing that CCDBG saves participating Washington families nearly $19,000 a year on child care. Senator Murray has worked tirelessly to champion this program and secure historic funding increases to help more families access affordable child care. Learn more: ffyf.org/ccdbg-state-sh…

Today we are highlighting CCDBG in NEW YORK! NY families can save tens of thousands of dollars a year with the CCDBG subsidy, taking some of the financial burden off of working parents. Find your state here: ffyf.org/2026/04/30/ccd… @SenGillibrand @DanaGoldstein @melissm8

Today's featured CCDBG state is VIRGINIA! In VA, this federal program helps families save thousands of dollars a year on child care costs, making life more affordable for working parents. Find your state here: ffyf.org/2026/04/30/ccd… @MarkWarner @SenTimKaine @Megan__Pauly

Great to see child care and Head Start at the Clever Bee Academy get a spotlight with this week's visit from @HHSGov Secretary. And thanks to @Shaun_Hegarty for highlighting the impact these programs have for so many little learners! 👏

The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) makes child care more affordable for working families nationwide! FFYF has an exciting new collection of fact sheets that has all of the data you need on this important federal child care program. ffyf.org/ccdbg-state-sh…

Child care challenges look different for every family, but federal child care funding supports parents in all 50 states. Check out our brand new CCDBG state fact sheets to find out how CCDBG supports your state: FFYF.org/CCDBG-state-sh…

With Mother’s Day approaching, working mothers around the country are speaking up about their struggle to find affordable child care. FFYF’s @SarahRittling recently spoke with @SpectrumNews1KY on these challenges faced by working parents and employers. Take a look! spectrumnews1.com/ky/lexington/n…

Dive deeper into FFYF's CCDBG state fact sheets with policy expert, Abbie Lieberman! She will walk you through several important sections that show how this federal child care programs helps support families. Visit FFYF.org/CCDBG-state-sh… to find your state.