Advocacy is Action is NAFCC’s annual campaign mobilizing family child care educators, allies, and advocates to drive real policy change during the Congressional recess. Beginning August 11, 2025, educators across the country will rise in unified action to protect and strengthen the future of family child care.
This year’s campaign comes at a turning point. Family child care continues to be squeezed out of the system, despite being the backbone of early care in rural, multilingual, and underserved communities. With nearly 100,000 FCC programs lost since 2012, and more closures looming, the stakes are higher than ever.
What We’re Fighting For in 2025
This year’s focus is clear: bold federal action that centers and protects family child care.
We’re calling on Congress to:
- Fully fund the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) at more than $13 billion in FY2026, ensuring a fair share goes to FCC educators.
- Preserve and expand Head Start and Early Head Start investments, with a directive to better engage FCC providers.
- Include FCC voices in all federal child care decisions, from data collection to program design.
FCC educators are early childhood educators, small business owners, and cultural anchors in their communities. Federal policy must reflect their value—and ensure their survival.
Many Right Ways to Advocate
Starting August 11, join the movement wherever you are:
- Contact Your Members of Congress
Use the NAFCC Action Center to find your Senators and Representatives. - Send a Letter
Use our templates or write your own to share your story. Your experiences make the strongest case for change. - Mobilize Locally
FCC educators and supporters will host congressional meetings in Virginia, California, Florida, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Texas, Massachusetts, Washington, North Carolina and Tennessee. - Spread the Word
Use social media, share with your networks, and amplify the campaign using #AdvocacyIsAction. Every voice matters. - Host a We Are Family Child Care documentary watch party
- Sample discussion questions
- Tips for engaging attendees
- Become a Member
- Stay connected with your peers
- Help grow the movement by joining NAFCC today
- Text to Give
- Support NAFCC’s ongoing advocacy work with a monetary contribution
- Every gift helps protect and advance the future of family child care
- Details coming soon.
Why Now?
During August recess, your Members of Congress are in your state. This is the moment to:
- Invite them to visit your program
- Tell them what’s at stake
- Demand action that centers family child care.
This Is About Survival and Justice
If Congress fails to act, more FCC programs will disappear. More families will lose access to care. And the most flexible, community-based, culturally rooted form of early education will edge closer to extinction.
But if we act together—loudly, clearly, and persistently—we can change the future.
Join us beginning August 11, 2025. Advocacy is Action, and we won’t be ignored.
