This month’s edition of “On the Move” offers a fresh look at the impactful work happening within the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). Our members and staff continue to travel far and wide, engaging in critical conversations, advocating for meaningful policy changes, and building strong networks to advance quality child care across the nation. Whether it’s attending pivotal advocacy events or collaborating with educators and supporters, our team remains committed to elevating the voice of family child care providers and making a tangible difference in communities nationwide.
Erica Phillips, NAFCC Executive Director, participated in a panel discussion at the National Conference for State Legislators Summit from Aug 5-7 in Louisville, Kentucky. She presented on the family child care industry, learnings from COVID funding and the role of policymakers in stabilizing and supporting the ECE field.
Maria Amado, NAFCC CT State Representative, and Francia Wisnewski, Director of Membership, participated in a Round Table on Child Care and Cost of Living, held at Slocum Elementary School in Waterbury, CT. The event featured prominent leaders, including U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. Their discussion focused on the pressing issues affecting child care and the rising cost of living in the state.
Corrine Hendrickson, a proud NAFCC member and owner of Corrine’s Little Explorers, recently took the stage during the Wisconsin stop of the Care Can’t Wait Bus Tour. She shared her insights as a dedicated family child care provider. Her participation highlighted the vital role of child care in supporting families across the state.
NAFCC State Representative Tiffany Jones and Policy Fellow Kenia Reinoso recently hosted a Family Child Care program visit with Senior Staffer Karen Hendricks from Senator Chris Van Hollen’s office.
Kathy Baker, a Family Child Care Educator from West Virginia, held a virtual meeting with staffers from Senator Joe Manchin’s office to advocate for increased child care funding. She was joined by fellow family child care educators and NAFCC staff members in this important discussion. Their collective efforts aimed to highlight the urgent need for more support in the child care sector.
Care Can’t Wait: Apex, North Carolina
The Care Can’t Wait team made a stop in Apex, NC, where Yesy Robles-Brown joined caregivers and family child care providers to advocate for healthcare and childcare funding. Organized by Beth Messersmith of MomsRising, the event included powerful testimonies and discussions about paid family leave and the challenges early childhood professional educators face in securing sustainable support. Yesy had the honor of meeting Ai-jen Poo, the national organizer, and key state officials, including Mayor Jacques Gilbert, Representative Maria Cervania, and Deputy Secretary ClarLynda R. Williams-DeVane. Parents also shared their struggles balancing work and childcare, highlighting the urgent need for better resources and support.
Yesy & Tiffany at Care Can’t Wait in NYC
Dezireé Mattocks, NAFCC Director of Professional Development, played a pivotal role at the Build Initiative’s QI Summit 2024 in Minneapolis. Her presentation highlighted NAFCC’s high-quality national networking strategies, including the Professional Development Academy, National Accreditation Program, membership offerings, policy and advocacy initiatives, and partnerships with key stakeholders. These efforts aim to improve outcomes for children, families, and home-based child care programs. By sharing her insights at the summit, she enriched the conversation on elevating child care quality and strengthening networks in early learning.
Jocelyn Jones, NAFCC Training Specialist, and Tessie Ragan, CA State Representative and Leaders Shaping Leaders Alum, participated in the annual National Parent Leadership Training Institute (NPLTI). The NPLTI, a program of the National Parent Leadership Institute, is a key partner in NAFCC’s Leaders Shaping Leaders fellowship.
Community Mobilization: Family child care educators organized grassroots activities and participated in national movements, such as the Care Can’t Wait bus tour, uniting communities around the call for equitable funding and policies that support their work. NAFCC New York State Rep, Tiffany Taylor, and NAFCC Chief of Staff, Yesy Robles-Brown, joined the New York City stop advocating for increased and sustained funding for family child care programs.
