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Policy Bulletin: March 2026

Family Child Care Advocates and Supporters, Federal activity on child care continues in the 119th Congress, with several bills introduced that could impact how family child care is funded and supported. These proposals focus on areas like subsidy payments, workforce support, tax policy, nutrition, and broader system changes. Most of these bills are still in…

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FY2026 Child Care Funding Snapshot

Summary: The FY2026 Conference Bill sustains federal investment in child care. While funding is slightly increasing, the impact on Family Child Care (FCC) educators will be determined by how individual states choose to allocate these new dollars. 1. Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Total Funding: $8.831 billion Increase: +$85 million (~1%) Status: CCDBG…

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CACFP Updates during Government Shutdown

November 5, 2025 Dear Family Child Care Educators, As the federal government shutdown continues, NAFCC is closely tracking updates that affect your programs and the families you serve. We want to ensure that you have the most accurate information and practical resources available to you right now. According to the National CAFCP Association, the USDA…

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Urgent Action Required – H.R. 1 Threatens Family Child Care and Community Supports

Issued by: Ronald Jarrett, Director of Policy and Public Affairs Policy Focus: Federal Budget Reconciliation Action Status: Immediate Advocacy Needed Summary Congress is advancing H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that would significantly restructure programs that millions of families and home-based family child care educators rely on every day.…

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The Silent Threat to Family Child Care

The Problem: Family Child Care Is Being Quietly Pushed Out
 Family child care (FCC) is diminishing at an alarming rate. Nearly 100,000 licensed FCC programs have closed since 2012, representing a 35% national decline (National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, 2022). Despite being the most common licensed form of care in rural counties—where FCC…

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