NAFCC’s Policy Agenda
NAFCC urges Congress to invest in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG):
- for all eligible families to receive assistance/subsidy to afford the child care arrangement of their choice, and a choice among high-quality options including family child care
- for payment rates to child care programs that are sufficient for the cost of quality, including basic standards, compensation, and environments that foster quality early childhood and school-age experiences
- for successful implementation of health and safety reforms and quality improvement strategies that include and recognize family child care as the early childhood workforce; recognize the unique opportunities of family child care settings; and recognize family child care accreditation
NAFCC urges Congress to take action for child care. Let’s work together to recognize the role of family child care for families, in the early childhood field, and in policy decisions.
NEW: Principles for Child Care: A Vision for Investing in High-Quality, Affordable Child Care
NAFCC joins 25 other organizations to develop a set of principles for policymakers that includes family child care. As national leaders and candidates talk about the future of child care, any proposal should meet these principles:
- Quality – All children can receive high-quality child care.
- Access – Families can access the high-quality child care setting that best meets their needs.
- Affordability – Families can get the financial support they need to afford high-quality child care.
- Workforce – Early childhood professionals in all settings can receive the support, resources, and compensation they need to provide high-quality care and support their own families.
Support the Child Care for Working Families Act
The Child Care for Working Families Act, introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) calls for amending the Child Care and Development Block Grant, strengthening it with new investments and smart approaches including:
- Investing in providers on their path to quality of practice, paying for the cost of quality, and compensating the child care workforce for their crucial work.
- Ensuring that families can afford the child care arrangement of their choice, and acknowledging the diversity of families and their needs, including children with disabilities and families seeking reliable care for non-traditional hours.
- Encouraging states to recognize accreditation in state systems to build the supply of quality child care.
- Building the supply of child care and strongly including family child care as well as family, friend and neighbor care (FFN) as part of the solution for the child care crisis and supporting their quality of practice.
- Creating or expanding staffed family child care networks to support providers enrolling children from infants through school age.
Read NAFCC’s statement endorsing the Child Care for Working Families Act.
Support the Child Care Supply Improvement Act
The Child Care Supply Improvement Act, introduced by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), calls for supply-building approaches based on a thoughtful and strategic community needs assessment:
- Facilities improvement loans and loan forgiveness to quality providers (including accreditation as a marker of quality to earn loan forgiveness)
- Pathways to licensure, supporting commitment to quality, and supporting small businesses
- Support for state administration and implementation of child care licensing and quality initiatives
Read NAFCC’s detailed summary and statement endorsing the Child Care Supply Improvement Act.