Child Care Aware® of America has been bringing members of our Family Advocacy Network to Washington, D.C., for over ten years as part of our commitment to elevating family voices in important policy conversations. The 2020 Symposium (May 3-6 in Crystal City, VA) presents another opportunity for a select number of family advocates to join the event via sponsorships that include paid travel, room, and board. Applications will be open from January 2 – 17, 2020 and awards will be announced by the review panel later in the month.
Family advocates selected to attend this year’s event can look forward to building their advocacy skills during trainings lead by policy experts in the industry. They will network with experienced advocates and state and national leaders. And, meet with Congressional representatives from their states to advocate for policy changes that advance safe, affordable, and high-quality child care for all families across the country. Before advocates leave the event, they also will connect with local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to continue their advocacy journey in their home communities.
This year’s awardees will represent a spectrum of child care experiences and include both new and seasoned advocates. While we are doing targeted recruitment in select states (Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin) applicants from all over the nation will be considered in our competitive review process.
If you are passionate about early childhood education, believe that no parent should have to choose between their paycheck and their children, and want to elevate the critical role of early care and education — we invite you to apply!
Read reflections from one of last year’s advocates to learn more about past events and visit www.childcareworks.org to join our advocacy movement! If you have questions, please contact us at FamilyEngagement@usa.childcareaware.org.
