The strength of our communities, workforce, and economy relies on parents having access to affordable, high-quality child care. Integrating child care into community and economic development plans not only aids local efforts to increase access for the workforce but also underscores the essential role child care plays in the overall well-being and economic vitality of a community. 

On May 30th, the Trump Administration released their proposed FY26 Discretionary Budget Request, kicking off the FY26 appropriations process and suggesting significant shifts and cuts in federal spending priorities. The President’s budget request is only a set of recommendations to Congress as they ultimately make decisions about how to fund discretionary programs, however it does provide valuable insights into the administration's key priorities and aims to shape congressional decision-making. 

At the end of May, the House of Representatives voted (215–214) to pass their budget reconciliation bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). While Congress had the opportunity to make meaningful policy changes that would improve the lives of working families, young children, and the people that care for them every day, this bill does not deliver.  

Child care is essential infrastructure—families rely on it so they can work, children rely on it for stability and care, and entire communities depend on it to function day to day. During disasters, the child care system faces a unique set of challenges that can disrupt care quickly and make recovery difficult without strong support. 

Stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion are not new challenges for the child care workforce—but they are reaching new levels of urgency. In a field already marked by long hours, low wages, and high turnover, the mental health of child care workers is more than a personal wellness issue—it’s a system stability issue. 

Two weeks have passed since we concluded our most successful Symposium yet, and the energy from Child Care Strong: From Problems to Progress still resonates. Held from May 4–7 in Arlington, VA, CCAoA brought together national, state, and local child care leaders, advocates, and changemakers to collaborate on building a stronger child care system. 

There were truly too many amazing moments throughout the week to name here (search social medial channels for #ChildCareStrong and #Symposium2025 for more), so here’s a quick highlight reel of some of the most amazing moments. 

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