While it’s important to prepare to meet physical needs during an emergency, considering emotional needs is also critical. Staying attuned to the mental health of staff at Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) organizations is paramount so that they can support their communities before, during, and after disasters.   

Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) organizations remain a vital force in connecting families, providers, businesses, and policymakers to build a stronger child care infrastructure—because making child care strong makes everyone stronger. Yet despite their profound impact, CCR&Rs are often underrecognized and underfunded. It's time to change that. 

State policymakers play a pivotal role in driving forward child care policies aimed at improving accessibility, affordability, and quality. The 2025 legislative session marks a crucial moment for states to make further investments in child care funding and policies. This blog post offers a first look at what’s ahead for state policymakers in 2025: pathways for investment, potential challenges, and which governors are already prioritizing child care and early learning policies in their early proposals—and calling on their fellow legislators to follow suit.  

We’re so pleased to welcome two new board members, Dr. Rajiv Suri and Kimberly McDougal. Both bring a wealth of expertise to Child Care Aware of America’s (CCAoA) Board of Directors, and we want to celebrate that knowledge with a two-part Q and A (the second part will be in a March blog post.) This month, we interview Rajiv.  

On Jan. 29, Child Care Aware^® of America (CCAoA) officially joined the Defense Department’s Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), through a formal induction ceremony. As part of this partnership, CCAoA became one of more than 200 new organizations joining MSEP, adding to the network of more than 850 employers dedicated to recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining military spouses in meaningful careers.