This year’s Leadership Institute—Strong Leaders, Strong Child Care—was all about putting a firm stake in the ground on the essential role child care resource and referral leaders play in creating strong child care. Attendees did not disappoint! They came full of energy, ready to ask the hard questions, and fired up to be bold and loud.  

One theme that emerged over the two days is that it’s up to us claim our space. Our field is uniquely positioned to fix America’s broken and inequitable child care system so that all families have access to affordable, quality child care that makes children, child care professionals, employers, the military, and our nation stronger. It’s time we own it. 

That sentiment came across loud and clear in our plenary session, A New Framework to Drive Our Collective Impact. Child care resource and referral can no longer be America’s best kept secret. Our power comes in clearly articulating the value of what we do in a manner that people can understand and that reflects what they care about. Our work is built on the brand promise that everyone is stronger when we make America child care strong. Here’s how CCAoA will be framing who we are at the national level: 

This year’s CCAoA Symposium came at a turning point for the field. Never before has America been more child care aware. Never before have we had the opportunity to make child care strong. We did a lot of deep thinking and strategizing during the week, encouraging participants to engage with the sessions and each other.