Arlington, VA—Today, Child Care Aware of America® released its groundbreaking new position statement: Making States and Communities Child Care Strong: The Role of Child Care Resource & Referral Organizations designed to elevate the critical role of child care resource and referral organizations (CCR&Rs) by clarifying the essential services they provide, defining what effective CCR&Rs look like, and offering actionable strategies for policymakers, administrators, business leaders, and CCR&Rs themselves to work together to strengthen child care systems nationwide. 

Washington, D.C. – With news that the Office of Management and Budget has issued a freeze on funding for federal programs, Susan Gale Perry, Chief Executive Officer at Child Care Aware of America, issued the following statement: 

Washington, D.C. – On Sept. 30, federal relief funding for child care expired. In recent years, several states expanded eligibility, improved affordability, and made other changes to their child care policies, funded in part by COVID-19 relief dollars.  

Child Care Aware of America applauds Senate increase in annual appropriations for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), urges Congress to act.  

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a $2.3 billion increase for early learning programs. The increase is part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. As part of the early learning increase, the Act provides $10.35 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) - a $1.6 billion or 18% increase over fiscal year 2024. This funding will help more working families find and afford quality child care programs.  

More than 4,400 actions taken to celebrate child care providers across the country on May 10 
 

ARLINGTON, VA, May 10, 2024 – Child Care Aware^® of America (CCAoA) today celebrates Provider Appreciation Day^® alongside states and communities across the country. More than 4,400 actions have been taken by CCAoA members and partners through our online action center to declare May 10 as Provider Appreciation Day. The observance acknowledges the essential role child care providers, teachers and other educators of young children play in supporting young children's social, emotional and physical well-being.  

ARLINGTON, VA, December 11, 2023 – Child Care Aware of America is pleased to welcome four new members to its Board of Directors. These new leaders will assume their positions in January 2024.  

ARLINGTON, VA, December 7, 2023 – Child Care Aware® of America today announced that they have been recognized by one of the country’s largest charitable organizations, Yield Giving. Founded by MacKenzie Scott, Yield is named after the belief in adding value by giving up control. The fund aims to grant money to nonprofits to allocate where they believe is most needed, which is a philosophy now known as trust-based philanthropy. CCAoA is honored to join the ranks of these prestigious organizations as a grantee of $5 million.  

Parents still face rising costs while providers struggle to stay in business 

ARLINGTON, VA, January 25, 2022 – Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) today released The Year in Child Care: 2021 Data, Analysis and Recommendations, the final installment in the organization’s Catalyzing Growth: Using Data to Change Child Care series. This report highlights parent and provider experiences and further illustrates the gap between what families can afford to pay and what providers must charge to scrape by.  

The report is a comprehensive look at the child care system’s recent challenges and opportunities, giving readers a fuller picture of child care affordability by comparing child care prices to median household income by both marital status and race/ethnicity.  

“While the cost of child care remains out of reach for many families in this country, providers are still struggling to stay in business,” shares Michelle McCready, CCAoA’s interim chief executive officer. “As providers prepare to lose COVID-era relief funds, this sector’s need for robust, long-term public support becomes more urgent by the day.”