Children's Champions Update - March 28, 2017

Our voices matter. This Thursday, March 30, please raise yours by joining NAEYC, Child Care Aware of America, CLASP, NAFCC, NBCDI, NWLC, YWCA and ZERO TO THREE for a national call-in day for child care.

Every member of Congress has the opportunity to make funding requests during the appropriations process. There is an upcoming deadline for these requests, and while we're all working hard to demonstrate the need for overall discretionary funding levels that allow for sufficient investments in critical programs for children and families, we are also having a call-in day to focus specifically and especially on child care.

We hope you will join early childhood educators and advocates across the country in calling your Representatives on Thursday. You will ask them to ask the Appropriations Chairman to increase funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant by $1.4 billion in the FY 2018 appropriations bill.

Without this additional $1.4 billion, states will not be able to implement the important reforms contained in the CCDBG Act of 2014 while maintaining the current number of children served. Already, there has been a significant decline in the number of children served, with 373,100 fewer children receiving child care assistance in 2015 than in 2006. Congress needs to hear about the importance of funding a strong foundation for child care and early learning through CCDBG.

Call 202-224-3121 for the Capitol Switchboard or find your representative here.

Find the suggested script here.

And don't forget - if you need a boost to help you make that call, check out how to call your reps (when you have social anxiety) and learn why calling is better than emailing.

Please join us on Thursday and make sure your elected official hears your voice, loud and clear! #powertotheprofession