NAEYC Federal Policy & Advocacy Update:Why & How You Should Engage in D.C.

Thursday, May 21 | 6:00 -7:30 PM

Suggested Norms

• Be present• Assume Goodwill• Trust the process• Focus on Solution• Step up; Step Back• Maintain Confidentiality

Data Chat

What do you notice?What questions does it raise?

What implications does it have for us moving forward?

26%

29%

3%3%

14%

25%

Summer Plans

We will remain open.

We will be open, but in a limited capacity.

At this point, we do not think we will bereopening.

If the schools reopen, we will reopen.

At this point, we are undecided/unsure.

N/A: I do not work for a childcare center.

38%

23%

11%

9%

6%

7%

3% 3%

Question TopicsFunding

CDC Guidelines

Health & Safety

Timeline

Future Planning

Advocacy

Professional Development

Other

NAEYC Federal Policy & Advocacy Update

Why & How You Should Engage in D.C.

Lucy RecioSenior Analyst, Public Policy & Advocacy

National Association for the Education of Young Children

Once Upon A Time…

Approximately 2 million paid individuals across this country who work with children birth through 5

We Were Already In Crisis

Child Care Industry

• Not enough children accessing high-quality child care

• Too many providers and educators making low wages and living in poverty

• Parents overburdened by the high cost of child care and early learning

• Programs on financially unstable ground and just one step away from closing

Then COVID-19 Happened

The COVID-19 pandemic issued a

devastating blow to an already

vulnerable and unstable industry.

Our Current Reality• Upwards of 50% of providers who responded to our national survey reported they wouldn’t

survive a closure of more than two weeks without public investment and support

• By mid-April, of those who were responding to our survey, 54% were completely closed and an additional 7% were closed to everyone except children of essential personnel

• Of those providers who were and are open, 94% are operating at less than 50% capacity

• This creates an untenable reality where:• Programs are operating far under capacity and with public health guidelines that rightly require smaller

group sizes, stronger ratios, and increased spending on safety, sanitation, and PPE

• Policies do not understand our diverse-delivery system:• family child care homes and centers

• programs who accept children with families who rely on subsidies

• those that rely primarily on private pay families

• programs who are a mix of both, or

• programs who have Head Start and state PreK dollars

Congress’ ResponseCARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act: • $3.5 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to ensure continued

payment and assistance to child care providers and to support child care for essential workers;

• $750 million in grants for Head Start, including up to $500 million for support of summer programs;

• Access to small business loans of up to $10 million that can be forgiven, if programs use the loans for specific purposes such as wages, paid sick or family leave, health insurance benefits, retirement benefits, mortgages or rent, or utilities;

• Direct payments to qualifying taxpayers of up to $1,200 ($2,400 for couples), plus an additional $500 per child;

• Access to a pandemic unemployment insurance benefit for four months, on top of the regular unemployment insurance benefit offered by states to qualifying individuals;

• Suspension of payments on federally-held student loans to support the many early childhood educators earning their degrees and credentials.

But It Is Not Enough• We are an essential workforce in a $99 billion industry and

we need these investments so we can continue to support children, families and the American economy through this crisis and the coming recovery

• Entire segments of the market, particularly family child care homes, have been essentially unable to access the SBA loan programs and its benefits

• The child care sector needs additional, dedicated, substantial investments that will meet the needs of children, families, educators, or businesses who need child care in order for workers to return to work

Become Story Tellers & Story GatherersStory Tellers….

• Need to hear from child care providers and early childhood educators, across all settings and across the state

• Need to hear from the families and parents that are currently receiving care, as well as those that have not been able to access care or are worried about accessing child care

Gather Stories….

• Need stories that elevate the value of child care

• Need stories that illustrate the dire reality programs, educators, and families are facing; and

• Stories that make clear what is at stake if Congress does not act

Maximize Impact•Paint a vivid picture → include personal details and anecdotes

•Make it compelling → evoke emotions and a personal connection

• Include data → weave in numbers that support your story

•Do not forget your ask →child care needs additional, dedicated, and

substantial investments

Collect, Disseminate, & Repeat• Participate in coordinated efforts, including those led by FLAEYC, that are

gathering stories and data from the child care sector across the state

• Remain connected to FLAEYC, NAEYC, and the America for Early Ed campaign (americaforearlyed.org) to receive action alerts and messages

• Be part of efforts that share your story on multiple platforms including on social media (#FundChildCare), in local newspapers and local media outlets, and in national and state email and call-in campaigns directed at your Congressional delegation

• Remember, we need Congress to understand the urgency our sector is facing and we are the ones responsible for making make that happen—this work needs to be done again, and again…and again

Remain Connected and Engaged:

NAEYCnaeyc.org @NAEYC

America for Early Edamericaforearlyed.org @SupportEarlyEd

Lucy Reciosenior analyst, public policy & advocacy

lrecio@naeyc.org

We want your story!

Please complete by May 27.

MOVING TO WEDNESDAY FOR TWO WEEKS

May 27 & June 36:00 -7:30 PM

Holly Elissa Bruno

Zoom Meeting Access

MAY 22nd, 2020 AT 2:05 PM

https://zoom.us/j/3053485368

Meeting ID: 305 348 5348

Password: 5w5W0L

Data Chat

What do you notice?What questions does it raise?

What implications does it have for us moving forward?