NOVEMBER 2023 Email Update

VPP CALLS FOR FUNDING, LEGISLATION IN 2024 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION

As we look ahead to the 2024 General Assembly session beginning in January, the Partnership released details of its budget and legislative asks of Virginia's legislative body.

In light of temporary federal relief dollars ending in the coming year, the Partnership is calling on Virginia lawmakers to: 

• Invest $275 million in Fiscal Year 2025 and $325 million in Fiscal Year 2026 to maintain and support parent demand for child care services.
• Enact legislation to ensure and maximize sustainable, stable funding that is responsive to parent choice, including:
  
  • A predictable cost-of-quality funding formula that responds to growing parent demand
  • A non-reverting fund to safeguard and maximize child care funds for early learning services

The asks are grounded in a number of recent findings related to Virginia's child care system, including a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report released last month. The JLARC report estimates that at least 25,000 fewer children will have access to subsidized child care when federal funds end in the coming year. The agency states that Virginia will need to allocate $319 million in additional general funds in 2024 to maintain current child care services for Virginia families. 

VPP is proud to join with ally organizations under the new "Gotta Have Child Care" campaign to call for these important investments in Virginia's child care system. These actions are critical to meeting record demand for child care services from working families across the Commonwealth. Be on the lookout for more information about the campaign and advocacy opportunities in the coming weeks! 

In the meantime, find links below to a two-page document with a summary of these asks and a flyer to recruit other advocates to join our efforts! 

WE NEED YOUR VOICE! 

UPCOMING ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES 

• December 20 | December Virginia State Action Team Meeting | Hosted by member organization Save the Children Action Network
• January 25 | Virginia Promise Partnership General Assembly Lobby Day | More information and registration link to come! 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

The Virginia Promise Partnership together with member organization the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy compiled a collection of firsthand stories highlighting the ongoing child care struggles faced by parents and families across the Commonwealth. Read the full 'Parents Speak Up!' storybook here!

Interested in sharing your story? Contact us as info@vapromisepartnership.com! 

SEN. KAINE HIGHLIGHTS VPP PARENT, PROVIDER EXPERIENCES

In remarks earlier this week on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) highlighted the stories of two incredible child care advocates - a parent and a child care provider - who serve on the Partnership's Parent and Provider Advisories. 

"Without access to quality, affordable child care, families are hurting. The lack of access to this vital service has forced families to not be able to go to work, to go to school, or to even leave kids at home in compromising positions just to be able to put food on the table," Sen. Kaine read in remarks from Fairfax City parent and VPP Parent Advisory member Heather T.

"Since the pandemic, we've had to really decrease the number of families that we're able to serve because we're having such a difficult time with our staffing...I think what the Senate needs to understand if that if this industry collapses, it's going to have a detrimental impact on our workforce and our economy," Sen. Kaine read in remarks from Blacksburg child care provider and VPP Provider Advisory member Kristi S.

A full clip of Senator Kaine's remarks can be viewed HERE. 

CHILD CARE IN THE NEWS

• CBS News | As child care costs soar, more parents may have to exit the workforce
• Forbes | U.S. Child Care Crisis Is Holding Back The Workforce
• Barron's | Work Absences Due to Child Care Problems Jumped in October
• The Virginian-Pilot | Editorial: A lack of affordable child care options harms parents and the economy
• Virginia Mercury | Early childhood home visiting works. A multi-state collaboration is making it even more effective.
• US News & World Report | The Business Case for Child Care Is the Community Case for Child Care
• VPM | Virginia child care faces financial cliff
• Cardinal News | Report says Virginia doesn't have enough child care but there's little the state can do about it

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