A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR

UPDATES ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGETS

The state budget conferees have reached an agreement and the General Assembly will be in session on June 1st to vote on the budget. We will be sure to keep you updated on any decisions which impact our early learning budget priorities.

 

The federal budget is still being debated in Washington. Your voice is needed now more than ever to encourage our federal lawmakers to include the highest funding amount possible for early learning and child care in the reconciliation package. 

 

We Still Need Your Help! If you have not already done so, please send an email to Senator Warner's office on the importance of supporting early learning and child care in the reconciliation package.

RECOGNIZING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND EDUCATORS

 

May was a month to recognize and thank all of our child care providers and educators during Teacher Appreciation Week and Provider Appreciation Day!

 

The month kicked off with Governor Glenn Youngkin signing a proclamation recognizing May 6, 2022 as Child Care and Early Childhood Professionals Day. This is a day to recognize the contributions of child care providers and educators, and we enjoyed joining the Governor at River's Bend Children's Center in Chester to celebrate!

 

No one can say thank you better than the children who see our rockstar providers everyday! Check out this video from our Provider Appreciation Day campaign. 

 

 

Teacher Appreciation Week was May 2-6 with Teacher Appreciation Day on May 5. Thank you for joining us in celebrating our early educators on social media by sharing images and using #TeacherAppreciationWeek.

 

PROVIDER AND PARENT CORNER 

The Virginia Promise Partnership (VPP) Parent Advisory has spent the last several months focused on building parent engagement, sharing the VPP message in their communities and advocating for quality, affordable child care. The Parent Advisory played a critical role in recognizing the work of our outstanding providers for  Child Care and Early Childhood Professionals Day and A Day without Child Care. They also called and wrote letters to federal and state legislators, and the Youngkin Administration, advocating for increased early education and care funding. The Parent Advisory is looking to grow our movement! If you know of parents who would be interested in serving on the Advisory , please have them contact VPP Director Krysta Jones at krysta@vecf.org.

HAVE YOU HEARD?

In our latest episode of Promise Insider, we speak with Katie Cristol, Chair of the Arlington County Board and Preston Banks, Vice Chair of the City of Manassas Park. These dynamic leaders shared their experiences running for local office and discussed why child care is a critical issue at all levels of government.

 

Subscribe and listen today through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify to hear from experts and learn how we can give children the future they want, need and deserve!  

QUOTE OF THE MONTH 

MAY SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS

Virginia Promise Partnership participated in A Day Without Child Care on social media by sharing how a lack of child care impacts all of us. Thank you to everyone shared their story.

 

Virginia Promise Partnership and Save the Children Action Network advocates met with community members at the Mayfest in Buckingham County on May 14th, and listened to their thoughts on child care and early childhood education. Many people who stopped by the booth noted the lack of access to early childhood education providers in the county. Our advocates encouraged them to Make the Promise and join us in advocating for quality, affordable child care. If you know of any events this summer and fall in your community where we can recruit advocates and grow our movement, please contact Krysta at krysta@vecf.org.

CHILD CARE IN THE NEWS

 

• WAVY | Youngkin says Republican plan falls short on early childhood education funding
• New York Times | Child care benefits could help ease the worker crunch, an advocacy campaign says.
• Forbes | Amid A National Childcare Crisis, New Leadership Charts A Path Forward
• The New York Times | Republicans and Democrats Agree Child Care Needs Help. Here’s How They Differ.
• Politico | Can the midterms save care policies?
• Huffington Post | Democrats Are Trying To Salvage Their Party's Child Care Initiative
• NPR | The case for revolutionizing child care in America
• Forbes | Women’s Equality In The Workplace: It’s Time To Double Down
• Politico | States pick up tatters of Democrats' paid leave, child care agenda

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