PARTNERSHIP HOLDS 2023 LOBBY DAY

With the 2023 General Assembly session in full swing, we were thrilled to hold our 2023 Virginia Promise Partnership Lobby Day earlier this month. During the event, 

parents, providers, and champions from across the state convened in Richmond to share their stories with members of the General Assembly and underscore the importance of investing in child care.

 

When meeting with lawmakers, Promise Advocates shared a one-pager outlining the Partnership's priority budget amendment and bills, as well as a storybook highlighting the perspectives of parents, providers, and business leaders from across Virginia. Following meetings with legislators, advocates were introduced on the House and Senate floors by longtime child care champions Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield) and Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington). 

 

Check out some highlights from the lobby day event below! 

HELP US KEEP CHILD CARE ON THE MAP

As the 2023 General Assembly session continues, members of the House and Senate are deliberating over policy and budget proposals that directly impact Virginia's child care system.

 

The Partnership has been hard at work tracking and speaking out on our priority budget amendments and bills, but we need your help! Join us in our efforts to keep child care top-of-mind amongst Virginia policymakers by: 

• Sending a letter! Take 2 minutes to send a message to your elected officials in support of our priority asks - budget amendment Item 136 #68h (Del. Coyner) and HB 1423 (Del. Coyner) / SB 1404 (Sen. Barker)!  

• Getting social! Reference our 2023 Lobby Day Toolkit for sample Facebook posts and tweets. Attend our Lobby Day event in person? Share a picture from the event - and don't forget to 'tag' the Virginia Promise Partnership and your elected officials!  

• Recording a message! Record a video to share with your elected officials reiterating the Partnership's priority asks and underscoring the importance of investing in child care! 

And don't forget to follow the "2023 General Assembly Tracker" to review the latest updates on legislation and budget amendments impacting Virginia’s child care and early education system. 

 

Have any questions? Don't hesitate to reach out to the Virginia Promise Partnership team at info@vapromisepartnership.com! Thank you for your support!

U.S. DOL RELEASES NEW DATABASE

 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor launched a new National Database of Childcare Prices, which provides childcare prices for families in 2,360 U.S. counties by childcare provider type, age of children, and location.

 

Sponsored by the Department of Labor's Women’s Bureau, the database is the most comprehensive public federal source of childcare prices at the county level. Information available through the database illustrates that "expenses are untenable for families throughout the country and highlights the urgent need for greater federal investment," stated a DOL press release on the launch. 

To learn more and explore the database, visit the DOL webpage here.

 PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION

 

Virginia Promise Partnership Parent Advisory Chair Nicholas P. and Vice Chair Tomashia C. testify in support of HB 1423 before the House Education Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee on Wednesday, Jan. 18. 

BECOME A PROMISE ADVOCATE!

 

If you haven't already, please consider joining us as a Promise Advocate - your efforts can create lasting change for our children and communities! Already joined? We need your help spreading the word. Please share with a family member, friend or colleague!

 

For details, visit vapromisepartnership.com!

CHILD CARE IN THE NEWS

 

• Fortune | The childcare crisis poses a $122 billion economic threat to the U.S.—and the long-term consequences could be even more dire
• The Hill | Affordable child care key to getting people back to work
• USA Today | Where is child care most expensive? New labor department data breaks down costs by county
• ABC Denver | America is facing a child care crisis
• The Hill | America 2023: When even members of Congress don’t have child care
• Bloomberg | Child Care Faces $24 Billion Fiscal Cliff as Pandemic Aid Ends

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