Momentum is building across the country to ensure our youngest children get off to the right start. Here’s a quick roundup of what’s going on – and easy ways for you to add your voice to the growing call for more investments in our youngest children.

Obama Promotes Early Education

Today, President Obama is hosting an early learning summit at the White House. The event brings together elected officials, community leaders and advocates to support investments in high-quality early learning opportunities for young children. Tune into by live stream between 10:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. at www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Thank President Obama for his commitment to early education.

Rally4Babies in Social Media

To build on the summit’s momentum, ZERO TO THREE will Rally4Babies – a social media day of action from 4-5 p.m today. You can join thousands of advocates across the country to send the clear message that learning happens from the start --- and so should our investments in children. We need your help to make sure that the White House and Congress knows this too– and that the voice of babies is heard.

E-Rally Now!

Good news on the child care homefront…

The recently passed Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 marks a critical step toward building a strong early learning system in New Jersey and across the nation.

The reauthorization of this critical program contains several key changes that will:

Improve the health and safety of children in child care settings.
Make it easier for parents to get and keep the child care assistance they need.
Enable children to have more stable child care.
Strengthen the quality of child care.

Learn more about how this new law will affect NJ kids.

State legislation makes it easier for parents to keep subsidies

When a New Jersey parent moves to another county they are treated as a "new applicant," who can earn only up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $47,000 for a family four. Once in the program, a parent’s income can go as high as 250 percent of the poverty level and remain eligible for assistance. State legislation, S-2343, would allow parents to keep their current “enrolled” status when they move to a different county, making it more likely that they will continue to qualify for a subsidy. The measure passed the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for a full vote. It still needs to pass the Assembly to make it to the governor’s desk.
Stay tuned.

New Report on the Cost of Child Care

Child Care Aware of America’s 2014 report, Parents and the High Cost of Child Care, summarizes the cost of child care across the country, examines the importance of child care as a workforce support and as an early learning program, and explores the effect of high costs on families’ child care options. This year’s report continues to expose child care as one of the most significant expenses in a family budget, often exceeding the cost of housing, college tuition, transportation or food.

Download the report here.

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December 2014	About Us \| Contact Us \| Donate
Momentum is building across the country to ensure our youngest children get off to the right start. Here’s a quick roundup of what’s going on – and easy ways for you to add your voice to the growing call for more investments in our youngest children. Obama Promotes Early Education Today, President Obama is hosting an early learning summit at the White House. The event brings together elected officials, community leaders and advocates to support investments in high-quality early learning opportunities for young children. Tune into by live stream between 10:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. at www.whitehouse.gov/live. Thank President Obama for his commitment to early education. Rally4Babies in Social Media To build on the summit’s momentum, ZERO TO THREE will Rally4Babies – a social media day of action from 4-5 p.m today. You can join thousands of advocates across the country to send the clear message that learning happens from the start --- and so should our investments in children. We need your help to make sure that the White House and Congress knows this too– and that the voice of babies is heard. E-Rally Now! Good news on the child care homefront… The recently passed Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 marks a critical step toward building a strong early learning system in New Jersey and across the nation. The reauthorization of this critical program contains several key changes that will: Improve the health and safety of children in child care settings. Make it easier for parents to get and keep the child care assistance they need. Enable children to have more stable child care. Strengthen the quality of child care. Learn more about how this new law will affect NJ kids. State legislation makes it easier for parents to keep subsidies When a New Jersey parent moves to another county they are treated as a "new applicant," who can earn only up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $47,000 for a family four. Once in the program, a parent’s income can go as high as 250 percent of the poverty level and remain eligible for assistance. State legislation, S-2343, would allow parents to keep their current “enrolled” status when they move to a different county, making it more likely that they will continue to qualify for a subsidy. The measure passed the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for a full vote. It still needs to pass the Assembly to make it to the governor’s desk. Stay tuned. New Report on the Cost of Child Care Child Care Aware of America’s 2014 report, Parents and the High Cost of Child Care, summarizes the cost of child care across the country, examines the importance of child care as a workforce support and as an early learning program, and explores the effect of high costs on families’ child care options. This year’s report continues to expose child care as one of the most significant expenses in a family budget, often exceeding the cost of housing, college tuition, transportation or food. Download the report here. Click here to unsubscribe