July 20th Updates

ACTION NEEDED: Call Your U.S. Senators and U.S. Rep to Support $50 Billion Child Care Fund

Down in Washington, DC, leaders are negotiating the next COVID-19 Relief Package. Child care MUST be included in that relief package, or child care programs across the country will be faced with the very real possibility of shuttering for good. The child care industry is a pillar of the American economy. Without it, parents wouldn't be able to work. They need access to stable and safe child care.

Last Thursday, the CT Early Childhood Alliance, CT Association for Human Services, and CSEA-SEIU, hosted a virtual press conference, discussing the current child care crisis. Several providers, both center-based and home-based, spoke to their current situations. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Rosa DeLauro also attended the virtual presser and spoke to attendees. If you would like to watch the full press conference, it can be found on YouTube, by clicking the graphic below. (Or click this YouTube link). Media coverage included WTNH, CT NewsJunkie and WNPR.

On Wednesday, July 22, Merrill Gay of the CT Early Childhood Alliance and Liz Fraser of CT Association for Human Services penned an op-ed for the CT Mirror/CT Viewpoints. You can read it HERE. Then follow the action steps below. 

MAKE THREE CALLS TODAY:
What to say: Thank them for co-sponsoring the $50 billion Child Care is Essential Act and ask them to please speak to leadership about putting the $50 billion into the COVID Relief Package.

July 6th Updates

Not Eligible for Medicaid and Struggling to Pay For Care? Share Your Story

The CT Early Childhood Alliance received a grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation to gather stories to help shine a light on the importance of Medicaid expansion. A modest increase allowed for approximately 4,000 additional parents to obtain it, but we know there is more need. Are you - or someone you know - not eligible for Medicaid, and struggling to pay healthcare costs through the Exchange, even with subsidies? Would you or someone you know be willing to share those stories? Please reach out to Jessica at [email protected] so we can begin the process.  

May 27th Updates

We know the situation surrounding COVID-19 is fluid and moving quickly. We know the state is in the process of starting phased-in re-opening. Today, we're checking in with a few updates. 

DeLauro, Hayes Introduce Emergency Funding Bill

Today, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes and several co-sponsors introduced a $50 billion emergency appropriation bill for child care. The funding would help keep the child care system whole through the end of the year.

• Congressional Press Release
• One-Page Bill Summary
• Bill Text
• NYT Article Highlighting the Need

As CLASP reported in late April, child care is key to the country's economic recovery. The organization estimates the child care industry will need $9.6 billion each month to fully-fund existing providers, to retain and pay staff, prepare to re-open, and offer safe, comprehensive emergency care at no cost to 6 million children of essential workers. The report can be found HERE.