YOU DID IT!! Your phone calls, stories, and great turnouts at meetings in New Haven and Bridgeport made a difference and helped change policy. The Office of Early Childhood listened to the outcry from parents and child care providers about the unfairness of cutting off families who currently rely on Care4Kids. OEC will not eliminate current families whose income remains below 50% of State Median Income (SMI). This does not solve the problem of a $32 million shortfall in Care4Kids, and therefore, the program will close to new applicants as of August 1. During the month of July, Care4Kids will accept new applicants with income below 30% SMI. 

To read the OEC's press release, click HERE.

The Alliance and partners will continue to hold meetings, with a slight change of focus. Our goal is to re-open the program to all families up to 50% SMI and we will advocate for that at the state and federal levels. 

There are meetings planned for the week of June 27:  

So continue to urge your friends and family to sign the CT Early Childhood Alliance's petition, as we call on our U.S. Senators and members of Congress to increase federal appropriations for CCDBG to cover the costs required by the 2014 reauthorization.