Resource
Give Babies the Strongest Start in Life: Federal Mandatory Programs Matter
Learn how federal mandatory programs like CCDF, TANF and SSBG help babies and families access essential services.
The Child Care Modernization Act Fails to Deliver Real Solutions to the Child Care Crisis
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which provides essential federal child care funding to states, is desperately underfunded and not designed to address the full scope of the child care crisis facing America. The Child Care Modernization Act is not the answer.
Parents and families are struggling to find and afford child care in their communities. Meanwhile, child care providers are struggling to stay afloat while making poverty-level wages.
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which provides essential federal child care funding to states, is desperately underfunded and not designed to address the full scope of this crisis. For those who can access it, CCDF is a critical lifeline, providing child care assistance to 1.6 million children and helping states to improve the quality of care for all children.
Unfortunately, ZERO TO THREE and other organizations do not see The Child Care Modernization Act (CCMA), which reauthorizes CCDF, as the answer to this crisis. The legislation may even make the crisis worse. If passed, the bill would:
- Weaken existing protections and safeguards that help ensure families receiving assistance have access to the same options as higher-income families and require states to raise payment rates for providers;
- Fail to provide new funding to a program that can currently only serve 1 in 7 eligible families due to inadequate funding; and
- Fail to safeguard CCDF from cuts and policy changes that would undermine child care access and quality.
Report
RATTLED: Babies, Families and a Year of Growing Strain
A national snapshot of life for families with infants and toddlers in 2025 reveals a troubling reality: economic pressure, emotional distress and uncertainty intensified across the year even as families fought to provide stability and love for their babies.
Open Letter
A Decade of Bringing Babies to Capitol Hill
Matthew Melmed reflects on the purpose and impact of Strolling Thunder leading up to the 10 year anniversary of the event.
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