Dear thread Community,
As you may have heard, there is a federal government shutdown. While a shutdown may impact some federal services, we want to reassure you that thread remains open and operational to support families and early childhood professionals across Alaska.
Here’s what you need to know:
- thread’s services continue. Our team is here to help with child care referrals, child care assistance, professional development, technical assistance, and more. You can reach us by phone, email, or through our website as usual.
- Child Care Assistance Programs will continue at this time. We will notify you promptly if any changes occur due to prolonged shutdown impacts.
- We are continuing to process applications and anticipated payments for current initiatives supporting early childhood educators, including:
- Early Educator Health & Wellness: Building Resilience Grant (application period closed September 30)
- Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential (application period closes October 3)
- Alaska SEED ROOTS (Retaining Our Outstanding Teachers) Award (application period closes October 13)
- Business of Caring (enrollment ends October 31)
- Relationship-Based Professional Development (RBPD) Credential (to receive a stipend, you need to apply by November 15, 2025)
There are no delays or changes to these initiatives currently.
- Upcoming events and initiatives are moving forward as planned. This includes the 2025 Economic Impact Summit on Early Care & Learning in Anchorage on October 28 and our Rooted and Ready Training Symposiums across the state, starting in Anchorage, on October 4.
- Ongoing monitoring. We are staying in close communication with our partners, State and Federal agencies. If we learn of any impacts to funding or services that may affect you or your program, we’ll communicate updates right away.
Below is a list of resources available at this time:
Federal resources:
- The Federal News Network will be closely covering the shutdown.
- USA.gov
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Department of Education
- “Understanding federal government shutdown impacts on Tribal nations” – National Congress of American Indians
State resources:
- Contact Alaska 211
- Download the 907 Navigation app on your mobile phone
- Community Resources to support children and families
- Governor Dunleavy Sept. 29th Press Release – State-administered, federally funded programs, including Medicaid and SNAP, are expected to be able to continue operation for up to a month.
- Federal Government Furlough FAQ – Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- “Government Shutdown: What does that mean for Alaska?” – Alaska’s News Source
- “What Alaska Nonprofits Need to Know” – The Foraker Group
- Food Assistance Resources – Food Bank of Alaska
- Food bank networks are open and are here for those impacted by the shutdown
In times of uncertainty, thread remains a stable, trusted resource for Alaska’s families and early childhood educators. We appreciate everything you do to support young children, and we’re here for you—no matter what.
Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to early childhood education.
Warm regards,
Stephanie Berglund
thread CEO