Learn the Issues & Take Action

The child care system is crucial to maintaining healthy families and a healthy economy. thread makes it possible for you to learn about the issues and advocate directly to policymakers on behalf of children. Your voice matters!

National

• Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Funding:  In December 2022, US Congress passed more than $1.9 billion CCDBG increase for core federal early learning and care programs in fiscal year 2023.
  • Learn about the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) law that authorizes the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program administered by states and tribes, and supports families in accessing child care.
• Federal Support During the Pandemic
  • Child Care in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 (Passed March 2021):  Provided funding for the (1) Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to support child care and families, and (2) Child Care Stabilization Funding to stabilize child care through the remainder of the pandemic.
  • Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) (Passed December 2020):  Provided $10 billion through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to stabilize child care and support families.
  • Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) (Passed April 2020):  Provided $3.5 billion in additional funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to provide child care assistance to frontline workers and stabilize child care.

State – 33rd Alaska State Legislature 

• Action! Sign on letter to support increased child care investment in the FY24 state budget here.
• Legislative Timeline
  • Tues Jan 17 – First Day: First Regular Session of 33rd Alaska State Legislature
  • Tues Jan 31 – 15th Day: Supplemental bill introduced
  • Wed Feb 15 – 30th Day: Governor’s Amended budget introduced
  • Sun April 16 – 90th Day: Statutory end of session
  • Wed May 17 – 121st Day: Constitutional end of session (if extended)

Local – Municipality of Anchorage 

• Passed! Proposition 14, the Care for Kids Initiative
  • • In April, MOA votes voted yes on Prop 14.  This initiative:
      • Dedicates current revenue collected from local Anchorage marijuana taxes to provide affordable, high-quality child care and early education for Anchorage children. That amounts to between $5-6 million per year. Private child care and education providers are eligible.
      • Lowers the tax cap to provide protections for property tax payers.
      • Establishes an independent advisory board to evaluate the use of the funds.

2023 thread Legislative Agenda 

• thread Legislative Priorities 2023
  • Priority 1 – Invest $30M to ensure the child care sector is
    stable as federal relief funding expires.
  • Priority 2 – Establish legislative child care policy workgroup to
    develop an actionable policy plan for child care. 
• thread Legislative Agenda 2023
  • Policy Brief: Sustainable Funding
  • Policy Brief: Workforce Support 
  • Policy Brief: Mixed Delivery
  • Policy Brief: Affordability

Local Government

• Anchorage
  • Anchorage Assembly
• Fairbanks
  • Fairbanks/North Star Borough Assembly
• Juneau
  • City and Borough of Juneau Assembly
• Kenai/Soldotna
  • Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly