Groundwork Ohio Signs On to National Joint Statement on Federal Child Care

On January 13, 2026, Groundwork Ohio joined 45 national organizations in signing a Joint Statement on the Federal Child Care Program — a unified call to federal leaders to uphold and protect the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a cornerstone of affordable, quality child care for working families across the country.

Congress is back in session, and lawmakers face a January 30 deadline to pass a full-year FY26 Labor–H appropriations bill. The stakes could not be higher for Ohio’s youngest children and the families, providers, and communities who depend on stable federal investments in early learning and child care.

Voters across the political spectrum view federal child care funding as a critical investment. Two-thirds of Ohioans (66%) believe federal support for child care and early learning for low-income working families is a good use of taxpayer dollars, including 74% of Ohio parents. Just as importantly, Ohioans want Congress to do more: a majority of Ohio voters (54%)—and 69% of parents—support increasing federal funding for quality child care programs. (Source: Ohio Voter Poll, September 2025)

TELL CONGRESS TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE.

Read the full statement below:

JOINT STATEMENT

National Organizations on Federal Child Care Program

January 13, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is a federal state partnership that makes it possible for hundreds of thousands of families with young children to afford safe, quality child care. CCDF is largely funded by the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and administered by states. It supports working families in every state and congressional district and plays a critical role in healthy child development and a strong local workforce. The following joint statement is issued by 46 national organizations to emphasize the urgent need to ensure that federal child care resources continue to reach eligible families with young children, while maintaining active oversight and accountability.

“For decades, CCDF has made it possible for hard-working families to afford safe, quality care for their children while parents work or go to school. It supports working families, strengthens local economies, and promotes the healthy development of young children. Without this program these families would not be able to afford child care, leading to strained finances, stress, and increased instability for their children. The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is a trusted bipartisan program with a long history of support.

Fraud at any level is unacceptable and takes valuable child care away from eligible families. Every dollar of CCDF funding must be used wisely and as intended, to support programs and hard-working educators in providing critical child care for eligible families and children. Simultaneously, it is essential that the strong oversight and internal controls already in place to govern these resources are ensuring the funding is being used properly, and that it continues to reach hard-working, eligible families.

We urge leaders to act with urgency to ensure that the Administration for Children and Families disburses CCDF funding without further disruption, while working in partnership with states as they deliver CCDF funding efficiently and responsibly. We also urge Congress to protect and prioritize child care investments during the Appropriations process, continue the strong, bipartisan support for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program, and build upon efforts to increase access to affordable, quality child care.”

Signed,

Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors

Advance Illinois

All Nations Rise

All Our Kin

American Federation of Teachers

Arizona Early Childhood Alliance

Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs

BridgeCare

Child Care Aware of America

Children First Action Fund

Children's Institute

Common Good Iowa

Council for Professional Recognition

Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children

Early Childhood Education Consortium

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids

First Children's Finance

First Five Years Fund

First Focus on Children

Fractal Education Group

GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students

Groundwork Ohio

Illinois Action for Children

Illinois Developmental Therapy Association

Institute for Child Success

Licensed Child Care Association of Oklahoma

Maine Children’s Alliance

Metropolitan Family Services

Mission: Readiness

Moms First

National Association for the Education of Young Children

National Association of Family Child Care

National Child Care Association

Parents as Teachers National Center

Prevent Child Abuse Illinois

Raising Illinois

ReadyNation

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

RI Association for the Education of Young Children

Save the Children

Start Early Texas Licensed Child Care Association

Third Way

TOOTRiS

Western New York Child Care Action Team & Child Care Next NY

YMCA of the USA