A delegation of CCRC program leaders joined our Government Relations team in Washington, D.C. last month at the Child Care Aware Policy Symposium. Dr. Michael Olenick, Donna Sneeringer, James Moses, Susan Savage, Eileen Friscia, Cynthia Renteria, Liz Melendrez and Andria Zaverl attended the conference to learn from national experts and colleagues from other states about emerging best practices and innovations.

The Child Care Aware Symposium brings child care experts, Resource and Referral staff, child care providers, researchers, policymakers and parents from across the country together in Washington, D.C. to discuss national concerns and policy, education research and best practices within our communities. While there, attendees participated in learning intensives and attended the Symposium’s 30th Anniversary Gala. They also heard from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine about their newly released financing reporting, as well as the Administration for Children and Families on their National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Centers.

One of the conference highlights was Day on the Hill, where CCRC staff visited members of Congress and their staff who represent our service area to provide information about the need for child care access, affordability, quality and family engagement in their districts. Click here to view our talking points. The recently adopted federal budget included a significant expansion for the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant and the CCRC team shared how this new funding will support our efforts to build effective systems of support for children and families in our communities.

Our efforts, to change the ECE community, will be reflected in the way our current and future administration implements our recommended federal policy; which impacts child care services nationally. Job well done, let’s continue to uplift our staff members as they strive to build thriving communities.