Just the Beginning: Advocacy to Sustain and Expand Funding ......ZERO TO THREE Think Babies grant. • One of six states to receive this grant: Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Rhode

Just the Beginning: Advocacy to Sustain and Expand Funding for Infants and Toddlers

Monday October 22, 20182 to 3:15 p.m. Eastern

About the Series Sponsors

BUILD-The BUILD Initiative supports state leaders in their work to develop a comprehensive system of programs, policies and services that serve the needs of young children and their families. This systems building approach effectively prepares our youngest children for a successful future, while carefully using private and public resources.

CLASP-CLASP works to develop and implement federal, state, and local policies (in legislation, regulation, and on the ground) that reduce poverty, improve low-income people’s lives, and creates pathways to economic security for everyone.

ZERO TO THREE-Our mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. At ZERO TO THREE, we envision a society that has the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential.

About Today’s Speakers

Liz DiLauro, Senior Director for Advocacy, ZERO TO THREE

Courtney Hawkins, Director, Rhode Island Department of Human Services

Hannah Matthews, Deputy Executive Director for Policy, Center for Law and Social Policy

Cynthia Rice, Senior Policy Analyst, Advocates for Children of New Jersey

• Welcome, Purpose and Introductions• Principles and Context: Hannah Matthews• Strategies: Liz DiLauro• State Leader Perspective:Courtney Hawkins• State Advocate Perspective:Cynthia Rice

Today’s Agenda

Prioritizing infants and toddlers as CCDBG expands

• Part of a larger effort addressing a focus on infants and toddlers in the expansion of CCDBG

• Webinar and blog series co-sponsored by BUILD, CLASP, and ZERO TO THREE, http://www.buildinitiative.org/OurWork/LearningCommunity/WebinarsEventsArchives/CCDBGandtheFirst1000DaysGreatBeginnings.aspx

• Funding from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, a project of the JB and MK Pritzker Family Foundation

Principles for Investing through CCDBG for Infants & Toddlers

1. Decision making that reflects the unique development of infants and toddlers. 2. Two-generation approach: infants and toddlers + family members. 3. Basics and beyond4. Vision, strategy, and systems for babies and toddlers. 5. Equity for infants, toddlers, and their families: get it right from the start. 6. All settings that serve families with infants and toddlers. 7. Quality as the floor for infant-toddler child care, not the ceiling. 8. Empowered, competent and compensated infant toddler teachers and educators. 9. Building quality infant-and-toddler child care supply.10. Information and engagement.

Context

The Largest One-Year Increase in CCDBG in History

$2.0

$8.1

$0

$2

$4

$6

$8

$10

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Federal Funding for CCDBG(in billions of $)

How Did It Happen?

CCDBG Reauthorization

Sustained Advocacy: Stories, Data & Relationships

Child Care for Working Families Act

Discretionary Spending Caps/

Budget Negotiations

Champions: Senator Warren, Senator

Sanders & Senator Schumer

#DoubleCCDBG

Where Are We Now?

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018•Raised spending caps

for FY 18 & FY 19.•Agreement to

increase CCDBG by $5.8 billion over two years.

FY 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill• Increased

CCDBG funding for FY 18 by $2.37 billion.

FY 2019 L-HHS Appropriations Bill• Increased

CCDBG funding for FY 19 by $50 million.

FY 2020??

What’s Next?

• FY 2020 budget cycle begins next Congress. – President’s budget proposal.– Congressional budget and appropriations

process.

To keep and grow CCDBG funding, Congress needs to raise spending caps for FY 2020.

How do we grow CCDBG funding?

• Keep child care front and center. • Ensure CCDBG funds are spent and

spent well. • Track investments and outcomes.• Tell the story—over and over and

over.• Build and strengthen relationships

with new and existing champions.

Advocacy Strategies

• National and state advocacy organizations

• Providers• State administrators • Other influencers

(community groups, business leaders, etc.)

We all Have a Role

The Power of Stories

• Puts a face on the policy

• Focus on constituents• Providers and families

can share• Share with media and

Congress

The Power of Stories: Resources

Think Babies: Share Your Story Tool

CLASP and NWLC: New CCDBG Money is Making a

Difference: Document the Impact

https://www.thinkbabies.org/take-action/share-your-story/

https://www.clasp.org/sites/default/files/publications/2018/08/Help%20Us%20Document%2

0CCDBG%20Changes.pdf

Gather your Data and Talking Points

• CLASP: Child Care in the FY2018 Omnibus Spending Bill (https://www.clasp.org/sites/default/files/publications/2018/03/Child%20Care%20in%20the%20FY%202018%20Omnibus.pdf)

• NWLC: Persistent Gaps: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2017 (https://nwlc.org/resources/persistent-gaps-state-child-care-assistance-policies-2017/)

• Child Care Aware: Parents and the High Cost of Care 2017 (http://usa.childcareaware.org/advocacy-public-policy/resources/research/costofcare/)

• ZERO TO THREE: Infant-Toddler Child Care Talking Points (https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/2013-infant-toddler-child-care-talking-points)

Reach Out to the Media

• Respond with a Letter to the Editor

• Submit an op-ed

• Tips:– Mention your Members– Include constituent story– Include local or state data– Send directly to Congressional staff– https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/2

014-infant-toddler-child-care-sample-op-ed

Organize a Site Visit

• Helps policymakers to:– See quality child care in

action– Connect their decisions to

constituents– Understand the

importance of investment

• Tips: – Invite the media – Take photos– Make the ask!

NAEYC:https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/public-policy-advocacy/organizing-site-visit-policy-maker

Think Babies: https://www.thinkbabies.org/take-action/toolkit/tips-for-successful-site-visits-with-your-elected-officials/

Meet with Congressional Offices

• Provide insight into:– Impact of new funding on

state/district– Need for sustained &

increased investment– Impact on babies and toddlers

• Tips:– Bring stories and data– Make the ask– Be a resource in state/district– Follow up

Think Babies: https://www.thinkbabies.org/take-action/toolkit/meetings-with-your-elected-officials/

NAEYC: https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/public-policy-advocacy/mastering-meetings-policymakers

Amplify on Social Media

• Leverages your advocacy• Highlights success:

– Site visits– Media coverage– Meetings with

Congressional offices

• Builds momentum across the field

Amplify on Social Media: Resources

http://cscce.berkeley.edu/infographics/https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/2016-

infant-toddler-child-care-toolkit-graphics

State Leader: Courtney Hawkins

State Leader: Courtney Hawkins

Rhode Island DHS Priorities

DHS Vision: Ensure that all Rhode Island individuals and families have the access to the supports and resources they need to thrive in our state.

Child Care Key Goals: Equity in High-Quality Child Care Choices Pay for quality Develop a system of continuous quality improvement Build a coalition that can help us grow the state’s

investment in child care.

Rhode Island Context

845 child care providers $71M spent in FY18 for child care services

$65.7M in direct provider payments in FY18 Caseload of 10,000 children at any given time Fewer than 11% in high-quality child care No wait list for CCAP Service Unionized Family Child Care System Externally Validated QRIS – BrightStars

43%

31%

16%

8%2%

1 Star orBelow

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star

Coalition Building

Federal Delegation Shared commitment Congressman Cicilline

March 2018 RoundtableGovernor Gina M. Raimondo

FY19 BudgetGeneral Assembly

Senate & House Legislation

Community Partners A Decade of work Advocacy as an asset

Consistent Messaging

Equity and high quality access for all kids

Child care as a bipartisan solution

Quality Costs Money Connecting child care

advocacy to other state goals

Next Steps

Build on Tiered Reimbursement Align our professional

development investments with quality goals

Work across state systems to envision a holistic early child care system

Continue to elevate the demand for high quality child care as it relates to other state goals

State Advocate: Cynthia Rice

Putting 0-3 on the Public AgendaAdvocates for Children of NJ

What We Found…

• Statewide shortage of licensed, center-based care for babies

• The cost of quality infant care is out of reach for many NJ families

• Quality of available care for babies is poor• The subsidy rate for babies is grossly

inadequate and does not account for the higher cost of infant care

Timing Right to Advance Agenda

• ACNJ had been developing its Birth to 3 policy and program agenda over the last several years

• New Jersey had a new administration and legislature beginning in January 2018

• There has been an increased national interest in the Birth to 3 period of children’s lives.

Developing a Birth -3Policy Agenda

Turrell Fund

The Nicholson

Foundation

Caucus Educational Corporation

Advocates for

Children of NJ

Policy• Advocacy• Research• Education• Outreach

Governance• Strategy• Funding• Partnerships• Programs

Communications• Media• Website• Social Media• YouTube

Governance• Strategy• Funding• Partnerships• Programs

Unique Partnership

Think Babies

• In February 2018, ACNJ was awarded a ZERO TO THREE Think Babies grant.

• One of six states to receive this grant: Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington.

• Funding, technical assistance, communication assets and peer learning opportunities.

Convening our State Partners

• Convene partners within the state to assess needs and opportunities to advance policies benefitting infants, toddlers, and their families.

• Work with partners to reach consensus on policy priorities and solutions.

• Develop and implement advocacy and communications campaigns

New Jersey Think Babies™ Coalition

Top Priorities of the Birth to 3 Agenda

• Increasing access to affordable, high quality child care

• Maintaining/Expanding availability of home visitation in NJ

• Addressing the socio-emotional needs of infants and toddlers

Policy Priority #1:Increase in subsidy rate for babies

• Advocate to use additional federal CCDBG dollars to increase the infant subsidy rate

• Advocate for additional federal dollars for CCDBG

• Through a budget resolution, advocate for an additional $20 million in the FY 2019 state budget to to increase the infant subsidy rate

Education is Key!

Strolling Thunder!S

Funding partners for Think Babies™ include the Perigee Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which supports the campaign’s educational activities

May 21st, 2018

Funding partners for Think Babies™ include the Perigee Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which supports the campaign’s educational activities

B-3 Summer Advocacy Institute

Building Advocacy Skills throughout New Jersey!

Putting a Face on the Issue:Advocacy at its Best!

Our Results……So Far!

• The budget resolution to increase the infant child care subsidy rate WAS NOT included in the FY 2019 state budget, BUT

• HOT OFF THE PRESS: $38 million of CCDBG will be used for new child care investments, with the highest increase set for infants

• HOT OFF THE PRESS: National financing expert provided information to funders, child care partners, legislative aides and legislators on potential child care funding options

• HOT OFF THE PRESS: A hearing on child care issues was held before the Assembly Women and Children Committee

• Parent/Provider Trainings are continuing throughout NJ

Questions?Reflections?Comments?

For more information:www.buildinitiative.org

Thank you!For more information:

www.buildinitiative.org

BUILD Initiative