Child Care Action Council Says Now is the Time to Join Their Legislative Advocacy to Fix States Child Care Crisis

The Child Care Action Council (CCAC) is urgently advocating for legislative support to tackle the child care crisis in Washington State, which poses significant challenges for families and providers. With potential state and federal budget cuts on the horizon, the CCAC emphasizes the critical need for affordable child care and fair wages for providers. A recent ECOnorthwest study reveals that Washington ranks as the 11th least affordable state for child care, highlighting systemic issues such as low pay and high turnover among workers. The CCAC, in collaboration with Child Care for Washington, is pushing for legislative measures like the Fair Start for Kids Act to maintain increased provider rates and expand eligibility for child care subsidies. Key bills, including Senate Bill 5500/House Bill 1350, aim to align subsidy rates with actual care costs to ensure providers can offer living wages and benefits.

Additionally, House Bill 1314/Senate Bill 5297 seeks to enhance early learning facilities and increase program capacity for preschoolers. April Messenger, the CCAC Policy and Advocacy Manager, emphasizes that without adequate child care, the economy suffers, noting a loss of $6 billion in state revenue tied to the crisis. The CCAC encourages community involvement in advocating for sustainable child care solutions to secure a stable future for families and the economy.