Here is our monthly dose of “5-Bullet-Point Friday” a list of NJAEYC public policy stuff we think you might be interested in.
Anything that is BLUE, just click on it for more details
What’s going on in the US
In the recent article “What the American Rescue Plan Means for Child Poverty” (April 9, 2021), Child Care Aware began by acknowledging how the COVID-19 exposed the cracks in our child care system. The pandemic also exacerbated inequities that exist in our country and for children living in poverty. Data from the Children’s Defense Fund indicates that children are the poorest age group in the United States, with nearly 1 in 6 children, about 11.9 million, living in poverty in 2018. Additionally, the youngest children tend to be poorest and 73% of children living in poverty are children of color. In addition to funding to stabilize the child care industry the American Rescue Plan (ARP) also provides an extension of the Child Tax Credit. This expansion extends eligibility to 23 million children. These additional supports in the ARP are critical because child care does not exist in a vacuum and child care funding alone cannot solve all of the problems exacerbated by the pandemic for providers, parents and children.
To read more click here
What’s going on in NJ
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced on April 14, 2021 that Phase 4 of the Authority’s Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program, adding $85 million in funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Phase 4 will provide short-term operating support to a broad group of New Jersey small and medium sized businesses and nonprofits that have been negatively impacted during the declared state of emergency. In line with Governor Murphy’s commitment to a stronger, fairer recovery, Phase 4 funding will be allocated to support the most adversely affected businesses, including restaurants, micro-businesses, and child care providers, as well as other small businesses. To ensure grants reach businesses in the hardest hit communities, including communities of color, one-third of funding will be targeted to businesses with a primary business location within the 715 census tracts designated as eligible to be selected as an Opportunity Zone. Additional information on the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program may be found at www.business.nj.gov/COVID
To read more click here
What’s coming up
SAVE THE DATE! ACNJ will host “Strolling Thunder NJ 2021” on Wednesday, June 9th at 11:00am. Your voice is needed to help build a future where every baby has what they need to reach their full potential.
To read more:
Strolling Thunder New Jersey 2021 | Advocates for Children of New Jersey (acnj.org)
Advocates for Children of New Jersey (acnj.org)
Strolling Thunder 2021 | Think Babies™
Something you might like
The State of Preschool Yearbook is published annually by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). The report provides a first look at the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on access, quality, and funding for states’ preschool education programs. In most years, the State of Preschool reports only on the prior year (2019-2020 in this case), but this is not most years. As the data collection took place during the worst pandemic in more than a century, a special section was added to address the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on state-funded preschool. This additional information, together with the main survey, provides a basis for reflecting on how access to high quality preschool has changed and what we can do to ensure more children, especially the most vulnerable, have the opportunity to attend high quality (in-person) preschool at ages 3 and 4 in the future.
To read more:
The State of Preschool Yearbook 2020 – National Institute for Early Education Research (nieer.org)
New_Jersey_YB2020.pdf (nieer.org)
The Star Ledger printed an article written by NJAEYC’s President, Meghan Tavormina titled The Person Who Cared for Your Child Should Be Paid a Livable Wage.
Quote we’re pondering
“Providers were essential long before the COVID-19 but the pandemic has underscored how essential child care is. Child care provides opportunities for families to go to work, children to learn, businesses to operate and the economy to grow. Child care providers are “opportunity makers”. Child care providers are brain builders. They are among our nation’s unsung heroes.” (Child Care is Essential: Celebrating Provider Appreciation Day® May 7 (childcareaware.org)
Have a wonderful weekend!
NJAEYC Public Policy Team
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