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Driving Policy Momentum for Child Care
See this year’s key policy achievements and how Child Action is advancing child care solutions through strong advocacy and partnership at the state and local levels.
This year brought meaningful progress for Early Care and Education across California, and Child Action was proud to help shape that momentum. State leaders, including Governor Newsom, Senate Pro Tem McGuire, Assembly Speaker Rivas, the Legislative Women’s Caucus, and our ECE partners, worked together to preserve critical child care investments. While the Child Care Bridge Program experienced a reduction, strong advocacy across the field significantly reduced the proposed cut and demonstrated the power of collective action. We remain committed to protecting child care funding and advancing a true cost-of-care reimbursement rate that reflects what it takes for providers to serve families sustainably.
We also celebrated the signing of AB 753, our cosponsored workforce bill that supports the expansion of high-quality, affordable child care and strengthens the economic stability of working families. We are grateful to the Legislature, the Administration, and our cosponsors for moving this important legislation forward.
“Looking ahead to next year, Child Action will continue advocating for policies that make quality care affordable for all families, ensure educators are compensated fairly, and strengthen the supports that help children and families thrive together.”
Our Government Affairs team also helped ensure that parent and provider voices were heard at the Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs. CalWORKs parent La Keisha Doyle shared the challenges of affording and accessing care, while center-based provider Frisha Moore highlighted the urgent need for reimbursement rates that reflect real provider costs. Their stories brought essential lived experience to the policy conversation.
This year also marked a milestone with our inaugural Building Bridges Policy Summit. The event brought together policymakers, business leaders, advocates, and innovators to explore solutions to child care and workforce challenges across the region. The Summit elevated child care as a core economic issue and inspired community partners to identify ways they can support lasting, sustainable solutions.
Locally, we were pleased to see the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors declare child care a public priority, recognizing its essential role in supporting families and strengthening the local economy. We look forward to working with cities across the county to advance similar resolutions.
As we reflect on this progress, we remain committed to elevating community voices, advancing effective policy solutions, and strengthening the systems that support the well-being of children, families, and providers.
Looking ahead, we are energized by the momentum we have built together and inspired by what is possible when policy, partnership, and community come together. We remain hopeful and determined as we continue shaping a stronger future for Sacramento County.