WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Child Care for Every Family Network led hundreds of child care advocates, child care providers, parents, faith leaders, health organizations, and labor leaders in sending a letter urging Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to reinstate the fired employees at HHS’s Administration for Child and Families and reopen 5 closed regional offices. The letter warns of the devastating impacts to children, families, and communities due to these reckless and unwarranted firings and closures. 

The letter, which was signed by over 200 advocacy groups, reads in part: 

“Closing the offices that administer federal early childhood programs will make child care and early education less safe, less affordable, and less accessible for families and communities across the country—especially those who need it most. These actions deeply concern us as they will lead to higher costs for families and taxpayers, and they will undermine the wellbeing of children and our economy.”

Earlier this month, HHS fired approximately 35-40 percent of staff at the Administration for Children and Families, including from the offices of the Office of Child Care, Office of Early Childhood, and the Office of Head Start. Five regional offices serving 22 states, 6 territories, and 467 Tribal governments were completely eliminated. These federal workers play a vital role in ensuring the health and safety of child care and early education settings across the country, lowering the costs of care for families, supporting higher program quality for young children, and ensuring more families have access to the care and early education they need.

Full text of the letter can be found here and the full list of signatories is below. 

National Organizations

Child Care for Every Family Network

NWLC Action

Caring Across Generations

Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)

Council for Professional Development

Small Business Majority

Home Grown

ZERO TO THREE

Children’s Environmental Health Network

Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Caring Across Generations

AFT

YWCA USA

AFL-CIO

Family Values @ Work

National Organization for Women

Institute for Child Success

All Our Kin

First Children’s Finance

Region 9 Head Start Association

Coalition on Human Needs

MomsRising

Children’s HealthWatch

National Indian Child Care Association

InGlobal Learning Design

Chamber of Mothers

Children’s Funding Project

Montessori Public Policy Initiative/ILAEYC

National Association for Family Child Care

Child Welfare League of America

Early Care & Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS)

First Focus on Children

Futures Without Violence

American Academy of Pediatrics

Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK)

Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)

Generations United

Children’s Defense Fund

African American Health Alliance

Child Welfare League of America

Early Opportunities Initiative

SECOM Resource Center

State and Local Organizations

Alliance for Quality Education

Volunteers of America-Greater New York

Parent Voices, California

Family Forward Oregon

Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks!

Montessori Partnerships for Georgia

Children’s Action Alliance

DC Action

Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children

Child Care Law Center

Family Forward Oregon

Alliance for Quality Education

Empire State Campaign for Child Care

Washington State Parent Ambassadors

Pennsylvania Child Care Association

VOICES for Alabama’s Children

California Child Care Resource & Referral Network

Michigan League for Public Policy

Washington State Assn of Head Start and ECEAP

Doctors for Early Childhood

Illinois Head Start Association

Hawai’i Children’s Action Network Speaks!

Michigan Head Start Association

Gretchen’s House Child Care Centers

NYS Network for Youth Success

Children’s Alliance

Michigan AEYC

South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care

Black Californians United for Early Care and Education

Center for Inclusive Child Care

Elders for Infants

Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP

Maine People’s Alliance

Make the Road Nevada

Early Care & Learning Council

Common Good Iowa

NJ Communities United

Children’s Action Alliance

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association

CA Child Care Resource & Referral Network

Children’s Alliance

Let’s Grow Kids

Clayton Early Learning

Illinois Developmental Therapy Association

Michigan’s Children

New Hampshire Chapter, Chamber of Mothers

InterAgency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies

Wisconsin Head Start Association

Early Edge California

First Up

Oregon Child Care Providers Together Local 132 AFSCME

Children’s Aid Society

Richmond Early Learning Center

Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children

Prevent Child Abuse Illinois

We, the Village Coalition

Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

Advocates for Children of New Jersey

Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay

Groundwork Ohio

Children’s Institute (Oregon)

Maine People’s Alliance

Illuminate Colorado

Detroit Parent Network

Virginia Alliance of Family Child Care Association

The Children’s Partnership

Chamber of Mothers Boston Chapter

Women Employed

Maine Children’s Alliance

Early Education Leaders Institute

Connecticut Voices for Children

PA Head Start Association

Illinois Action for Children

One Hope United

South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children

Advance Illinois

Chamber of Mothers – Minnesota Chapter

Illinois Association of the Education of Young Children

Everbloom Montessori

Ohio Organizing Collaborative

POWER-PAC IL

Friends Center for Children

Urban Sprouts

Child Development Council

Chamber of Mothers Philadelphia

Detroit Champions for Hope

Montessori American Indian Childcare Center

Chamber of Mothers Chicago

Vibrant Futures

Pathways of Promise

Gretchen’s House Child Care Centers

Children First

Little Ones Learning

Trying Together

Seedlings to Sunflowers Non Profit Child Care and Family Center

Child Development Council of Central New York, Inc.

Southern Adirondack Child Care Network

Advocates for Children of New York

Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam, Inc.

Cincinnati Chamber of Mothers

Child Development Support Corporation

Little Blessings Learning Center

Family Enrichment Network, Inc.

Hooked on Books Childcare, Inc.

Counseling In Schools

Adirondack Foundation

Bushwick United Head Start

Chamber of Mothers – Los Angeles Chapter

Therapy and Learning Center

Chamber of Mothers Seattle Chapter

Morning Star Child Care

New York Center For Interpersonal Development Inc.

Clayton Early Learning

Child Care Network

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.

Little Meadows Early Childhood

Family of Woodstock, Inc.

Children’s Aid Bronx Early Childhood Center

Richmond Early Learning Center

Community Coordinated Child Care Association of the Upper Peninsula

Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency

YMCA of Greater NY

Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York

Kennedy Children’s Center

First Things First Porter County

NMIC

New Yorkers United for Child Care

YWCA of the Greater Capital Region

YWCA McLean County

YWCA Duluth

Western New York Child Care Action Team

YWCA Princeton

Regional Preschool Partnership

East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc.

Grand Traverse Baby Pantry

WNY Women’s Foundation

The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership

ExpandED Schools

Unity House of Troy

Milestones Early Learning

Chamber of Mothers Virginia Beach Chapter

YW Boston

Enlace Chicago

San Francisco Early Care & Education Advocacy Coalition

Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY)

Education Council Consortium

Day Care Council of New York, Inc.

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The Child Care for Every Family Network is the national movement and campaign to transform child care, representing 1,500+ child care providers, impacted families, state and national organizations, and organizers across the country. Learn more: childcareforeveryfamily.org.