Grants to support child care providers in Alabama's Communities is sponsored by State of Alabama. Targeted grants designed to support licensed childcare providers in Alabama in attracting and retaining a capable workforce, especially in response to challenges posed by the pandemic.

Child Care and Early Learning in Alabama 2026 Early Head Start/Head Start Federal Child C. A. R.

E Coalition Child Care and Early Learning Programs Child Care & Development Block Grant Preschool Development Grants Birth Through Five Head Start & Early Head Start Additional Child and Family Initiatives Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Every Student Succeeds Act Maternal, Infant, & Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Child and Adult Care Food Program Tax Policy and Child Care Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Employer-Provided Child Care Credit - Section 45F Dependent Care Assistance Program Last Updated: May 13, 2026 Working families in Alabama need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.

Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Alabama. But too many working families in Alabama are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Alabama economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.

In the state, 63% of children have all available parents participating in the workforce, while the average cost of care is $8,632 a year (or $719 per month ). More than 29,000 children ages 5 and under have child care costs subsidized through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), or 30% of those eligible . The average copay with a CCDBG subsidy is $156 a month .

12. 5K children receive care, learning, nutrition, and other services at no cost through Early Head Start/Head Start (or 8% of those eligible for Early Head Start and 20% of those eligible for Head Start ). And 92.

6K working families have the cost of their child care offset through the Child + Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC). However, many working parents still struggle to access affordable, quality child care, which costs the state’s economy an estimated $1. 9 billion each year in lost earnings and productivity.

ALABAMA: IN THE HEADLINES Dollars & Decisions: Finding flexibility while affording childcare ABC 33/40 | March 19, 2026 Child care is expensive and many families find themselves calculating whether one parent should leave the workforce because child care costs more than their take-home pay. Ivey announces $3. 8M grant to strengthen Alabama’s Early Childhood Education System ADECE received a $3.

8 million federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five to support continued efforts to strengthen and align Alabama’s early childhood education system. ‘It’s like a second mortgage:’ How much are north Alabama parents paying for child care? While Alabama has some of the lowest costs for child care in the nation, the Alabama Department of Human Resources published a report saying the cost of child care is on the rise.

The Impact of PDG B-5 Grants: State Progress and What’s at Risk The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program is a $315 million competitive federal grant that supports states by building upon existing federal, state, and local early learning … PDG B-5: Success Stories from the States Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) is a federal grant that supports quality statewide early childhood services for children from birth through age five.

This grant empowers states … Governors show support for Federal Preschool Development Grant B-5 Funding The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program is a competitive federal grant program that plays an essential role in ensuring state child care and early learning systems … UPDATE: 23 States Receive Grants To Strengthen Child Care Good news for child care this week.

Twenty-three states have been awarded new federal grants to strengthen their child care and early learning programs.

The Preschool Development Grant Birth through … Through the Years: Preschool Development Grants Birth Through Five The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program is a $315 million competitive federal grant designed to improve collaboration and quality in states’ early childhood systems by building … ANALYSIS: FFYF’s 2025 State Fact Sheets FFYF’s 2025 State Fact Sheets show how federal investments in child care impact working parents, children, and the economy.

These federal programs not only benefit families nationwide, they also serve … State-By-State: A Look At How Many Families Receive the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) helps millions of working families cover a portion of their child care costs. In 2022, more than 5.

7 million families nationwide benefitted … The First Five Things to Know About: Head Start In Every Congressional District Head Start has been making a difference in the lives of children and families for more than 60 years.

Since its beginning, the program has reached more than 40 million … NIEER Releases Their Annual Report on the State of Preschool This week, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released their 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook, offering a comprehensive analysis of state-funded preschool programs during the 2023-2024 school year.

… Chefs, Advocates and Lawmakers: Child Care Means Business Event As child care challenges continue to affect working parents, employers and small businesses, First Five Years Fund partnered with the Independent Restaurant Coalition and MomsFirst to highlight chefs and restaurant … How a Lack of Affordable Child Care Impacts the Economy Two-thirds of all children ages five and under need some form of child care because all of the adults in their home are working.

But child care remains both expensive … New Bipartisan, Bicameral Proposal to Make Child Care More Affordable U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) along with U.S. Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) have introduced the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and … The First Five Things to Know About: The Britt-Kaine Bipartisan Child Care Plan First Introduced: July 2024 Reintroduced: March 2025.

Parents want to make child care choices that best support their family’s individual needs and their child’s development. This is especially true for … Total Federal TANF & State MOE Expenditures for Child Care and Early Learning The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides federal grants to states to design and operate programs that help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency.

TANF plays a crucial role in … New Evidence Suggests Expanding Access to Pre-K is Good for the Economy The White House Counsel of Economic Advisers recently released an issue brief presenting new findings that investing in universal pre-K has broad economic benefits. Child Care is Infrastructure: Evidence from … The First Five Questions for: Senators Tim Kaine and Katie Britt WASHINGTON, D. C.

– The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) hosted Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) in the latest segment of our First Five Question Series – a … 2024 Child Care and Early Learning State Fact Sheets FFYF’s 2024 State Fact Sheets from 50 states and Washington, D. C. show how federal investments in child care impact working parents, children, and the economy.

Federal funding and programs benefit … New BPC Report: A Look into Child Care Workforce Licensing Requirements Every day, early childhood educators play a crucial role in nurturing and shaping the minds of our youngest learners.

Yet, the qualifications required for this essential workforce vary drastically across … FFYF Analysis of 2024 State of the State Addresses Analysis of 2024 State of the State addresses given by Governors across the country found that child care, early learning, and early childhood received substantial attention across state and party … Total Federal TANF & State MOE Expenditures for Child Care & Early Learning in FY2022 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides federal grants to states to design and operate programs that help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency.

TANF plays a crucial role in … New Grant Reports on PDG B-5 Show the Beneficial Impact of Federal Funds Grants made through the federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) initiative help ensure state child care and early learning systems are as effective and efficient as possible.

… The Crucial Role of Early Educators and the Need for Increased Compensation Early educators are underpaid and undervalued for the challenging and important work they do. When determining what factors make an early care and education (ECE) program high quality, it’s the … FFYF’S 2023 State Fact Sheets Our new analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D. C.

shows that child care and early learning programs have tremendous impacts on young children, their families, and the economy at … What Can Advocates Learn From How New Mexico and Alabama Are Transforming Their Child Care Systems? What states have been successful in transforming their early care and education (ECE) landscape and expanding high-quality child care options for young children? How are they doing it?

And how … The First Five Things To Know About: A New Poll Showing Voter Support For Child Care Funding In July 2023, Public Opinion Strategies completed a poll on behalf of the First Five Years Fund, examining voter attitudes toward the issue of child care and early childhood education … The First Five Things To Know About: A New Poll Showing Alabama Voter Support For Child Care Funding In July 2023, Public Opinion Strategies completed a poll on behalf of the First Five Years Fund, examining Alabama voters’ attitudes toward the issue of child care and early childhood … New 50 State Analysis Shows Impact of Federal Child Care Program New analysis of all 50 states and the District of Columbia from First Five Years Fund (FFYF) shows that while the nation’s main federal child care program – the Child … How CCDBG Benefits Families in Your State The Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the primary federal grant program that provides child care assistance to low-income working families with children under age 13.

The majority … FFYF’s 2022 Child Care & Early Learning State Fact Sheets Our analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D. C. shows that the existing patchwork of federal and state early learning and care programs only reaches a fraction of income-eligible families.

Federal … Learn About the Positive Impact of MIECHV in Your State The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program provides federal funds to states, territories, and tribal entities for voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services.

This program was reauthorized in … Alabama — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security.

To … 2021 State Fact Sheets: Examining the Impact and Unmet Need of Federal & State ECE Funding FFYF has released the latest iteration of its annual state fact sheets, which draw on numerous data sources to offer details about the early childhood opportunities in each state made … Over 160 National and State Child Advocacy Groups Call on Democratic Leaders to Prioritize Child Care & Early Learning Funding in Reconciliation WASHINGTON – As Congress grapples with many important and competing priorities, more than 160 national, state, and local organizations and child care providers, led by First Five Years Fund (FFYF), … Alabama — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security.

To … FFYF Releases State Fact Sheets, Highlighting Unique Local Landscapes This summer, FFYF released updated state fact sheets, which draw on numerous data sources to offer details about the early childhood opportunities in each state made possible through federal and state … Alabama: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security.

To … Preschool Development Grant Funding Awarded to 26 States for 2020 UPDATE: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced additional three-year renewal grants are being awarded to South Carolina, Nebraska, and … Updated Fact Sheets Show Opportunities for States On Monday, the Center for American Progress (CAP) released their 2019 Early Learning Fact Sheets which provide an overview of early learning in each state.

As in previous years, CAP’s … See How All 50 States Use CCDBG Funding to Support Working Families Access Quality Child Care Yesterday, our friends at Child Care Aware of America released a series of state fact sheets on the status of funding through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) … Alabama: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security.

To … Governors Across the Country Celebrate Federal Preschool Development Grant B-5 Funding Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Education (ED) announced that 46 states and territories have been awarded funding through the Preschool … 46 States and Territories to Receive Preschool Development Grants Big news!

46 states and territories have been awarded funding through the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5), a $250 million competitive federal grant designed to improve states’ existing early … Receive monthly updates on the latest news, policy, and actions to advance federal investment in children and their families.