Advocacy Series: The Promise of 1943: Child Care in America Is Not a New Promise

ECE Voices Advocacy Series is an interactive learning series designed to build your foundational knowledge and practical skills in effective advocacy in early care and education. Each session builds upon the next, guiding you through essential topics such as telling your story for policy impact, meeting with legislators, building coalitions, understanding the state budget process, and reflecting on legislative outcomes.

Together, we will explore how early childhood education intersects with public policy and gain the tools to confidently engage in advocacy efforts at the local and state levels. Strengthen your ability to communicate your experiences, elevate the issues impacting your programs, and advocate for meaningful change that benefits staff, children, and families.

Whether you are new to advocacy or looking to deepen your engagement, this series will help you grow your confidence, expand your knowledge, and step into your role as a leader and voice for early learning in California.

Join us as we build skills, strengthen voices, and continue advancing the promise of high-quality early childhood education for all.

ECE Voices Training: The Promise of 1943

This 1-hour session explores how child care in the United States has been built, funded, and reframed over time—and what that means for the system you are operating in today. Grounded in real historical examples, this training helps ECE professionals connect past decisions to current challenges and strengthen how they talk about the value of their work.

In this session, you will:

• Understand how child care has been treated as essential during key moments in U.S. history, including World War II

• Learn why today’s system reflects policy choices—not inevitability

• Explore how child care connects to workforce participation, family stability, and the broader economy

• Reflect on what happens to families and communities when care is unavailable

• Build clear, practical language to explain why child care is foundational—not optional

• Strengthen your ability to engage in conversations with leadership, families, and policymakers

Participants will leave with a stronger sense of context, confidence, and voice when speaking about the importance of child care.