Let's Make Childcare a Priority!
Community
Activation
Toolkit
Why Now?
Across Washington, families are facing an affordability crisis amplified by the prohibitive costs of child care. When child care costs rival housing payments and providers struggle to stay afloat, parents are pushed out of the workforce, businesses feel the impact, and children lose access to the early learning experiences that shape lifelong outcomes. Child care is not a narrow policy issue; it is economic infrastructure, educational equity, and family stability combined.
Creating change in your community can seem an impossible task, but with the right tools, anyone can become a powerful advocate! Engage with local lawmakers, spread the word about important issues, and encourage your friends to vote. Let's make accessible child care a reality in Washington State!
Let's demand change together so Washington families can thrive!
1. Talk to Candidates at Events
To find events in your area: take a look at website, the social media of your local candidates, or other politically active our organizations in your district. Searching "WA candidate forums LD online can also yield results.
Leading up to an election, many candidates will participate in events that demonstrate the priorities they will carry into public service if elected.There are a wide range of events that candidates might participate in including: debates, town halls, forums, and meet & greets. These events are the perfect opportunity to connect with candidates running for office and find out who will champion kids and families when elected!
Some events will allow attendees to submit questions for the candidates. If you want a question to be asked at an event, make sure you prepare beforehand! Here are some sample questions:
"Recent polls show that child care and early education is a priority for approximately 87% of Washington voters. How would you support culturally responsive, quality child care and ensure providers are paid a living wage if elected/re-elected?"
"How would your work once elected support child care providers and ensure families can find and afford care?"
After an event can be the perfect time to make a connection. Sending a thank you note or introducing yourself as a constituent will make a great impression.
2. Participate in Elections by Voting and Support Candidates who Pledge to Champion Child Care
Improving childcare in Washington starts at the ballot box. Make sure your voice is heard on Election Day. You can click here to check if you are registered to vote in WA state.
A few voting tips:
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Schedule a specific time to submit your vote to ensure you meet deadlines.
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Encourage others to vote and share information about candidate's positions. Let's lift our voices together!
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Double-check your voter registration is up-to-date well ahead of election deadlines.
Bookmark our endorsement page to see who has shown up for children, youth, and families.
3. Change the Conversation& Elevate the Need for Child Care in Your Community
You don't need a microphone or a big platform to talk about how important this issue is to you. At your work, school, church, grocery store, gym, and social gatherings are a few places where you are likely to meet other community members who have faced challenges finding affordable, quality child care. These in-person connections go a long way in getting people organized to take action together for the betterment of our communities!
And don't forget about newspapers and online news sources. You can support local journalism and send in letters to the editor on why child care matters to you. If you share and consume news on social media, contact your favorite independent journalist and ask them who is covering child care. Send a DM to a local influencer to ask them to lift up stories from parents and providers about the challenges facing our child care system.
Special thanks to Sarah Butruille for their work on this toolkit for the Children's Campaign Fund Network.