This month, the North Carolina General Assembly and Gov. Stein worked to pass a State budget that included two policy wins that NC Child and advocates like you have been working towards. To celebrate these wins—and thanks to the generous support of a funding partner—every gift made will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000, to support our work to achieve more successes like these.
Because of years of relentless, strategic advocacy, NC Child moved legislation across the finish line that invests in early childhood education by establishing a statewide subsidy reimbursement rate floor that helps providers keep the lights on and classrooms open. This investment helps make child care more affordable for parents and gives more children access to essential early learning opportunities.
Thanks to your support, more than 7,400 children will gain access to affordable early learning opportunities, helping them build a strong foundation for a lifetime of success. This is an essential first step towards establishing reimbursements that reflect the true cost of care and strengthen our early childhood education landscape.
Over the last few years, NC Child’s Youth Advocacy Council (YAC), with mentoring from NC Child staff, designed and advocated for a peer-to-peer mentoring program in schools that focuses on youth mental health. Because of their advocacy, the support of NC Child staff, and the contributions of advocates like you, the State budget included grant funds for schools to implement the YAC’s peer-to-peer model to promote student safety and well-being.