Congressman Mark DeSaulnier presented a check to First 5 Contra Costa on July 10, 2023 to support our efforts to stabilize the local child care workforce. First 5 Contra Costa applied for federal funding through the Administration for Children & Families Congressionally Directed Community Project funding program and is expecting the funding in the coming weeks. Members of the countywide Early Learning Leadership Group, the Contra Costa Local Planning Council, and First 5 Contra Costa staff helped celebrate the new funding and share appreciation for Congressman DeSaulnier.
The anticipated $150,000 award that First 5 Contra Costa expects to receive will be used to gather input from child care providers and stakeholders regarding the compensation status of child care providers in the county, as well as strategies to stabilize the child care workforce through guaranteed income approaches. Additionally, First 5 Contra Costa will create an advisory group to provide guidance on the stakeholder input process and the design of a guaranteed income pilot for child care teachers. We hope to initiate this project, aimed at capturing the voices of child care stakeholders, in the fall.
