Child Care and Families
NWLC has been a longtime advocate for child care rights, provisions, and protections.
"Women Demand Daycare" Protest Sign (1970-08-26/1970-08-26) by Freda LeinwandNational Women's Law Center
1970s
In 1975, Congress created the Child Support Enforcement Program, which laid the groundwork for NWLC’s work in the coming decades.
Mother and child at work (1973-04-10/1973-04-10) by Bettye LaneNational Women's Law Center
1980s
The early 1980s were an important time for NWLC’s work securing child support protections. In 1983, NWLC helped secure the right to child support enforcement regardless of the custodial parent’s income.
NWLC also helped expand the Child Support Enforcement Program in 1984 and 1988.
Tax form (2021-02-24/2021-02-24) by Marco VerchNational Women's Law Center
In 1983, the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit was added to the 1040A Short Form with advocacy from NWLC—increasing access for all. One year later in 1984, 1.4 million taxpayers claimed the CDC tax credit.
Duffy and Hilary Clinton at Child Care Event (2007-10-17/2007-10-17) by Sharon FarmerNational Women's Law Center
2000s
The CDC tax credit has since been claimed by millions more families. To make the child tax credit more accessible, NWLC published the Child Tax Credit and Making Care Less Taxing report.
Maryland Meals for Achievement Program (2013-03-08/2013-03-08) by Lance CheungNational Women's Law Center
NWLC was a key player in the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009. The act amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and increased access to free, reduced-cost, and paid food options at child care centers.
Representative Rosa Luisa DeLauro at NWLC-hosted event (2013-09-18/2013-09-18) by National Women's Law CenterNational Women's Law Center
2010s
NWLC understands the importance, and financial strain, of quality child care. Working to ease the burden, in 2014, NWLC won reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant, a crucial form of federal funding provided to states.
Congressman at NWLC-hosted event. (2013-09-18/2013-09-18) by National Women's Law CenterNational Women's Law Center
In 2018, Congress further approved a $2.37 billion increase in the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which provided additional assistance for families across the United States.
Event for Children's Education (2014-09-17/2014-09-17) by Joshua HooverNational Women's Law Center
NWLC also supported funding for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which provide early education services for low-income families.
We Are the Backbone art by Mariah WilliamsNational Women's Law Center
2020s and Onward
NWLC launched "We Are the Backbone," a national campaign that shifts the narrative around care work from being a personal responsibility to a public infrastructure.
Photograph of child care providers by Lloyd K. FosterNational Women's Law Center
NWLC led a nationwide effort to secure historic relief dollars that would stabilize the child care sector during the pandemic, in particular lifting up the needs of early childhood educators, frontline workers, and workers of color.
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