There are numerous ways to advocate for early childhood education during April, which is celebrated by Trying Together as the Month of the Young Child and includes a regional advocacy blitz.
It is an important time to collectively work together to create systemic and policy change for young children, families, and the educators who serve them. No action is too small and can be part of your day. Think of advocacy as educating policymakers on the reality of early childhood education and the families of young children to ensure their needs are met and to receive the resources and investments necessary for a thriving early childhood education (ECE) system.
April Advocacy Blitz
The Trying Together Policy team supports an April Advocacy Blitz, a regional advocacy effort that aims to amplify the voices of early childhood educators, families, and community partners across the Pittsburgh region, said Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of public policy.
“Last year, we celebrated a major win – a $25 million recurring investment (in the state budget) for child care recruitment and retention, the first of its kind in nearly 20 years,” Neff said. “While that was a huge step, we’re just getting started.”
Neff noted that as the 2026-2027 state budget is being negotiated, it is a critical time for early childhood advocates in the region to come together to ensure that their voices are heard.
Neff outlined five things to do during April’s Month of the Young Child (MOYC) to advocate for early learning:
- Sign Start Strong PA’s petition
- Complete the 2026 child care staffing crisis survey
- Contact legislators
- Submit children’s artwork to legislators
- Post on social media
Sign Start Strong PA’s Petition
The first action that advocates can take is to sign Start Strong PA’s petition to include a number of proposed investments for early childhood education in the 2026-2027 state budget. The proposals include:
- A $10 million increase for the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention program
- A $2 million increase for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance program
- A $7.5 million increase for Pre-K Counts
Other recommendations include raising the child care subsidy limit, dedicating funds so programs can better serve children with special needs, and advancing targeted reforms to reduce unnecessary burdens on child care providers while preserving strong health and safety standards to keep children safe.
After signing the petition, share it with your friends, family, colleagues, and community members.
Complete the 2026 Child Care Staffing Crisis Survey
Help to gather real stories and data from the field to inform state policymakers and advocacy efforts by filling out Start Strong PA’s 2026 Child Care Staffing Crisis Survey.
Those who fill out the survey will have the opportunity to discuss staffing issues at their child care programs. The information collected from the 15-minute survey will be used to demonstrate the need for the 2026-2027 state budget to increase funding for the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention program, so that bonuses for the workforce grow.
Those who take out the survey should encourage fellow staff members and families who utilize the program to also participate.
Contact Your Legislator
Another way to make your voice heard on the state’s child care staffing crisis is to reach out directly to the decision-makers in your community.
Start by looking up your state legislators, and then sending an email, making a call, or inviting them to visit your program. Show and tell them why investing in early childhood education is important to your community.
To find your state legislator, visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s website.
Submit Children’s Artwork
Another simple and powerful way to advocate is to submit children’s artwork to elected officials who represent your community.
Ask the children in your program to create artwork. If you are already having them create something for the Week of the Young Child, you can use that – or ask them to create something new. An optional step would be to ask them to include a short message, such as “My name is ___ and I love my school because ___.”
Then, find your state legislator’s district office by searching the state General Assembly’s page and then entering your program’s address on the artwork that you submit. Send some of the artwork to your state House representative’s office and some to your state senator’s office.
Post on Social Media
A final, simple way to advocate is to share what you are doing during the Month of the Young Child on social media and tag your legislator in the post.
Information you might consider sharing in the post might include:
- Activities taking place at your center
- Teachers in action
- Children learning and engaging
- An explanation of why this week and your work matter
Post your photos on Facebook or Instagram and describe the activities taking place at your center as well as why the Month of the Young Child is important. In your post, tag your state House representative, state senator, and Trying Together.
MOYC and Week of the Young Child
Trying Together celebrates the Month of the Young Child every April in conjunction with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) yearly observance of the Week of the Young Child.
This year, the Week of the Young Child will be observed April 11 through 17.
More information on how Trying Together and providers are celebrating the Month of the Young Child can be found on Trying Together’s website.
“With more than 40 years’ experience, Betty has been the catalyst for sustained, high-quality early care and education and expansion at Riverview Children’s Center,” Ciminillo said of Lisowski. “Betty has positively impacted thousands of children, families, and colleagues through the high-quality care and education Riverview provides while also being a working mother of three.”
Black infant mortality rates that are nearly two times higher than the national average for all races or ethnicities and the fact that 11 million U.S. children live in poverty and 400,000 in foster care.
