FOCAL and  the Alabama Child Care Alliance launch a 2012 Child Care Funding Petition Drive to save child care funding in the 2013 Alabama budget.

We urge concerned citizens and voters to sign the petition to show Alabama Legislators that we stand behind child care funding as a necessity for the economic growth of Alabama.

Our goal is 30,000 signatures.  Please download, print, and sign the petition.  Then gather signatures from others as you tell them about the importance of child care to working families and businesses in Alabama.

Download petition here: 2012 Child Care Funding Petition

Funding for child care is in serious danger in the Alabama budget for 2013.  The Department of Human Resources expects to have 25% less money in 2013 than it does in 2012.

For the past few years, with a commitment to child care and hard work, the Department has been able to maintain 28,000 children on the child care subsidy program.  That goal will not be possible with huge cuts to the DHR budget.

Cuts in child care funding mean fewer children enrolled on the subsidy program.  It means parents unable to work and more children in risky child care arrangements.  State cuts mean a loss of millions of dollars of federal child care money as well, which makes the situation more frightening.

Our only hope is to convince the Alabama Legislature to fund child care at the current level.  Funding child care at the current level brings $82 million of federal money into Alabama, it keeps parents working, and it provides secure care and school readiness preparation for children.

Circulate petitions and gather signatures now!

The petitions are due February 20.  Please mail to the Alabama Child Care Alliance, PO Box 214, Montgomery, AL 36101 or bring them to the FOCAL Office, 3703 Rosa Parks Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36105.  For more information, call Deborah Thomas at 334-262-3456.

Download petition here: 2012 Child Care Funding Petition