In recent weeks, members of the Norwalk ACTS team attended two distinct StriveTogether convenings out of state, each offering valuable insights that will guide the refinement of the Connecticut Cradle to Career Coalition’s 2025 statewide policy agenda and advocacy efforts. Our agenda centers on three key strategic goals: Early Childhood Development and Education Equity, Economic Mobility and Financial Security, and Inclusive and Equitable Medical and Behavioral Health Care.
In addition, the Coalition will advocate for the inclusion of its members in the implementation and evaluation of any legislation passed within its areas of expertise.
We recently hosted a live streamed panel discussion, The Importance and Power of the Youth Vote, featuring Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas alongside five students representing all Coalition cities. Shout out to Aislinn Seiler, a Norwalk ACTS youth advocate and civic influencer for being Norwalk’s representative! The discussion was both informative and inspiring, offering a glimpse of not only our future but also the present, where young people are already making their voices heard, engaging directly with decision-makers, and actively participating in shaping our communities. We encourage you to watch the discussion on our Youtube Channel.
This engagement reflects the Coalition’s commitment to fostering inclusive conversations and empowering the next generation to drive change.
“Effective October 1, 2024, in an effort to reduce the benefit cliff that families enrolled in Care 4 Kids can face, families participating in this program will be able to remain enrolled until their household income reaches 85% of the state median income, which is an increase from the current limit of 65%. This means that if a parent receives a promotion or pay raise from their employer, it is more likely they can accept the pay increase and not worry that it will prevent their child from continuing to receive this care.
Effective January 1, 2025, family fees for Care 4 Kids – the state program that supports low to moderate-income families with some of the costs of paying for child care – will be capped at 7% of household income, which is down from the current rate of 10%. This means that the fees required to participate in Care 4 Kids will decrease for all participating families. On average, it is estimated that this change will save families about $200 per month.”