State leaders gather to announce launch of ‘Gotta Have Childcare’ campaign
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — State and local leaders are launching the 2025 “Gotta Have Childcare” campaign. They are trying to address and close the gap in funding when it comes to affordable and accessible childcare for parents across the state -- before it's too late. The 2025 “Gotta Have Childcare” campaign is working with several state agencies to highlight the importance of investing in long-term childcare. Leaders say that, at some point in 2025, the temporary funding currently going toward the childcare crisis is supposed to end -- and when it goes, so will thousands of families' access to affordable childcare. “I had no idea that this was an issue people were experiencing, families were experiencing -- and it's unbelievable to me, just because this is a problem that affects everyone, even people without young children,” said Unique Williams, a member of the Virginia Promise Partnership Parent Advisory. This parent advocacy group works closely with 2025 Gotta Have Childcare campaign leaders. “There's not one or two families were speaking on behalf [of,]" said Tomashia Cornitcher, the group's board chair. "There are thousands of families we're speaking on behalf [of.]” PREVIOUS: Early childcare education campaign launches in hopes of preventing Virginia funding from stopping According to campaign organizers, as of November, there are more than 10,000 children on the waitlist for publicly-funded childcare services. Leaders with the campaign said that they have identified a solution to the childcare crisis: they want to attain approval for funding from the General Assembly to add 12,000 openings for the 2026 fiscal year. It's unknown what the exact price tag would be for the thousands of potential slots -- however, the state budget currently includes over $366 million in funding for the fiscal year 2025. “We are not set on an amount right now,” Cornitcher said. "We're more set on the families. To be quite honest, no amount can solve this problem. There's always going to be a need.” Cornitcher came to Monday's launch announcement at the General Assembly building in Richmond from her home in Alexandria. She traveled that distance because she wants other people to know the difficulties thousands of other parents are facing. “Early childhood education services are important -- not just because it's babysitting, but because ... it's a high-quality service that families appreciate," Cornitcher said. "Children are grateful because, going into kindergarten, they have the skills that they need [and] beyond kindergarten, they are successful. We are here today because we understand that there are so many more families, so many more voices that we represent. And we stand here today in solidarity saying that we got to have childcare." The Virginia Department of Education became responsible for childcare licensing and took over the childcare subsidy program in July 2021.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — State and local leaders are launching the 2025 “Gotta Have Childcare” campaign. They are trying to address and close the gap in funding when it comes to affordable and accessible childcare for parents across the state -- before it's too late.
The 2025 “Gotta Have Childcare” campaign is working with several state agencies to highlight the importance of investing in long-term childcare. Leaders say that, at some point in 2025, the temporary funding currently going toward the childcare crisis is supposed to end -- and when it goes, so will thousands of families' access to affordable childcare.
“I had no idea that this was an issue people were experiencing, families were experiencing -- and it's unbelievable to me, just because this is a problem that affects everyone, even people without young children,” said Unique Williams, a member of the Virginia Promise Partnership Parent Advisory.
This parent advocacy group works closely with 2025 Gotta Have Childcare campaign leaders.
“There's not one or two families were speaking on behalf [of,]" said Tomashia Cornitcher, the group's board chair. "There are thousands of families we're speaking on behalf [of.]”
According to campaign organizers, as of November, there are more than 10,000 children on the waitlist for publicly-funded childcare services.
Leaders with the campaign said that they have identified a solution to the childcare crisis: they want to attain approval for funding from the General Assembly to add 12,000 openings for the 2026 fiscal year.
It's unknown what the exact price tag would be for the thousands of potential slots -- however, the state budget currently includes over $366 million in funding for the fiscal year 2025.
“We are not set on an amount right now,” Cornitcher said. "We're more set on the families. To be quite honest, no amount can solve this problem. There's always going to be a need.”
Cornitcher came to Monday's launch announcement at the General Assembly building in Richmond from her home in Alexandria. She traveled that distance because she wants other people to know the difficulties thousands of other parents are facing.
“Early childhood education services are important -- not just because it's babysitting, but because ... it's a high-quality service that families appreciate," Cornitcher said. "Children are grateful because, going into kindergarten, they have the skills that they need [and] beyond kindergarten, they are successful. We are here today because we understand that there are so many more families, so many more voices that we represent. And we stand here today in solidarity saying that we got to have childcare."
The Virginia Department of Education became responsible for childcare licensing and took over the childcare subsidy program in July 2021.
