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NAEYC: Week of the Young Child (April 10-16)

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NAEYC: Week of the Young Child (April 10-16)

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"Celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities."

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Save the date and get ready for NAEYC's 2023 Week of the Young Child® celebration! Join us April 1-7, 2023 for our annual event celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, and families.

By participating in this event and posting video and/or photos, you are representing that you have written permission from each person in the video and/or photos, and if a child, written permission from the child's parent or legal guardian, to post the video and/or photos and use the likeness of such person therein. By posting the video and/or photos, you grant NAEYC the right to use the video and/or photo and/or any portion thereof in any manner it so chooses, including, without limitation, posting or sharing the video on NAEYC's website, Facebook page or Twitter account.

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Save the date and get ready for NAEYC's 2023 Week of the Young Child® celebration! Join us April 1-7, 2023 for our annual event celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, and families.

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Hand signal for Zoom calls if help is needed

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Hand signal for Zoom calls if help is needed

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Become a Signal For Help Responder When you know how to respond to the signs of abuse, you can change the story If someone in your life told you they were experiencing abuse, would you know how to help?

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King County Early Learning Coalition: Updates and outreach for COVID vaccine distribution

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King County Early Learning Coalition: Updates and outreach for COVID vaccine distribution

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Along with other vaccines that are also important and have fallen off during COVID.

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Email Name, Date of Birth, & phone number to:
Yakima: yakvax@yvfwc.org  Toppenish: Toppcovidvaccines@yvfwc.org  Grandview: GrandviewYVFWC@yvfwc.org Prosser: ValleyVistaMedicalGroup@yvfwc.org

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All branches of the Yakima Valley Libraries are now open for 30 minute visits. Wear your mask and social distance. Also Authors Out Loud is coming Apr. 13 - 29. There will be four different PNW authors, one being Noe Alvarez who wrote Spirit Run. He will be on this Zoom event on April 29 @ 6:30 pm. Virtual Trivia Thursdays 8 pm, virtual baby lap sit Tuesday 11 am.....Virtual Tertulia in Spanish 4/14 5:30 pm......Virtual Spanish Book Club April 28....also a book club in English see our website....also Storytimes @ Home you-tube videos on our website...….www.yvl.org

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Working hard to share information about vaccine safety and how to schedule appointments.

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As of last Friday, YVFWC has administered 56,133 Covid-19 vaccine doses!

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Note that hospitalization rates are climbing; reminder to keep diligent with masks, social distancing, hand washing, and please get vaccinated!

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Questions: hot topic of transitional K and ECEAP? 

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Questions: hot topic of transitional K and ECEAP? 

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Will be really important to have

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Ideas for local promotion for Week of the Young Child?

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Ideas for local promotion for Week of the Young Child?

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Is your organization doing any activities?

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Daniela Aguilar, Community Outreach Coordinator/Prevention Advocate with YWCA Yakima

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Daniela Aguilar, Community Outreach Coordinator/Prevention Advocate with YWCA Yakima

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YWCA Yakima. YWCA Yakima is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen our community.

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YWCA Yakima Outreach Investing in Children

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YWCA Yakima Outreach Investing in Children

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Give us a follow!

After clicking the picture, click on the Twitter handle to access our page directly from Twitter.

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Tweets by forthekidswa

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Like and follow us on Facebook!

Click on "Investing in Children WA" after clicking on the link.

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It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast. You've been temporarily blocked from using it. If you think this doesn't go against our Community Standards let us know.

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Why child care can be hard to find in the Yakima Valley

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“We’re always full. We’re always full here,” said Lauria Oliver, owner of A Child’s Place child care centers in Yakima and Toppenish.Throughout Central Washington, lack of child care is a

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Please follow this link to sign in for today's meeting!

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Please follow this link to sign in for today's meeting!

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Audiovisual Guided Meditation - Asatta Jones

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March 30th Joint ELAC and PAG Meeting Material

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March 30th Joint ELAC and PAG Meeting Material

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American Rescue Plan: Child care and Early Learning funding

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American Rescue Plan: Child care and Early Learning funding

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Strengthening Families: Resilience and Empowerment Workshop

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Strengthening Families: Resilience and Empowerment Workshop

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Saturday, April 17th & Saturday, April 24th, 2021

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Yakima Community Vaccination Center - early learning provider appointments?

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Yakima Community Vaccination Center - early learning provider appointments?

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Who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine?

Where can I take my child age 5-11 to get vaccinated?

The Pfizer vaccine that is given to adults and adolescents cannot be used for children ages 5-11. The following locations are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to children within this age range. YHD's mobile vaccine clinics are also offering the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 5 and older. See table under "Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics" for a list of available clinics.

Youth under 18 years need parent or guardian consent to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Find more information about COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens on the CDCandDOH websites.

Where can I get a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine?

Several sites are offering booster doses to eligible individuals. Click here for a list of COVID-19 vaccine locations in Yakima County. YHD Community vaccine clinics are also offering Pfizer booster doses to anyone 16 and older. Please take your vaccine card to your appointment.

Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Community COVID-19 vaccine clinics are currently providing first and second doses of Pfizer vaccine to anyone 5 and older. Pfizer booster doses are also available to anyone 12 and older. Appointments are not required. Youth under 18 years need parent or guardian consent to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Times and locations may change.
Private Clinic Registration for Business/Organization

If you are a business or organization and would like to set up a clinic for employees or members, please email yakimavaccinemobileteam@gmail.com with the following information:

Name of business/organization

Point of contact Name-Email-Phone Number

Date you want the team to come

Time frame you would like the team to come (Ex. 11am-12pm)

Number of appointments required

Location you'd like to host the clinic
Location should have access to bathrooms, chairs, and plenty of space for people to wait for 15-30 minutes.

Once we have received this information we will send you a link to the Private Clinic for you to register your employees, members, etc. Please provide all information for registration prior to the mobile vaccine event for faster processing and screening.

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covid -19 vaccinations questions covid-19 vaccine faq's

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The Pfizer vaccine that is given to adults and adolescents cannot be used for children ages 5-11. The following locations are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to children within this age range. YHD's mobile vaccine clinics are also offering the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 5 and older.

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Erica Hallock, Director of Policy and Advocacy with  Start Early WA

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Erica Hallock, Director of Policy and Advocacy with  Start Early WA

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Erica Hallock

Director, Policy & Advocacy, Start Early Washington

Erica Hallock serves as the Director of Policy and Advocacy for Start Early Washington. She has worked in early childhood, health and human services policy in both California and Washington state.

She has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Riverside and a Master of Public Policy and Administration from California State University Sacramento.

She is a proud mom of two young adults (one of whom teaches in Washington's state preschool program) and lives in Spokane when she is not in Olympia.

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Erica Hallock, Director, Policy & Advocacy , Start Early Washington

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Director, Policy & Advocacy, Start Early Washington Erica Hallock serves as the Director of Policy and Advocacy for Start Early Washington. She has worked in early childhood, health and human services policy in both California and Washington state. She has a B.A.

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Start Early - Our Work in Washington State

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Start Early works together with partners to promote comprehensive birth-to-five learning experiences for all children in Washington state.

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Late last week, the security gates around the Capitol Campus were relaxed, allowing visitors - human and animal! - to enjoy the spring flowers.
Trivia!

Why was Governor Inslee in his Capitol office just before midnight on June 30, 2017?

Weekly Highlights

Senate and House Release Budget Proposals. On Thursday, the Senate released their Operating and Capital budget proposals. On Wednesday, the House released its Capital budget and will release their Operating budget on Friday afternoon (today).

The Senate budget clearly prioritizes early learning, with significant federal and state funding proposed to support implementation of the Fair Start for Kids Act. The Senate budget contains $509 million in federal funding for child care grants and provider reimbursement along with $312 million in the 2021-23 biennium for Fair Start for Kids investments.

Specific funded early learning policies in the Senate budgets include:

Increasing Working Connections Child Care income eligibility to 60% of State Median Income

Reform of the Working Connections Child Care co-payment structure to minimize the so-called "co-pay cliff"

Increasing the reimbursement rate for Working Connections Child Care to 85th percentile of market rate

Increasing the reimbursement rate for ECEAP by 10% starting in the 2021-23 school year

Increasing ECEAP slots by 500 in state fiscal year 2022 and by 400 slots in state fiscal year 2023

Funding to expand home visiting services and provide supports to enhance data collection and support the work of local implementation agencies

Finally, providing funding for the complex needs funds and support for Infant Early Childhood Mental Health consultation.

With both the Senate and House proposed Capital budgets, they have also signaled the priority of investing capital dollars into growing the Early Learning Facilities funds and supporting capital early learning projects via local school districts.

What are the next steps? In the next few days, the Senate and House fiscal committees will hold public hearings to get feedback about what was and was not included in the budgets. The fiscal committees, followed by the full bodies, will approve the proposals, likely with some amendments. Once this happens, the public side of the work will be paused while Senate and House budget writers work behind the scenes to negotiate the differences between the two approaches.

Start Early WA is busy analyzing the details of the complicated and complex budget proposal (and the soon to be released House Operating budget proposal) and will post more detailed summaries on the policy resources part of our website next week.

Fair Start for Kids Act Bills Both Continue to Advance. On Wednesday, the House Children, Youth and Families Committee passed E2SSB 5237 and the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee passed E2SHB 1213. While both bills are technically still alive, we do expect only one bill to be heard in a fiscal committee. As of this writing, it is unclear which bill will serve as the vehicle.

Prior to advancing the bills, both committees adopted "striking" amendments (striking amendments remove the original bill language and substitute with new language). After adoption of these striking amendments, the two bills are closely aligned on most policy issues. The release of the Senate and House budget proposals will give us a good idea of how each body is prioritizing funding the policies in the bills. By the end of the legislative session, we should see a policy bill with corresponding budget investments to support implementation of the final bill's policies.

Given the interplay with the budget, the question of which bill will be the ultimate vehicle going forward and the likelihood of further amendments in an upcoming fiscal committee hearing, Start Early WA will not be updating the bill resource documents on our website to reflect the striking amendments adopted on Wednesday. Instead, we will include a fuller analysis in the April 2 nd Notes from Olympia comparing the budget proposals and bill details.

Fiscal Committee Hearing on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). On March 19 th, the Senate Ways and Means Committee had a briefing from the Governor's Office of Financial Management and the Governor's Washington D.C. staff on key components of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The staff shared key highlights, emphasizing there are still a number of questions on use of funds and noted that, in some cases, state allocations for certain purposes are still being developed.

In addition to funding for specific purposes, Washington state is slated to receive $4.25 billion in "flexible funds" and local governments will receive an additional $2.6 billion. Other key investments include an estimated $404 million for emergency rental assistance as well as additional funding for broadband, behavioral health, WIC and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).

ARPA includes $390.6 million in child care stabilization grants. Of this amount, 90% must be sub-granted to providers by a deadline of September 30, 2021. Up to 10% of this amount can be directed to DCYF for administrative expenses, including technical assistance and public awareness. In addition, ARPA includes a one-time $244 million increase to the Child Care and Development Block Grant which must be spent within three years.

Policy Committee Cutoff/Fiscal Cutoff Coming. A quick reminder that today is the deadline for bills out of the policy committee of the opposite house. A week from today is the deadline for bills to pass out of the fiscal committee of the opposite house. This means the next seven days will be focused on the Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations Committees. Just like with the English language, there are always exceptions to this rule.

Early Childhood Connector Grant Opportunity. Early Childhood Connector, an online community that supports early childhood systems building, has issued a Call for Interest from community systems builders who are interested in receiving grant funds to pilot new features and capabilities of the platform to help achieve more equitable outcomes for young children, from before birth to age eight, their families, and the early childhood workforce in their community.

Start Early Washington is Hiring. Start Early Washington an energized, future-focused organization committed to providing quality early learning and care across Washington. We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication. We are hiring for a Senior Communications and Policy Manager and a ParentChild+ Program Manager. Please help us spread the word!

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Notes From Olympia: March 26, Week 11 of the 2021 Legislative Session - Start Early

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Late last week, the security gates around the Capitol Campus were relaxed, allowing visitors - human and animal! - to enjoy the spring flowers. Why was Governor Inslee in his Capitol office just before midnight on June 30, 2017? Senate and House Release Budget Proposals.

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Fair Starts for Kids (side by side comparison, House and Senate versions)

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Fair Starts for Kids (side by side comparison, House and Senate versions)

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Joint ELAC and PAG Meeting Material Continued...

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Joint ELAC and PAG Meeting Material Continued...

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Guest Speaker: Dr. Kyle Cook, St. John's University

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Guest Speaker: Dr. Kyle Cook, St. John's University

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Kyle DeMeo Cook is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education Specialties. Dr. Cook’s research agenda focuses on examining policy-relevant early education issues, such as: access to early education, the transition to kindergarten, and collaborations between early education and K–12. From…

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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81586444596

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National Equity Project: Liberatory Design Training

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National Equity Project: Liberatory Design Training

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Agenda Planning Tool

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Help Me Grow State wide Action Team Meeting-11/17

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Help Me Grow State wide Action Team Meeting-11/17

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Why Liberatory Design?
We are all living in challenging times that our past experience and training has not sufficiently prepared us for. Too often, well intentioned equity efforts do not succeed-and even produce unintended consequences. This can lead to frustration, hopelessness and cynicism.
It's important to consider why so many equity efforts stall or fail to achieve intended outcomes:

They do not employ a deep enough equity lens-for example, a diversity and inclusion focus as opposed to interrogating deeper causes produced by systemic oppression.

They take the form of traditional linear, hierarchical plans that focus on strategies, goals, timelines, metrics and accountability. These efforts don't recognize the messiness and complexity of the challenge, so they often are ineffective and, sometimes, even backfire.

They are created in the context of dominant white culture, in traditional structures (e.g. committees, task forces), or in teams that don't have an effective approach to the work. Common problems include:

group members unable to engage in authentic critical dialogue;

lack of trust, especially across role/power and identity difference, that undermines team efficacy;

the process doesn't bring forward sufficiently creative thinking;

urgency leads to hasty, misguided decisions;

creative and potentially powerful solutions are not accepted by leadership.

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Liberatory Design - National Equity Project

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Addressing equity challenges and change efforts in complex systems with liberatory design. Learn more about this process or register for an upcoming course.

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The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) was created by the Legislature in 2007.

ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so our strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts and interested members of the public.

Governor Jay Inslee holds final authority for policy decisions.

The council has adopted a Racial Equity Framework through which it conducts its business as an advisory board to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Members

The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) members are a diverse group of people whose role is to provide DCYF with input and recommendations to inform DCYF's work.

ELAC includes parents, child care providers, health and safety experts, legislators, representatives of Tribal Nations, independent schools, K-12 and higher education, and others who are interested in creating a statewide early learning system that helps all children realize their full potential.

Some ELAC members are appointed by the Governor. Others are appointed by various entities as required in the legislation that created ELAC.

Meetings

The Early Learning Advisory Council has six regular meetings each year, held on the first Tuesday of odd months. At each meeting, ELAC members get updates on DCYF's work and provide input and recommendations to DCYF.

Members of the public are welcome to attend ELAC meetings. Public comment periods are offered throughout each meeting. The locations and times vary for each meeting.

2022
December 6, 2022 August 2, 2022 October 4, 2022 June 7, 2022 April 12, 2022 February 1, 2022
At the time of the meeting, please join the Zoom meeting via the link below.

9:00am-3:00pm

Meeting number (access code): 824 9183 1069
Meeting password: 904723

Join by phone: 1 253 215 8782 US Toll
Passcode: 904723

2021
December 7, 2021 October 5, 2021 - Joint Early Learning Advisory Council, Provider Supports Subcommittee, and Parent Advisory Group Meeting August 3, 2021 June 1, 2021 - Joint Provider Supports Subcommittee Meeting March 30, 2021 - Joint PAG Meeting February 2, 2021

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Department of Children, Youth & Families

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The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) was created by the Legislature in 2007. Read the statutory language ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so our strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts and interested members of the public.

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American Rescue Plan: Human Services and Community Supports

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American Rescue Plan: Human Services and Community Supports

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Text for H.R.1319 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

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Presenter: Dr. Deborah Bergeron, Deputy Director for Community Engagement & Innovation | National Head Start Association

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Presenter: Dr. Deborah Bergeron, Deputy Director for Community Engagement & Innovation | National Head Start Association

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Head Start Programs, Families, and Elementary Schools Collaborate!

More than 320,000 Head Start children in the United States enter kindergarten each year. Research shows this transition is an important event in the lives of children and families that can make a difference in their immediate and ongoing school success. To learn more about supportive practices for transition to kindergarten, visit the Transition to Kindergarten page. To immediately connect with children and families, share these special read-alouds, recorded with love from leaders at the Office of Head Start (OHS).

One of the key practices that fosters successful transitions is collaboration. When there are strong relationships among Early Head Start programs, Head Start programs, families, and receiving elementary schools, all of these parts can work together to offer children and families continuity, security, and resources for smooth transitions.

Head Start-Public Schools Collaboration Demonstration Project

To explore the impact of intentional collaboration between Head Start and local schools, 13 Head Start and public-school leadership teams were selected from across the nation to participate in the Collaboration Demonstration Project (CDP). Each team of Head Start programs, families, and their receiving schools worked together from summer 2019 to summer 2020 to improve the transition to kindergarten for Head Start families and children. Watch this video to hear them discuss the project and suggest ways to improve transition work.

To read about the strategies and activities that the CDP teams focused on, check out the Collaboration Demonstration Project: Successful Strategies from the Field paper.

Resources to Support Collaboration Between Head Start and Schools

When leaders in the transition to kindergarten process take time to partner, the positive impact on child and family outcomes is far-reaching. Explore these resources to support efforts to strengthen collaboration between Head Start programs, families, local school leaders, and national school associations.

Host Your Own Collaboration Meeting

Plan and host a collaboration meeting in your region. CDP teams use these resources to establish collaboration teams, plan agendas, set goals, make plans, and create team charters. Consider them guidelines that can be adapted to fit each team's region, timeline, capacity, and other characteristics.

Reach Out to Your Local Principals

Build connections between Head Start programs and receiving schools through face-to-face meetings in October. Bring a principal to your program to join story time, meet a parent group, and strategize with you about school readiness goals. Visit the receiving school and learn how they extend a child's "head start." There's so much to share, from early learning goals and curricula to ways parents can stay involved. Celebrate your partnership by sharing highlights from your visit using the hashtag #LeadersinSchoolReadiness on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Engage Families as Leaders

Parents and families support their children's education and development. They hold key roles in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Parents participate in decision-making, policy development, and activity organization in communities and states to improve children's safety, health, development, and learning experiences. Explore this collection of resources to learn how to involve families as leaders in your program.

Build Formal Collaborations with School Associations

The OHS has formalized partnerships with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the School Superintendents Association (AASA) to improve the transition of Head Start children as they enter elementary school. Review the following memoranda of understanding (MOUs) for details:

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More than 320,000 Head Start children in the United States enter kindergarten each year. Research shows this transition is an important event in the lives of children and families that can make a difference in their immediate and ongoing school success. To learn more about supportive practices for transition to kindergarten, visit the Transition to Kindergarten page.

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Based on existing research and best practices, the Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships (Version 2) is designed to support the development of family engagement strategies, policies, and programs. It is not a blueprint for engagement initiatives, which must be designed to fit the particular contexts in which they are carried out. Instead, the Framework should be seen as a compass, laying out the goals and conditions necessary to chart a path toward effective family engagement efforts that are linked to student achievement and school improvement.
Suggested citation:
Mapp, K. L. & Bergman, E. (2019). Dual capacity-building framework for family-school partnerships (Version 2). Retrieved from: www.dualcapacity.org

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Based on existing research and best practices, the Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships (Version 2) is designed to support the development of family engagement strategies, policies, and programs. It is not a blueprint for engagement initiatives, which must be designed to fit the particular contexts in which they are carried out.

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Strengthening Transitions in Washington

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The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) are pleased to announce the 13 organizations selected to receive a 100 Schools Initiative grant award.

Washington State was awarded the federal Preschool Development Renewal Grant (PDG) to support innovations in early learning systems from 2020 to 2022. This grant includes a focus on strengthening transitions in early childhood special education (Part C to Part B) and from early learning to K-12. At the same time, the Office of Head Start has asked Washington State to participate in an extension of the very successful Head Start Demonstration Project - the 100 Schools Initiative.

Beginning Sept. 1, 2020, 13 selected teams will identify a high-priority goal to improve transitions for children ages birth through 5 years old. With a focus on equity, teams will implement specific approaches and strategies to reduce the effects of systemic injustice and disproportionality and strengthen effective transitions for children furthest from opportunity, especially:

Children of American Indian/Alaska Native tribal communities

Black and African American children

Children from immigrant families, emphasizing support in the home language of English-learning families and an increase in dual-language learning environments

Children in families experiencing homelessness

Children with disabilities ages 0-3 (IDEA Part C) to inclusive preschool settings

Children and families in the child welfare system using healing-centered and trauma-informed practices

Children of migrant families

The following are the 13 teams, in alphabetical order:

Bethel School District

Bremerton School District

Chief Leschi Schools

Educational Opportunities for Children and Families

Granite Falls School District

Lower Columbia College Head Start/EHS/ECEAP

Mount Vernon School District

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Quileute Tribal School

Sedro-Woolley School District

Selah School District

Suquamish Tribe, Marion Forsman-Boushie Early Learning Center

West Valley School District #208

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Department of Children, Youth & Families

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DCYF is a cabinet-level agency focused on the well-being of children. Our vision is to ensure that Washington state's children and youth grow up safe and healthy-thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community.

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Resources for you to help plan and execute a successful Week of the Young Child!

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The current public health crisis and resulting economic crisis have devastated the health and economic wellbeing of millions of Americans. From big cities to small towns, Americans - particularly people of color, immigrants, and low-wage workers - are facing a deep economic crisis. More than 9.5 million workers have lost their jobs in the wake of the pandemic, with 4 million out of work for half a year or longer.

The American Rescue Plan will change the course of the pandemic and deliver immediate and direct relief to families and workers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis through no fault of their own. This law is one of the most progressive pieces of legislation in history, and will build a bridge to an equitable economic recovery.

Economic Impact Payments

Through this third round of Economic Impact Payments, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are ensuring that Americans will receive fast and direct relief during the final phase of the COVID-19 crisis. As of yesterday, approximately 90 million Economic Impact Payments had been disbursed, thereby ensuring that more than $242 billion of much-needed relief will be received by millions of Americans and their families within days of enactment of the American Rescue Plan. Unlike the prior rounds of Economic Impact Payments, the American Rescue Plan requires a 2021 "true-up" additional payment, when applicable, based on information (such as a recently filed 2020 tax return) that the IRS receives mid-year during 2021. This additional Economic Impact Payment will ensure that Americans and their families receive greater amounts of financial assistance during 2021, rather than waiting to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on a tax return in 2022.

Those eligible will automatically receive an Economic Impact Payment of up to $1,400 for individuals or

$2,800 for married couples, plus $1,400 for each dependent. Unlike the prior rounds of Economic Impact Payments, families will get a payment for all their dependents claimed on a tax return, not just their qualifying children under 17.

Normally, a taxpayer will qualify for the full amount if they have an adjusted gross income of up to

$75,000 for singles and married persons filing a separate return, up to $112,500 for heads of household, and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses. Payment amounts are reduced for filers with incomes above those levels.

The Treasury Department and the IRS continue to expand outreach to the millions of homeless, rural poor, and other disadvantaged Americans to ensure that they receive Economic Impact Payments. This includes new and continued relationships with homeless shelters, legal aid clinics, and providing Economic Impact Payment information in more than 35 languages.

Child Tax Credit

The American Rescue Plan's expansion of the Child Tax Credit will substantially reduce child poverty by supplementing the earnings of families receiving the tax credit. Specifically, the Child Tax Credit has been revised in the following ways:

1. The credit amount has been increased. The American Rescue Plan increased the amount of the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under age 6, and $3,000 for other children under age 18.

2. The credit's scope has been expanded. Children 17 years old and younger, as opposed to 16 years old and younger, will now be covered by the Child Tax Credit.

3. Credit amounts will be made through advance payments during 2021. Individuals eligible for a 2021 Child Tax Credit will receive advance payments of the individual's credit, which the IRS and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service will make through periodic payments from July 1, to December 31, 2021. This change will allow struggling families to receive financial assistance now, rather than waiting until the 2022 tax filing season to receive the Child Tax Credit benefit.

4. The credit is now fully refundable. By making the Child Tax Credit fully refundable, low- income households will be entitled to receive the full credit benefit, as significantly expanded and increased by the American Rescue Plan.

5. The credit is now extended to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Territories. For the first time, low- income families residing in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Territories will receive this vital financial assistance to better support their children's development and health and educational attainment.

To facilitate the disbursement of Child Tax Credit advance payments during 2021, the American Rescue Plan requires the IRS to establish an online portal for taxpayers to update relevant data for mid-year payment adjustments (for example, the birth of a child during 2021). In addition to this online tool, the Treasury Department and the IRS will carry out a sweeping public awareness campaign parallel to its Economic Impact Payment campaign to reach all Americans who may be eligible for this financial assistance.

State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund

State, local and tribal governments across America have been under an unprecedented strain in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. While the need for services has increased -including setting up emergency medical facilities, standing up vaccination sites, and supporting struggling small businesses-state and local revenues have plummeted as a result of the economic fallout from the crisis. At the height of the fallout, public sector employment fell by around 1.4 million jobs, including layoffs of 1 million educators, compared to around 750,000 job losses during the Great Recession. As a result, communities have faced

untenable choices, between laying off educators, firefighters and other frontline workers or failing to provide services that communities rely on.

The American Rescue Plan provides $350 billion dollars in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to remedy this mismatch between rising costs and falling revenues. This includes:

$195 billion for states, (a minimum of $500 million for each State);

$130 billion for local governments (a minimum of $1.25 billion per state is provided by the statute inclusive of the amounts allocated to local governments within the state);

$20 billion for tribal governments; and

$4.5 billion for territories

The Rescue Plan will provide needed relief to state, local, and Tribal governments to enable them to continue to support the public health response and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable economic recovery. In addition to helping these governments address the revenue losses they have experienced as a result of the crisis, it will help them cover the costs incurred due responding to the public health emergency and provide support for a recovery - including through assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits, aid to impacted industries, and support for essential workers. It will also provide resources for state, local, and Tribal governments to invest in infrastructure, including water, sewer, and broadband services.

Capital Projects Fund

The COVID-19 crisis starkly illuminated key shortcomings - and inequalities - in U.S. infrastructure. While some communities were able to adapt to the pandemic with remote or socially-distanced options for work, education, and health care, others lacked the infrastructure needed to do so, compounding the disruptions of the pandemic and exacerbating existing inequalities, with long-term consequences for American families. One particularly salient infrastructure challenge has been the digital divide and the absence of foundational conditions that enable network connectivity and access. As more and more areas of work and education move online, this divide risks leaving many American families behind.

Recognizing these challenges, the American Rescue Plan provides $10 billion for states, territories, and Tribes to cover the costs of capital projects like broadband infrastructure.

The Capital Projects Fund takes critical steps to addressing these challenges laid bare by the pandemic, especially in rural America and low- and moderate-income communities, helping to ensure that all communities have access to the high-quality, modern infrastructure needed to thrive, including internet access.

Homeowner Assistance Fund

As the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis took form, millions of Americans were faced with the pressures of having to decide between making mortgage payments and other essential obligations. This was especially true for the low-income communities and communities of color who bore the brunt of this crisis. Across the country, one in 10 homeowners with a mortgage are behind on payments. The law takes immediate steps to help Americans stay in their homes and keep a roof over their heads.

The American Rescue Plan provides nearly $10 billion for states, territories, and Tribes to provide relief for our country's most vulnerable homeowners. This includes:

A minimum of $50 million for each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico;

$30 million for the territories of Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;

An explicit mandate to prioritize socially disadvantaged households;

The law prioritizes those homeowners that have experienced the greatest hardships, leveraging local and national income indicators to maximize intended impact. Applicable funding uses include delinquent mortgage payments, allowing Americans across the country to take a step in the right direction toward household stabilization. These necessary actions will minimize foreclosures in the coming months, alleviate emergency shelter capacity, and mitigate potential COVID-19 infections.

Emergency Rental Assistance

An underlying consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic is that household stability is not just a financial security issue, but also a health concern. As the country entered the throes of the crisis, many cities and states began creating or expanding rental assistance programs to support at-risk households. The December appropriations bill provided $25 billion of federal relief to be administered by the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program for disbursement to existing state and local government programs. The American Rescue Plan nearly doubles the initial funding to expand the reach and impact of the existing ERA program, taking additional steps to mitigate the financial harm caused by the pandemic and keeping Americans safe as the country addresses the virus.

The American Rescue Plan provides $21.6 billion for states, territories, and local governments to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 crisis. This includes:

A minimum of $152 million for each state and the District of Columbia;

$305 million for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa;

$2.5 billion for payments to "high-need grantees," locations with an urgent need for assistance when factoring conditions such as change in employment, concentration of very low-income renters, and rental market costs

As a result of the American Rescue Plan, states and localities across the country will be better armed to provide relief and assistance to those vulnerable households. The new funding will leverage existing program structures, allowing for money to be disbursed quickly and efficiently to on the ground emergency programs, and ensuring this country's hardest-hit families to receive their equitable share of relief.

State Small Business Credit Initiative

It is no secret that the pandemic has disproportionately impacted small businesses across the country, particularly those owned and operated by women and minorities. Every community has had to face the unfortunate reality of local storefronts that are closing or have closed, resulting in friends and family members being furloughed or laid off. Nationally, small business revenue is down 32 percent, and at least 400,000 firms have permanently closed. After a year of the public health crisis, many businesses are hanging on by a thread. Within this law are plans to provide critical assistance to small businesses across the country, facilitating the urgent deployment of capital and support to help these organizations not just persevere, but recover on solid footing.

The American Rescue Plan provides $10 billion to state and Tribal governments to fund small business credit expansion initiatives. This program will build off the inaugural model developed in 2011 during the Obama-Biden Administration, in which nearly $1.5 billion in capital supported over $8 billion in new lending and investing activity across 142 different programs in its first 5 years. The new iteration will expand in scale and include:

$1.5 billion for states to support businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people;

$1 billion for an incentive program to boost funding tranches for states that show robust support for such businesses; and

$500 million to support very small businesses with fewer than 10 employees;

This law will inject capital into state small business support and capital access programs, provide collateral support, facilitate loan participation, and enable credit guarantee programs. It will boost state venture capital programs and provide funding for technical support and assistance. This Administration recognizes that small businesses-enterprises that are responsible for two-thirds of net new jobs in this country-are the backbone of the American economy, and a bellwether of economic progress.

Employee Retention Credit and Paid Leave Credit Programs

In addition to the SSBCI, the American Rescue Plan extends a number of critical tax benefits to small businesses that are intended to help businesses through to the recovery while keeping up their payrolls and still taking steps to protect health outcomes for employees.

The American Rescue Plan extends the availability of the Employee Retention Credit for small businesses through December 2021 and allows businesses to offset their current payroll tax liabilities by up to

$7,000 per employee per quarter. This credit of up to $28,000 per employee for 2021 is available to small businesses who have seen their revenues decline, or even been temporarily shuttered, due to COVID.

The American Rescue Plan also extends through September 2021 the availability of Paid Leave Credits for small and midsize businesses that offer paid leave to employees who may take leave due to illness, quarantine, or caregiving. Businesses can take dollar-for-dollar tax credits equal to wages of up to

$5,000 if they offer paid leave to employees who are sick or quarantining. Paid Leave Credits are a powerful incentive to encourage the offer of paid sick and family leave, which will help keep the virus under control by ensuring sick employees can stay home.

Unemployment Compensation

Across the nation, millions of Americans lost their jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a result, claimed unemployment benefits. The American Rescue Plan waives federal income taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits received in 2020 by middle- and lower-income taxpayers. The tax relief extends to both workers who received benefits through federal unemployment programs as well as those who received traditional benefits through their state unemployment insurance fund. This law will provide tax relief for Americans who lost their jobs and utilized unemployment benefits last year - allowing millions of workers to focus their benefits on covering essentials during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FACT SHEET: The American Rescue Plan Will Deliver Immediate Economic Relief to Families (3/18/21)

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FACT SHEET: The American Rescue Plan Will Deliver Immediate Economic Relief to Families

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The current public health crisis and resulting economic crisis have devastated the health and economic wellbeing of millions of Americans. From big cities to small towns, Americans - particularly people of color, immigrants, and low-wage workers - are facing a deep economic crisis.