Shari Jones’ Post

• Michigan loses $2.88 billion in economic activity and $576 million annually in tax revenue due to childcare issues. • 14% of parents left a job in the prior six months due to childcare. • 52% of parents in an needed to make a significant adjustment to school or work training due to childcare issues in the past 12 months. Since March of 2020 the country has been attempting to acknowledge the economic impacts of the instability in the early learning sector. In order to ensure early learning and care programs could stay open, the federal government invested billions of dollars in grants to states to ensure programs could remain open and provide safe, reliable care to the children of essential workers, by increasing wages and providing retention bonuses. Read more… https://lnkd.in/g-igstmq - Advocacy Links | Take Action Now #ChildCareWages #MichiganTransformation #Advocacy

Child support can be confusing, and I often get questions from clients about what’s covered and what’s not. Here are 3 of the most common questions: 1️⃣ Work-Related Child Care: What counts? Typically, necessary childcare expenses while you work do count. 2️⃣ What Does Child Support Cover? Child support is designed to cover the basics—food, shelter, clothing—but it may not cover everything, like extracurricular activities. 3️⃣ Extracurricular Activities: Courts can go either way on whether these are included in child support. Often, parents decide to split these costs in a way that works best for their family. Child support is about ensuring your child’s needs are met. If you have questions about what’s included in your situation, reach out—I'm here to help! https://bit.ly/3OnRium #DivorceTips #ChildSupport #ChildSupportFAQ #Custody #CoParenting

ASK NAT, Tax Professional Question: Are there any new changes to the Child Care Act? ANSWER: Recent changes to childcare policies under the 2024 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Final Rule aim to enhance affordability, access, and stability for families: 1. Cost Reductions: The rule caps the amount families pay for child care to be no more than 7% of their household income. Additionally, states can waive co-payments for families earning below 150% of the poverty line and for those with children who have disabilities. This change is expected to benefit over 100,000 families by reducing child care expenses.   2. Improved Payment Practices: To better support child care providers, the rule mandates timely payments that more accurately reflect the cost of care. This helps stabilize operations and encourages more providers to participate in the CCDF, thus expanding options for parents. 3. Streamlined Access: Families who are eligible for other benefit programs can now find it easier to apply for child care assistance. Efforts to reduce paperwork and introduce more accessible online applications are part of this initiative, helping families secure child care without disrupting their employment or education. Natalie O'Neal Thomas M. "Mickey" O'Neal, CPA Seth Blakeney Braeleigh Blakeney #childcareact #childcare #taxcredit #taxdeduction #ccdf #childcarecreditdevelopmentfund #taxprepayer #taxaccountant #accountant #taxfirm #cpa #cpafirm

🗳️ As part of our budget survey, you can tell us what you think about investing in services to keep children safe, and support for families and schools. For those children who are looked after by the council, long-term family-based placements such as foster families and kinship care give children and young people the best opportunity to thrive. We also want to invest in supporting families across the county to access the services they need, like family hubs, youth services, early years and childcare services. Whether you are a parent or carer yourself or just want to have your say, tell us what you think on these issues and more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eeyvbJCh

The City of St. Louis called on residents to prioritize how Rams Settlement dollars should be used, and the people spoke – loudly! The NUMBER ONE priority for Black residents is free or municipally subsidized childcare for residents. We believe the city should listen to the thousands of residents who voted for early childhood education funding and: WE believe childcare is a CIVIL RIGHT.  WE believe every child and family deserves access to a quality and affordable childcare seat.  WE believe it is unacceptable for a workforce made up of so many women and women of color has been historically and still remains to be overworked, underpaid, and undervalued.  WE believe local, state, and federal government each have a fiscal responsibility to our children starting at birth.  WE believe that regardless of where a family chooses to send their child (community-based, home-based, public schools (which only offer pre-k), etc.), their child deserves access to the resources necessary to run a quality program starting at birth.  WE believe the time to act is NOW. Join us:  https://vqr.vc/SL1kc1Qog #morewemorepower #weoutside

#DidYouKnow that the average household spends 24% of its income on child care, and in a dozen states, child care costs MORE than monthly rent? Families across America feel the impact of surging childcare costs, making balancing work and family life increasingly challenging. Addressing this issue and supporting families in accessing quality, affordable child care is important. The increasing costs of groceries, daycare, clothing, and other essential expenses significantly impact the average family. It's crucial for companies and the government to support paid family leave to help families access quality and affordable childcare while addressing financial strains. The Family Care Act allows eligible employees to take paid leave to care for a family member in need. Paid leave for these families can help ease the burden of balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, ensuring families can prioritize their loved ones without sacrificing their financial well-being. Leave a comment below on how childcare costs have affected you, and take action today by signing the Family Care Act support letter at familycareact.com! #ChildCareCosts #FamilyEconomy #WGF #FamilyCareAct #futurism #activism #solidarity #pgh #childcare #paidleave #paidsafeleave

Access to affordable child care is not just a family issue; it’s an economic one. This article explores how the Child Care for American Families Act could support workforce participation, enhance productivity, and strengthen stability for businesses nationwide. As companies increasingly recognize the value of family-friendly policies, this legislation offers a path forward to support employees and drive economic growth. Read the full post to learn more about how this policy could impact workplaces and communities alike. https://lnkd.in/eDhN-NPN. #ChildCare #WorkforceDevelopment #EconomicPolicy #PolicyPerspectives

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Single Parents,Know your rights ! Juggling work, childcare, and everything in between can be tough for any parent. But for single parents, these challenges can feel even more overwhelming. Here's the rights for the same. →Fight for custody arrangements that prioritize your child's well-being. →Seek financial assistance from the other parent to cover child-rearing costs. →Make crucial decisions for your child. →Avoid discrimination based on parental status. →Secure safe and affordable home without discrimination. →Access resources which help you in assistance. By understanding these rights it will help them raise and support their children effectively.Create a stable and nurturing environment for your children. Let me know your views about these rights in the comments section below! #Rights #LegalLaw #legaljustice #law #SupremeCourt

What does it mean to #VoteLikeADad?  We're launching the #VoteLikeADad campaign to get men to exercise their democratic right to vote while centering care as a major policy priority. Eighty-five percent of fathers with children under 18 say being a parent is the most or one of the most important aspects of who they are as a person, and we want to mobilize men to vote with this in mind. To #VoteLikeADad means voting and advocating for better care policies like equal paid parental leave, accessible childcare and other initiatives that promote families’ well-being. #ChildTaxCredit #PaidLeaveForAll #RaisetheMinimumWage #ChildCare #GetChildCareOnTheRecord #VoteLikeYouCare Want to participate in the campaign? Add the #VoteLikeADad sticker to your photos here: https://lnkd.in/eWh8_aif