Moms First’s Post

When it comes to child care policy, there's more going on in D.C. than just the possible Child Tax Credit expansion — but parents need to know what's on the table in order to take action. Bryan Jamele, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Care, shares his expert take on all current bill proposals for child care, existing child care initiatives, and how we move from talk to action on the latest from Leading with Care: https://lnkd.in/gidy54S3

Want to learn more about the Child Care Contribution? The Vermont Department of Taxes invites you to an informative webinar about the Child Care Contribution. Visit here to obtain the Child Care Contribution Guide. https://ow.ly/YkBJ50Ru3AS #vermontbusiness #vtbusiness #vttax

Caring for loved ones can be stressful, both financially and physically. Most caregivers spend an average of $7,200 of their own income on caring for their loved ones. No one should suffer trying to care for their loved ones. That’s why we’re backing the Credit for Caring bill, a bipartisan bill that will give a federal tax credit to caregivers who qualify. Contact your lawmakers and ask them to support this bill! We’ve made it easy; just click the link below👇 https://lnkd.in/eMYC_RhB

Next Tuesday, we will have Senator A. Shane Massey, South Carolina State Majority Leader, brief us on the 2024 Legislative Session. The meeting is on Tuesday, December 19th, with registration and networking beginning at 8:30 and starting at 9:00. The program will be at the BCD/COG Building at 5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC 29406. To register: Legislative Preview - Event Registration (chambermaster.com) or contact the Chamber at [email protected]   Knowing what topics are on the front line for our legislators is critical in this precarious time. We hear things are great and everything in between, including that we are in a trying time and watching how 2024 will be for us. So, while we tend to the business climate, many other issues affect our businesses and employees: roads, education, taxes, childcare, economic development, and honestly, many more. Elected officials directly influence these items, and we must ensure our feelings and input are heard. As business leaders, we need to be engaged and knowledgeable on proposed legislation to understand the good or bad impact on our businesses and employees.  

Caring for loved ones can be stressful, both financially and physically. Most caregivers spend an average of $7,200 of their own income on caring for their loved ones. No one should suffer trying to care for their loved ones. That’s why we’re backing the Credit for Caring bill, a bipartisan bill that will give a federal tax credit to caregivers who qualify. Contact your lawmakers and ask them to support this bill! We’ve made it easy; just click the link below👇 https://lnkd.in/ez_jDUsy

Back to school can mean different things to every family, for some, it is taking their child to school for the first time, and for others, it might mean a college dropout. For those families who fall into the group of college students, this experience comes with a new sense of independence for your children and might require additional steps to be taken. To help families prepare for this see attached our checklist on issues to consider when your child becomes independent. This checklist goes into detail on various topics from emergency forms, healthcare considerations, tax implications, and many more.

Majority Rule is at Stake in MO! On April 5th Ashrei co-sponsored a Lunch & Learn with Women's Voices Raised For Social Justice where M'Evie Mead, director of strategic partnerships at Missouri Jobs with Justice and facilitator of the Will of the People Coalition, explored the history of initiative petitions in our state and reviewed current challenges in the Missouri legislature aimed at reshaping this important citizen-driven tool. On April 25th the Missouri House of Representatives passed SJR 74. SJR 74 would require constitutional initiative petitions to pass by not just a majority of all votes cast, as is the case now, but also by a majority of votes in a majority of the state’s eight Congressional districts. This means that measures approved by a majority of Missouri’s voters may not pass into law, allowing a minority of citizens to determine policy outcomes. The measure now goes back to the Missouri Senate, where a filibuster is expected to challenge the inclusion of the “ballot candy” provisions. If approved there, the proposed change would go to the ballot for approval by Missouri voters. Visit the Majority Rule section on our advocacy page to watch the recording of M'Evie Mead's presentation, read the full text of SJR 74 and find your State Senator's contact info to call and write to OPPOSE this bill and any measure that changes the initiative petition process advancing in the legislature. https://lnkd.in/gDw3WD2u

Back to school can mean different things to every family, for some, it is taking their child to school for the first time, and for others, it might mean a college dropout. For those families who fall into the group of college students, this experience comes with a new sense of independence for your children and might require additional steps to be taken. To help families prepare for this see attached our checklist on issues to consider when your child becomes independent. This checklist goes into detail on various topics from emergency forms, healthcare considerations, tax implications, and many more.

Congress now has the opportunity to partially restore the successful expansion of the Child Tax Credit, providing much-needed resources for families to meet essential needs, alleviating stress, and promoting children's health and well-being. Prevent Child Abuse America is pleased to see the bipartisan support for this new package, The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, which will have the greatest impact on families with little to no income. This is a meaningful step in the right direction – upstream – and is a powerful tool to foster a safer environment for our children. We thank Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith (R) and Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D) for their bipartisan efforts to support families. #PreventionisPossible

Last month, I attended a session on Women's Health in the Workplace. The presenters made a compelling case for retaining women and boosting employee engagement through an array of benefits. These included free meals, milk delivery, fertility care, gender transition support, menopause accommodations, mental health, etc. Even pet insurance. Amazing, all of it, really. But never once did childcare come up. Just try and watch folks (not just women!) try to manage the ever changing needs for support when it comes to raising children ... ➡ Sleep training ➡ Sick days ➡ Teacher in-service ➡ School vacation weeks ➡ Early dismissals ➡ After school care, transports and programs ➡ Sports schedules ➡ Camp coordination (not to mention how to pay for it all!) These challenges are ongoing, ever-changing, and significantly impact workand retention. By overlooking childcare in discussions about workplace benefits, we're missing a crucial opportunity to support employees and promote genuine inclusivity, retention, and well-being. Let's keep asking the question: How can we better support working parents?