09/25/2026
We are calling on DHR and our elected officials to:
Restore the income guidelines Alabama families have relied on for years, allowing eligibility up to 180% of the Federal Poverty Level for initial certification and up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for recertification, instead of the new guidelines that drastically reduce income thresholds and push working families out of care.
Stop removing families with little notice. Make any future changes to eligibility public, give families reasonable advance warning so they have time to plan, and reinstate parents who were terminated because of technical or system errors outside their control.
Lift the child care subsidy freeze so working families can get the help they qualify for.
Pay providers on time and stop delays that put programs at risk.
Halt changes to Quality STARS funding that penalize providers who invested in quality, and involve providers in any future changes.
Raise reimbursement rates to reflect the true cost of providing care.
Treat child care as essential infrastructure, with stable, long-term funding.
If you are a parent, a grandparent, a child care owner or teacher, an employer, or anyone who knows how much Alabama depends on child care, please sign and share this petition. Our children, our families, and our economy can't afford to wait.
