07/11/2026
🚨 Brighter Steps Families 🚨
We Need You!!!
I want to share something that could directly impact many of the families we serve.
State leaders have informed stakeholders that Utah is facing a $20 million reduction in federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) block grant funding. As they work through how to manage these cuts, several options are being discussed, including:
• Higher out-of-pocket copays for families receiving child care assistance.
• Lower income limits, meaning some families may no longer qualify for assistance.
• Reductions in funding for school-age child care.
• Lower reimbursement rates paid to child care providers.
What does this mean for Brighter Steps families?
For some families, it could mean paying significantly more for child care each month.
For others, it could mean losing child care assistance altogether because they no longer qualify.
Families with school-age children could see changes to the support they currently receive before school, after school, or during school breaks.
These decisions would not only affect families receiving assistance. They could impact the entire child care system by making it harder for providers to continue offering affordable, high-quality care and reducing the number of available child care options throughout our community.
No final decisions have been made, but this is exactly why we cannot wait until they are.
Your voice matters.
The people making these decisions need to hear from the parents whose lives will be affected. They need to understand that child care is not a luxury. It allows parents to work, children to learn, and families to build a better future.
This is our moment to stand together.
Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing more opportunities for us to rise up together, share our stories, and make sure the voices of Utah families are heard.
If you believe every child deserves access to affordable, high-quality child care, I hope you will stand with us.
Together, we are stronger. Together, we can make a difference.
