Of the 7,500 families in temporary shelters across the state, officials estimate the population of children younger than 5, or younger than school-age, to be around 5,000. The partnership, also comprising Neighborhood Villages, Cradles 2 Crayons and Horizons for Homeless Children, is planning a second delivery of items including “seasonally appropriate” clothing, pajamas, socks, underwear, sneakers and a hygiene kit for the spring.

Many early education providers in the state have already reached a breaking point. The loss of additional state funding in June could be devastating.

Neighborhood Villages, in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce and City of Boston, launched the program one year ago to help address early education workforce crisis.

Amid a nationwide child care crisis, Massachusetts struggles to retain and bring in early educators due to the state’s high living costs and the industry’s low wage and benefits.

Parents, teachers and advocates are sharing their support for legislation in Massachusetts that would help make child care more affordable for families — and increase pay for early childhood educators in the state.

Neighborhood Villages–a Boston-based systems-change nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector–rallied at the Massachusetts State House in support of two child care bills (H.489/S.301) that would help make child care more affordable for more families.

Today, Neighborhood Villages — a Boston-based nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector — celebrated the Massachusetts’ State Legislature’s FY24 budget veto overrides to restore critical funding for early education and care resources, and resulting in a FY24 state budget that prioritizes children, parents, and providers.

Like many industries that have faced a worker shortage since the pandemic, the child care industry is in an ongoing nationwide crisis.

Figuring out what to do with kids after school is out and the workday ends is mentally and financially draining—but it doesn’t have to be. As for a solution, all three experts agree that what we need is more public funding. Herbert recommends that parents find organizations that are advocating to improve the system (Neighborhood Villages is one of them) and then find ways to get involved.

Early childhood nonprofits that recently received gifts in amounts ranging from $1 to $10 million include Alliance for Early Success, Parent Possible, Neighborhood Villages, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, Early Edge California, Raising Childcare Fund, Parents as Teachers, Start Early and Zero to Three.

Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a $56 billion state budget for the fiscal year of 2024. Included in that budget are several considerable investments in education in the state, from free lunches for K-12 students to free community college tuition for nursing students.

Today, Neighborhood Villages — a Boston-based nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector — celebrated Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s signing of the FY24 state budget. This year’s state budget commits nearly $1.5 billion to early education and care, including $475 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program.

Today, Neighborhood Villages — a Boston-based nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector — celebrated the FY24 state budget put forward by the Massachusetts Legislature that commits a record $1.5 billion to early education and care, including $475 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program.

Less than 24 hours after negotiators inked a compromise on a $56.2 billion annual spending plan, House and Senate lawmakers, with little debate, voted Monday to send the fiscal year 2024 package to Governor Maura Healey. The chambers’ action on the budget legislation, representing a record level of spending, came nearly a month after the July 1 deadline for the start of the new fiscal year.

The town of Acton is giving away $3,000 to eligible families to help pay for child care and after school programs for children ages 13 and under, Town Manager John Mangiaratti announced in a press release Wednesday. | The Boston Globe

Today Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Parks and Recreation, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, and the Office of Early Childhood announced investments in child bikes and bike instruction through “Connect, Learn, Explore: Boston’s Commitment to Youth.”