Announcing Our New Board Chairs

Charles Adkins

Ida Keeley

Charles Adkins (Pictured Left)

As an advocate and proud enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe, Charles focuses on local and state advocacy. He currently works as a Legislative Policy Analyst for the Tulalip Tribes focusing on Education, Housing, and Indian Child Welfare. Charles also serves as an elected school board member for the Everett School District. From his childhood on the Yurok reservation, he was sent to one of the remaining Indian Boarding Schools where his experiences helped inform his fight social and economic justice. Charles now serves as the Chair of the Children's Campaign Fund Board.

Ida Keeley (Pictured Right)

Ida is a consultant and community liaison, who has over 25 years of dedicated service in public child welfare and juvenile justice. Her extensive experience ranges from nonprofit work to various roles at the city, county, and state levels. She has been an administrator for the Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Snohomish County Juvenile Court. Ida has spearheaded policy reforms at local and state levels, drawing on both her personal lived experience and professional expertise. Ida now serves as the Chair of the Children's Campaign Fund Action Board.

For more information about the CCF & CCFA Board of Directors, click here.

CCFA responds to Governor's Proposed Budget

Dear Governor Inslee, Governor-Elect Ferguson, and Legislators,

Children’s Campaign Fund Action (CCFA) builds power for children, youth, and families in Washington State by engaging in education and advocacy. We appreciate your leadership during this critical time as our state faces a $12-14 billion budget shortfall. We recognize the difficult decisions ahead and thank you for prioritizing investments that support children, families, and child care providers.

We commend the Governor’s proposed budget for recognizing the essential role of child care and early learning in Washington’s economy and in ensuring every child has a strong start in life. The inclusion of a progressive revenue package, including a wealth tax, increased capital gains tax, and adjustments to the Business & Occupation tax represents a critical investment in our children and the future of Washington.

We also celebrate investments such as the $510 million in DCYF’s base budget to increase child care provider subsidy rates up to the 85th percentile of 2024 market rates. This funding helps stabilize a long-underfunded workforce that is vital to both families and our economy. Additionally, we are grateful for investments in Play and Learn Groups and other supports for early childhood caregivers, which recognize the critical contributions of informal care providers.

However, we are deeply concerned about the proposed delays and reductions in critical child care and early learning programs. The budget delays the Working Connections Child Care expansion for families earning up to 75% of the state median income for another five years. It also postpones planned ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) assistance for families until 2031. These delays will leave thousands of families—particularly middle-income families who cannot afford child care but do not qualify for subsidies—waiting far too long for essential support.

Washington’s care providers, parents, and businesses agree that the state cannot afford to go backward on access to affordable, high-quality child care. Without immediate investments in early learning and family support, we risk exacerbating the workforce shortage, forcing parents out of the workforce, and delaying critical opportunities for our youngest learners.

We are heartened by the new revenue proposals included in the governor's budget, such as the wealth tax on financial assets exceeding $250 million, the capital gains tax increase from 7% to 8%, and adjustments to the Business & Occupation tax for high-profit businesses. These measures will not only address income inequality but also generate the resources necessary to prevent harmful cuts to essential programs. We also recognize that other progressive revenue options, if considered, could further enhance our collective ability to support these critical services.

As the legislative session begins, we urge you to restore funding and advance these programs without delay. These investments are essential to building a thriving, equitable, and economically strong Washington.

LEAP Lunch and Learn: Early Care & Education

Did you know that turnover, absenteeism, and lost family income due to child care issues results in a $6 billion reduction of the state's economy? When families cannot find quality care, employers and the economy suffers. In this webinar, national author and expert, Dan Wuori, shares insights from his latest book, The Daycare Myth, which discusses what we all need to know about human development and the importance of delivering high-quality early care and education. 

For more information about the LEAP program, visit https://www.washingtonleap.org/.