Advocacy Toolkit for Families, Providers and Community Members
Early Year’s Working in Early Care and Education in North Carolina: 2023 Workforce Study examines the state of early childhood education through surveys, interviews and focus groups of administrators, teachers, assistant teachers and Family Child Care (FCC) providers serving children under 5 in licensed programs.
The 2023 Workforce Study found that more early childhood teachers than ever before are leaving the profession. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified old issues and created new challenges, including qualified staff recruitment and retention, wage gaps and mental health.
This toolkit is here to help you easily share information and feel confident as you get involved in the advocacy process. Inside, you’ll find resources and sample content to guide you in making your voice heard. Whether you’re new to advocacy or have been involved for years, you have the power to influence change and make a meaningful impact in your community.
Thank you for your support and willingness to spread the word about the study and the issues our early care and education (ECE) workforce faces.
Contact Your Elected Officials
Hearing from constituents is how elected officials gauge which issues are important to people in their district. Your input can help ensure that our state prioritizes policies that support quality child care, fair compensation for educators and the overall well-being of young children and their families.
Where possible, include specific data points for your community by using our county-level summaries.
Hello, I am [Your Name], a constituent in [Representative/Senator] [Last Name’s] district.
I’m calling to discuss an important issue that directly impacts our community — the child care workforce.
North Carolina relies on quality early childhood teachers. Better school and life outcomes for children depend on quality early childhood teachers who have the skills to ensure that children, supported by their families, have the early experiences they need for healthy development and a strong foundation for learning.
Quality early childhood teachers partner with families and caregivers to prepare children for success in school and life, allowing parents and guardians to work and keep North Carolina businesses running.
However, our early childhood educators are struggling. Many are leaving the field due to low pay and lack of benefits, which threatens the quality of care our children receive.
I ask that [Representative/Senator Name] support legislation that improves wages, working conditions and educational opportunities for our state’s child care workforce. By providing these professionals with the financial stability they deserve, we can greatly improve the lives of young children and families in our community.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Subject: Support Our Early Care and Education Workforce
Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent in your district. I am writing to express my concern about the current state of the child care workforce in North Carolina and to ask for your support on this critical issue.
North Carolina relies heavily on quality early childhood teachers. These professionals are essential in ensuring better school and life outcomes for children. They possess the skills necessary to provide children, supported by their families, with the early experiences they need for healthy development and a strong foundation for learning.
Quality early childhood teachers partner with parents to prepare children for success in school and life, allowing parents to work and keeping North Carolina’s businesses running. However, despite the vital role they play, our early childhood educators are struggling. Many are leaving the field due to low pay and lack of benefits, which threatens the quality of care our children receive.
I respectfully urge you to support legislation that improves wages, working conditions and educational opportunities for our child care workforce. Providing these professionals with the financial stability and respect they deserve will greatly improve the lives of young children and families in our community.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter. I look forward to hearing how you plan to support our state’s early care and education workforce.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
Raise These Issues with Your Employer or Local Business Community Leaders
Early childhood educators do the work that allows all other work to happen. The business community will play a critical role in promoting change for the child care workforce.
Subject: Enhancing Support for Working Parents and Guardians at [Company Name]
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I hope this message finds you well. I’m reaching out to discuss an important issue that I believe could significantly benefit both our employees and our company’s overall productivity: how we support working parents and guardians through our internal policies and practices.
As we know, early childhood educators play a critical role in our economy. They are the foundation that allows all other work to happen by providing care and education for the next generation. However, their work often goes underappreciated and undercompensated, despite the expertise and dedication they bring to their roles.
Given the essential role that early childhood education plays in our workforce, I believe it’s crucial for [Company Name] to:
- Take a look at how we currently support employees who are parents or guardians. This could include reviewing existing policies or considering new initiatives that provide more robust support, such as flexible work arrangements, child care assistance or other family-friendly benefits.
- Recognize and support the critical role of child care providers in enabling workforce participation. By acknowledging their contributions, we can reinforce the value they bring to our economy.
- Advocate for policies that improve wages, working conditions and educational opportunities for ECE staff to ensure a sustainable and high-quality workforce. By doing so, we can help create a more stable and effective environment for both our employees and their families. You can learn more in Early Years’ Working in Early Care and Education in North Carolina: 2023 Workforce Study.
By ensuring that our company policies are aligned with the needs of working parents and guardians, and by supporting the broader early childhood education workforce, we can not only support the well-being of this company’s employees but also strengthen our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further and explore ways we can enhance our support for working parents, guardians, and the critical ECE providers who enable our participation in the workforce. Thank you for considering this important matter.
Subject: Enhancing Support for Working Parents and Early Childhood Educators in Our Community
Dear [Chamber of Commerce Representative’s Name],
I’m writing to discuss an important issue that I believe could significantly benefit our local businesses and the broader community: how we support working parents, guardians and early childhood educators through policies and practices in our area.
As you know, early childhood educators play a critical role in our economy. They provide the essential care and education that allows parents to participate in the workforce. However, their work is often underappreciated and undercompensated, despite the expertise and dedication they bring to their roles.
Given the importance of early childhood education to workforce participation, I believe it’s crucial for our Chamber of Commerce to take an active role in supporting both local businesses and early childhood educators by:
- Recognizing and supporting the critical role of early childhood education providers in enabling workforce participation. By acknowledging their contributions, we can reinforce the value they bring to our economy.
- Collaborating with child care providers to offer more comprehensive support and benefits, ensuring that these essential workers are fully supported and that their vital contributions are recognized.
- Advocating for policies that improve wages, working conditions and educational opportunities for early childhood education staff to ensure a sustainable and high-quality workforce that benefits the entire community.
By ensuring that local policies and business practices are aligned with the needs of working parents and guardians, and by supporting the broader early childhood education workforce, we can enhance the well-being of families in our community while fostering a thriving local economy. I encourage you to learn more by reading Early Years’ Working in Early Care and Education in North Carolina: 2023 Workforce Study.
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how our Chamber can take steps to support these efforts and explore ways to collaborate with local child care providers. Thank you for considering this important matter.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Business Name]
[Your Email Address]
Download and Share Our Fact Sheets
Our downloadable fact sheets provide an easy reference guide to the 2023 Workforce Study and are targeted for different audiences. Each fact sheet is available in English and Spanish, as well as in an eye-catching two-sided version and a single-sided version with a white background for easier printing.
Read, Download and Share our Brief Findings
The research team wrote a series of nine briefs based on the findings from the 2022/2023 NC Early Care and Education Workforce Study. We will be releasing them from February through October 2025. These resources are designed to bring your voices to the forefront, sharing insights from early childhood educators and offering recommendations to support each topic. Please feel free to download and share with the community.
Mental Health Findings
Click to view
Serving Neurodiverse Children
Click to view
Family Child Care Providers
Click to view