FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 29, 2024

SENATOR KUSHNER RECOGNIZED AS A ‘CHILDREN’S CHAMPION’ IN 2024

State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) is presented with a “2024 Children’s Champion” Award from the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance at Action Early Learning Center on Balmforth Avenue in Danbury.

DANBURY – State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) was recognized today as a “2024 Children’s Champion” by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance for her work to increase funding for Care4Kids (which makes child care affordable for low- to moderate-income families), restructure various state early care programs into one consolidated Early Start program, and for supporting House Bill 5002, which established a dedicated fund for Early Childhood Education in the State Treasurer’s office.

The award was presented to Sen. Kushner this morning during a ceremony at Action Early Learning Center on Balmforth Avenue in Danbury.

“The Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance is thrilled to present our Children’s Champion Award to Senator Kushner, who truly is a children’s champion,” said CT Early Childhood Alliance Executive Director Merrill Gay. “This year, Julie worked to increase funding for Care4Kids so 3,000 additional families can get help paying for child care. She also supported the effort to create an early childhood trust fund and the restructuring of the various state early care programs into one consolidated Early Start program.”

“It was not a hard vote for me this spring to allocate another $18.8 million in unspent federal ARPA funds for the Care4Kids program, on top of the $45 million we’ve invested over the past three years.  Providing child care for thousands more low-income families has many benefits for children and their parents, and it’s vital that the legislature continue investing every year in quality, early child care opportunities for them,” said Sen. Kushner, who is Vice-Chair of the legislature’s Children’s Committee and who is a member of the General Assembly’s bipartisan Early Childhood Caucus. “We took other actions this year to streamline and improve other child care programs, all with the goal of making them work better for Connecticut kids and parents. It was a good session for young families in 2024, and I want to thank Merrill and the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance for recognizing my work in Hartford on their behalf.”