Michelle Crow is the Southern Arizona director of the Children’s Action Alliance who is championing the $160 million funding increase. She says the state is facing a crisis with access to affordable childcare and that the economics of the field are changing rapidly.

“The stories that we’re hearing is true frustration from parents and childcare providers,” she says.

“We sort of dug ourselves into the Grand Canyon of not funding childcare and we really do have to work our way back out,” Crow says.

“Nonprofits like Children’s Action Alliance have been urging leaders to make funding childcare a priority in budget negotiations that are happening now. Kyrstyn Paulat is the director of early learning and education with Children’s Action Alliance, and she joined The Show to talk about it. We are going through budget negotiations right now, that is why early childhood advocates are really stressing the need for not just the support of that $45 million, but for us to fully fund the Childcare Assistance Program, we need $160 million.”

"Families really shouldn't have to choose between basic necessities and being able to provide services for their child," Paulat said.

"The cost of childcare is just not affordable for families right now," said Krystyn Paulat, the nonprofit's Director of Early Learning & Education. "It has reached levels that match what it takes to send a child to college."

“She’s also participating in a program called Changemakers through the Children’s Action Alliance. The Arizona nonprofit advocates for children and family rights. Changemakers is an educational course about the state and legislative processes and how parents can get involved in advocacy. Michelle Crow is the southern Arizona director of the alliance. She called Siller a “superstar.”  

"Every time we lose a child, we know there’s a family grieving and asking themselves what they could have done differently. As a community we need to ask that, too,” said January Contreras, the CEO of the Children’s Action Alliance. “We are the adults in the room, and it’s really up to us to do our best to do right by kids.”

“We can’t allow moms and babies to go hungry,” she said.

Now executive director of Children’s Action Alliance – a nonprofit that advocates for child welfare in Arizona – Contreras said the Arizona Food Bank Network, local food drives and donations would be lifelines if WIC is frozen. - January Contreras, Executive Director 

“This issue with our state not investing with full-on services for our children is making a huge impact. It's a ripple effect,” said Kyrstyn Paulat,the director of early learning and child education at the Arizona Children’s Action Alliance.

“It does leave us in a vulnerable position when there's such unpredictability at the federal level. Will these programs that people can rely on in their worst moments or in their tough moments, will they be able to stay open? And that causes a lot of, of uncertainty, it causes a lot of nervousness and anxiety.” “WIC is an example. WIC is the Women Infant Children's program. This is designed to help our most vulnerable not go hungry.” – January Contreras