May 12th was #DayWithoutChildCare, a powerful national day of action that shines a spotlight on something we at The Family Center/La Familia experience every day: the deep and lasting impact of a broken child care system.
Child care is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. Yet across the U.S. and right here in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, too many families are facing skyrocketing child care costs, long waitlists, and a shortage of available, quality programs. At the same time, early childhood educators—the backbone of our care economy—are underpaid and overworked, despite performing one of the most essential jobs in our society.
At La Familia, we’re committed to transforming this reality.
We provide high-quality early education at El Nidito, our licensed early childhood center. Every day, we serve children from 6 weeks to 5 years old—offering not only learning, but nourishment, stability, and a sense of belonging. We serve more than 39,000 nutritious meals each year, offer wraparound family support services, and create a foundation for lifelong learning and success.
But we do this vital work in the face of serious financial challenges—made worse by funding freezes and cuts, rising food costs, and increased pressure on providers.
That’s why #DayWithoutChildCare matters. It’s a wake-up call. It’s a demand. And it’s a call to action for early childhood equity.
Our families deserve a child care system that is:
- Affordable and accessible for all families, regardless of income or ZIP code
- Supported by thriving wages and benefits for educators and care workers
- Fully funded with no cuts to Head Start, Early Head Start, Medicaid, or SNAP
- Built on racial, economic, and gender justice principles
At The Family Center/La Familia, we do not engage in lobbying or endorse legislation—but we do believe in raising awareness, sharing stories, and mobilizing community action. This moment requires all of us.
How You Can Take Action
Help us ensure that a “day without child care” never becomes the norm.
✅ Make a tax-deductible donation today to support early learning, teacher retention, and family well-being.
📝 Take our 5-minute donor survey to let us know what matters most to you.
Because every child deserves access to safe, nurturing care, and every parent deserves to know their child is in a place where they can learn, grow, and thrive. Together, we can build a stronger, more equitable future—starting from the very beginning.