FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Family Child Care & Center Enrichment Foundation (FCCEF)
Vantionette Savage, President
fccef@gmail.com | 704-763-8136
July 10, 2025
Grassroots Advocacy Leads to Historic Legislative Win for North Carolina Home-Based Family Child Care Providers
Charlotte, NC — July 10, 2025 — The Family Child Care & Center Enrichment Foundation (FCCEF) proudly announces a landmark victory for home-based family child care providers across North Carolina. After more than two years of tireless grassroots advocacy led by dedicated providers and supported by FCCEF, critical legislation has been passed to remove restrictive building codes that limited the expansion of home-based child care programs.
The passage of House Bill 412 / SL 2025-36: Child Care Regulatory Reforms marks a significant step forward in expanding access to high-quality care in home-based settings.
The movement began in December 2022, when a group of home-based family child care providers in Buncombe County gathered to discuss the need for increased child care ratios. That conversation sparked the launch of a Change.org petition in January 2023, which quickly gained momentum among providers, community supporters, and social media networks.
Advocates Vantionette Savage and Alissa Rhodes raised the issue with the Family Child Care Council, while Rhodes authored a letter to Senator Julie Mayfield, shared by fellow provider Daniztha Baker at Blue Ridge Community College. This grassroots advocacy quickly expanded statewide.
With leadership from Alissa Rhodes and Tammy Pratt, and with the support of the Family Child Care and Center Enrichment Foundation, advocates met with Representative Eric Ager and mobilized home-based family child care providers across North Carolina to write letters to their local representatives. Their efforts led to the introduction and eventual signing of an initial bill by Governor Roy Cooper on October 1, 2023, increasing ratios for home-based family child care.
Despite this success, a December 2024 legislative update from the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) clarified that building codes and zoning restrictions still posed barriers for expansion. In response, Rhodes launched a second Change.org petition in January 2024, and the team re-engaged with legislators and the Department of Insurance (DOI) to push for further reform.
In March 2024, Rhodes and Pratt traveled to Raleigh to provide public comment at a DOI meeting, advocating for crucial changes to building code requirements. FCCEF amplified these efforts by presenting to child care commissioners in both February and May 2024, highlighting how meaningful change could only happen with code flexibility.
After months of determined advocacy and collaboration, House Bill 412 / SL 2025-36: Child Care Regulatory Reforms was introduced and passed in Spring 2025, delivering long-awaited relief to home-based family child care providers.
“This is a true grassroots victory,” said Vantionette Savage, President of FCCEF. “It shows the power of home-based family child care providers who raised their voices, stayed organized, and never gave up. This legislation will open doors for more children and families to access high-quality care in home settings, and we are proud to have played a role in making this possible.”
FCCEF remains committed to supporting home-based family child care educators through advocacy, leadership, and professional development, ensuring this essential sector remains strong, sustainable, and valued in North Carolina’s early education landscape.
About the Family Child Care & Center Enrichment Foundation (FCCEF):
The Family Child Care & Center Enrichment Foundation (FCCEF) is a nonprofit organization that uplifts home-based family child care providers through professional development, advocacy, and community building. FCCEF works to strengthen the voices of educators and expand access to quality care across North Carolina.