The Vitality of the First Five Years with Guest Sarah Rittling

From research to action: how can we protect the early years as a society?

On today’s episode, Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of the First Five Years Fund, joins us to discuss her dedication to using innovative early childhood policy as a way of tackling childhood poverty. Sarah is widely regarded as a national leader in the field of children's advocacy due to her years of expertise in politics and legislation. From brain development to political analysis, the work she is leading at First Five Years Fund is among the most comprehensive and up-to-date on all aspects of the lives of young children today.

Born to a family of educators in a very small town in Upstate New York, Sarah has not only her background in education to thank for her passion in childcare reform, but also the inspirational family dynamic of having a working mother and supportive father. From an early age, her parents instilled in her the need to do good and be of service to others, particularly those who didn't have what her family had. Now with a family of her own, Sarah has continued that thread of service in her own career, working to solve the childcare crisis by raising funds for childcare programs throughout the country.

In my discussion with Sarah, we talk about the ways that she continues to pursue this thread of service in government and how she is raising her own children with the integrity of small-town upbringing that she had while in the much different environment of Capitol Hill. 

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Where Sarah’s inspiration to do good in the world began
• What the First Five Years Fund’s vision and mission is
• How the pandemic brought light to the issues that Sarah and the First Five Years Fund have been working to solve in childcare
  

Supporting Resources:

• If you would like to learn more about Sarah’s work at First Five Years Fund, check out  www.ffyf.org

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EPISODE CREDITS:

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