The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center aims to be a resource for state policymakers and advocates by translating the science of the developing child into the most effective policy actions and public investments for states.
Our State Policy Lever Checklists outline the various components state leaders can consider when developing policies that support parents and their children:
Access to Perinatal Health Insurance
Reduced Administrative Burden for SNAP
Paid Family Leave
State Minimum Wage
State Earned Income Tax Credit
From eligibility requirements to generosity of benefits, administration, and funding mechanisms, state lawmakers and advocates can lean on our Policy Lever Checklists to craft legislation that can help contribute to a comprehensive system of prenatal-to-3 care.
Our Executive Director, Dr. Cynthia Osborne, served as a panelist at the 29th Annual Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Children Advocacy Ministry, where she highlighted children’s rights to thrive and effective state policies. Watch a recording here.
New Blog Posts!
Last month, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center published a new blog post:
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We're Hiring!
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center is hiring for various roles. Keep an eye on our job postings page and sign up for our career email list for the latest job updates. Currently, we are hiring for the following positions:
In the past month, the following states considered or passed bills that are proven, or have promise, to positively impact child, family, and economic outcomes.
Early Care & Learning
Arkansas appropriated Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for child care subsidies through S.B. 52, which would lead to an increase of $35 million infunding.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed A.B. 121 into law, mandating timely assessments for infants and toddlers eligible for early intervention services.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the state’s FY24 budget, which includes $70 million for child care subsidies, $130 million for child care workforce compensation, and $75 million for the Early Childhood Block Grant.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the FY24 budget, which continues child care subsidies at current levels based on enrollment and copayment waivers to counter the loss of ARPA funds, and invests $20 million to support the creation of a Social Impact Investment Fund.
Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed the state’s FY24 budget. The budget increases Head Start and Early Head Start funding by $3 million with a focus on competitive compensation. The budget also allocated $4 million to launch a pilot program to provide child care assistance to child care educators and staff.
Family & Economic Supports
Alaska proposed a ballot measure to gradually increase the state minimum wage from $10.85 to $15.00 per hour and require certain employers to provide paid sick leave.
Maine Governor Janet Mills signed the state’s supplemental budget, which creates a statewide 12-week paid family leave program.
Maternal & Child Health
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed two maternal and child health bills into law. H.B. 1035 requires that birth mothers receive depression screening at the time of birth and mandates that insurance policies cover the cost. H.B. 1574 provides a supplemental reimbursement rate for pediatricians and family doctors offering the comprehensive screening and protection program, HealthySteps.
North Carolina’s budget impasse continues to delay Medicaid expansion implementation, costing the state $521 million a month. In preparation, Governor Roy Cooper’s administration revealed a target implementation date of October 1 for Medicaid expansion coverage last week and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced an agreement with federal Medicaid regulators this week to begin covering the expansion population quickly once legislators agree on the state budget. Legislators are expected to return to Raleigh to continue budget negotiations early this month.
Combating Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Care
The National Governors Association and New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy published a playbook that highlights maternal mortality rates in the United States. With an emphasis on reducing racial disparities, the report also makes policy recommendations that can help reduce maternal mortality rates.
How Social Networks Shape Early Human Capital
The Center for Economic and Policy Research released a paper investigating the impact neighborhoods have on early human capital. The authors estimated the effects of early childhood intervention on the educational attainment of disadvantaged children in the United States and found significant spillover effects on the cognitive skills of children living near those who received the intervention.
Social Determinants & Child Outcomes
The Center for American Progress released a report exploring how policy can be used to improve social determinants for young children. The authors outline policy choices that reduce inequities and improve child outcomes through an integrated approach involving health, housing, education, and economic wellbeing.
Tribal Home Visiting Workforce
Tribal Home Visiting published a report examining successful home visiting programs for American Indian and Alaska Native families. The authors stress the importance of home visitors engaging with openness, understanding, and appreciation for indigenous culture.
Enhancing Parent-Infant Relationships
The National Head Start Association is hosting a webinar on August 2 to help participants deepen relationship-based, development-informed practices that improve professionals’ and parents’ ability to understand and apply child developmental constructs to their daily practice. Register here.
LEARN: Support Early Childhood
Zero-to-Three is hosting an in-person conference in Minneapolis on September 19 and 20. Registrants can connect with and hear from experts in prenatal-to-3 policy, including 40+ lecture sessions, 18 Baby Talk presentations, and 6 issue incentives. Register for the conference here.
South Carolina’s Connection Program
South Carolina launched an online platform that helps state residents check their eligibility for public benefits. Using voluntary personal information, the Palmetto State’s new free service connects individuals to 40+ government services, making it easier for families to access benefits.
Meet Senior Student Associate Grace Park. Grace joined the Outreach and Engagement team this summer and assists with the Center’s day-to-day communications work. Grace is a rising sophomore at Vanderbilt University and is studying Human and Organizational Development and Climate Studies with a minor in Business. As a Southern Illinois native, Grace enjoys day hikes, cliffjumping, exploring antique shops, and reading social problem novels in her hammock.
Come join Grace and the rest of our great team! Visit our job postings page and sign up for our career email list for updates.
