We aim to accelerate states’ implementation of evidence-based policies that help all children thrive from the start.
Education systems across the U.S. share a goal of helping children succeed, but oftentimes, the path to academic growth remains unclear. Students are passed from one silo to another with no comprehensive experience to support overall cognitive development, and educators are tasked with reinventing the learning wheel in every district.
Virginia, a state with values rooted in supporting early education, acknowledged this reality within its communities and took steps to rethink how we approach education from a unified lens. In our latest case study, we examined the work done throughout Virginia to consolidate several education divisions into a single department and streamline data systems that offer more cohesive milestone insights.
With a longstanding history of supporting school readiness for young learners, Virginia’s strategic approach offers a potential blueprint for state leaders looking to transform their early childhood governance structure. Explore the full report to learn more.
Registration is open for our annual Prenatal-to-3 Research to Policy Summit on Tuesday, September 30 from 1:00-2:30 PM CT!
Together, we’ll explore which states in 2025 made the most progress in building more responsive systems for children and families nationwide.
Hear from Dr. Cynthia Osborne, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center's state policy team, and Elisabeth Wright Burak from Georgetown University as they share the 2025 State Policy Roadmap, key state efforts to advance state-level policies, and the impact of recent federal policy changes.
Last week, our Executive Director, Dr. Cynthia Osborne, had the opportunity to present at two impactful events.
For the first event, she joined the First Tennessee Development District Education to Employment Summit and shared insights into how the Center is supporting research to address early childhood workforce challenges, particularly around employee retention and compensation. At her second appearance, Dr. Osborne joined the Nashville Early Education Coalition (NEEC) for a special screening of their Zero to Three documentary and engaged in a panel discussion—underscoring the significant role of research in shaping policies that impact early brain development.
The book delves into the fragmented quilt of U.S. child care systems, underlining successes and revealing uneven resources across local communities. Regenstein also spotlights advocates and philanthropists whose efforts have influenced state policies and driven the reform of early childhood systems.
By highlighting real-world examples of states that have taken action to unify governance structures, Readinessoffers practical steps for minimizing administrative gaps, improving program coordination, and strengthening the capacity to better serve children and their families.
A comprehensive study from the Stanford University Center on Early Childhood and the RAPID Survey Project highlights how limited access to basic needs is driving emotional distress among parents and caregivers and stifling their economic stability.
Findings from a four-year RAPID provider survey identify ongoing challenges such as low wages and limited professional support as critical issues impacting the quality of care that young children receive at home and in child care settings.
Key findings from a recent American Heart Association report emphasize the impact of excessive processed food consumption on the development of young children.
Katie Bishop Kendrick, MS, MPH, senior national advocacy consultant at Voices for Healthy Kids, shared insight on the report, suggesting that improving nutrition standards in early child care systems and expanding access to programs like SNAP could play a vital role in giving children the best start in life.
Imagination Factory and Foster America are hosting an upcoming webinar,Invest in Housing: A Solution to Prevent Family Separation, sharing insights about the Creative Cluster project to capture and spread the Family Keys affordable housing innovation in Wisconsin to sites around the country.
Discover how Family Keys got started, key strategies for designing, implementing, and financing the initiative, and learn about partnership opportunities with Imagination Factory that could benefit the communities you serve.
Choose from two convenient dates to attend, October 2 and October 8, and get inspired by this dynamic work.
The BUILD Initiative and Pritzker Children’s Initiative are partnering to host a webinar, Hungry for Change: Tackling Food Insecurity and Nutrition Through Systems That Work, on September 11 at 2:00 PM ET.
This event will outline critical issues of food insecurity and accessibility gaps affecting the wellbeing of young children.
Join the conversation as they shed light on root causes of these challenges and examine actionable policy solutions that can help ensure all children have access to nutritious food, healthy food.
Join the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families on Friday, September 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET for a rapid analysis of newly released U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) data.
This webinarwill explore state-by-state child health coverage trends. Joan Alker, Executive Director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and Research Professor at the McCourt School of Policy, will present her insights and dive into how recent federal policy changes may shape the future of children's health insurance across the U.S.
The Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. and the Alliance for Early Success are hosting a 90-minute webinar focused on the Black perinatal workforce and its intersection with Birth Justice and Reproductive Justice frameworks.
This timely discussion will explore how the Black perinatal workforce engages with policy to advance equity, strategies for reducing harm and strengthening postpartum care, and how to utilize BMMA’s policy priorities to advance care for postpartum families.
Caroline Dellheim is a State Relations Associate at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, where she supports targeted state engagement efforts by building relationships with state leaders and advocates. She works closely with the Outreach and Policy teams to share the Center’s resources and expertise with a wide range of audiences.
Caroline began her career in Washington, D.C., at Share Our Strength, the national nonprofit behind the No Kid Hungry campaign. She later moved to Philadelphia to join Children First, a statewide advocacy organization, where she mobilized early childhood education providers and families, engaged state legislators, facilitated community events, and led awareness campaigns about Pennsylvania’s child care crisis. She went on to earn her MSW from Washington University in St. Louis, gaining additional policy and advocacy experience with the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen and Kids Win Missouri. She also holds a BA in Psychology from Kenyon College.
Caroline now lives in St. Louis with her husband, Nicky. She enjoys hosting dinner parties, baking sweet treats, running, trying new workout classes, reading, and traveling.
