Governance

No two states govern early childhood the same way. Explore a state-by-state look at early childhood governance, showing how programs are administered and which agencies oversee them.
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Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap 2024

Rigorous scientific evidence informs our annual policy guide, which gives states actionable solutions to improve outcomes for all young children.
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Clearinghouse

Prenatal-to-3 Policy Clearinghouse

How do you know if a state policy truly improves outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families? We reviewed thousands of research studies for you.
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Research & Evaluation

We conduct original research—including program evaluation, policy analyses, benefit-cost analyses, and mixed methods studies—to build the evidence.
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State Services

To support lawmakers and advocates, we offer research and evaluation, data and analyses, presentations, testimony, agenda development, and more.

We aim to accelerate states’ implementation of evidence-based policies that help all children thrive from the start.

Who We Are

We are a nonpartisan research center at Vanderbilt University. We focus on the rigorous evidence connecting brain science with state policies and programs.

What We Do

We inform lawmakers, agencies, advocates, and academics about policies to help families thrive–while growing states’ health, safety, and prosperity.

Why prenatal to 3?

The first three years of life have a powerful impact on the future wellbeing of every person. Families can benefit from a strong early childhood system of care.

The Latest

State Policy Lever Checklist: State Child Tax Credit

Research is clear that money matters for children’s wellbeing and achievement. Greater income allows parents to better meet children’s basic needs, and financial stability can reduce parental stress. State child tax credits (CTCs) provide one

State Child Tax Credits: A Promising Policy to Improve Child Outcomes 

Ever since the successful temporary expansion of the federal child tax credit (CTC) in 2021, state CTCs have become an increasingly common state policy to support families’ economic stability. Prior to the expansion, only 6

Funding Mechanisms for State Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs

Learn how statewide paid family and medical leave (PFML) programs are financed through payroll contributions from workers and employers. This policy brief explores key decisions for funding PFML programs, including start-up funding, premium contributions, rate determination, and wage coverage.

Securing the Future: Examining Dedicated Sources of Funding for Child Care Subsidy Programs

Access to high-quality child care is essential for a family’s active workforce participation and children’s healthy development. Child care is not just a service—it is crucial infrastructure that supports economic stability and growth both for

State policy progress on paid family and medical leave in 2024

 Paid family and medical leave (PFML) is one of 12 evidence-based policies in our 2024 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap, which details states’ progress toward adopting and implementing policies that effectively improve child and family wellbeing.

State policy progress on community-based doulas in 2024

Community-based doulas are trained social service professionals who provide non-clinical emotional, physical, and informational support to expectant parents, starting during pregnancy and continuing throughout the postpartum period. Community-based doulas are one of 12 evidence-based policies