Social Policy Histories
Tracing Inequity in Policy Design and
Its Consequences for Families
The race, gender, and socioeconomic status of intended beneficiaries have shaped centuries of policy design, constraining the economic stability of underserved communities.
This multi-part series presents detailed social policy history reports, complemented by interactive timelines, policy considerations, and history summary tables to highlight patterns of inequity across public support systems and provides insight for more accessible, effective policies.
What Happened, Who It Affected, and What Comes Next
Across the United States, access to healthcare, education, and well-paying, stable employment varies significantly according to a range of identities and often results in uneven outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and Native American populations.
Developed as an educational resource for policymakers, advocates, faculty, students, and community leaders seeking a deeper understanding of how social policies have shaped real-world outcomes over time, these resources can guide data-driven policy action that is responsive, inclusive, and tailored to building comprehensive systems of care for all.
History Reports
The History of Paid Family Leave Policies
Paid family leave helps families maintain basic life expenses while navigating major life shifts such as welcoming a new child or recovering from illness.
Yet, overlapping systems of oppression have restricted access to paid leave for families with low incomes, particularly families of color, leaving them with the stress of lost wages or job insecurity.
Explore the impact of labor systems rooted in exclusion and inequity.
The History of Child Care Policies
Child care subsidies enable parents and caretakers to afford reliable, high-quality child care while pursuing opportunities that can improve their families’ stability.
When the design and implementation of child care policies intentionally exclude certain communities, it creates barriers to accessible support that are particularly harmful to families with low income, particularly families of color.
See how families are affected by inequitable access to essential support.
Policy Considerations
Our policy considerations provide a framework of state-level opportunities to help state leaders and decisionmakers understand how future policies can be more accessible and effective.
To read the full policy considerations, please visit the full report.
History Timelines
Journey through time and see how the design of policy to exclude or limit access to social policies and programs among various racial and ethnic groups have continued to overflow into today’s society, leading to the inheritance of economic and social disadvantages over generations.
Policy Histories at a Glance: Summary Tables
These summary tables of key policies illustrate the implications of policy design over time, resulting in inequitable access.
State Policy Lever Checklists
Our state policy lever checklists provide detailed insight into the key components that shape how state policies known to support the prenatal-to-3 period are governed and operated. These resources are intended to serve as a guide to state leaders in their planning and assessment of the impact of policy choices on program design and implementation.
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Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere gratitude to the individuals and organizations whose expertise and feedback informed the development of these reports.
External partners include: Iheoma U. Iruka, PhD, The University of North Carolina; and Stephanie M. Currenton, PhD, Boston University.
Past and present colleagues at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center include: Kaeley Benson, PhD; Abby Lane, PhD; Alyssa Rafa, MS; Maria Spinetti, MS; Sarah Ritter, MSW; Sean Craig, JD; Victoria Hunter Gibney, PhD; and Leah Lomotey-Nakon, PhD.
The paid family leave report was prepared by Victoria Hunter Gibney, PhD; Cynthia Osborne, PhD; Abby Lane, PhD; and Anna Thom, MA.
The child care subsidies report was prepared by Becca Hanlin Lustick, MA; and Cynthia Osborne, PhD.
Recommended Citations
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center (2025). The history of paid family leave policies: Implications for equitable implementation. Peabody College of
Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University. https://pn3policy.org/.
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center (2025). The history of child care policies: Implications for equitable implementation. Peabody College ofEducation and Human Development, Vanderbilt University. https://pn3policy.org/.
Press Contact
For media inquiries related to this report or to request additional information, please contact our communications team at pn3comms@vanderbilt.edu.
