The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 invests unprecedented amounts of funding in the prenatal-to-3 period. As a result of this investment, states will have more support and choices to effectively build a comprehensive and robust prenatal-to-3 system of care. The new law includes a number of provisions critical to supporting individuals and families during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Signed into law on March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act broadens states’ flexibility to effectively support children and families and build a comprehensive prenatal-to-3 system of care. The stimulus bill has major implications for the prenatal-to-3 period because it:
- expands eligibility for programs
- increases the value and refundability of tax credits for families
- provides substantial funding increases to public programs serving families and caregivers.
To help the early childhood field navigate the American Rescue Plan and implications for states, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center has compiled a reference guide on the provisions in the Act that impact infants, toddlers, and their families and is also hosting a related webinar to walk through the Act with experts on March 30, 2021. We hope you and your colleagues can join us for this historic moment.
Links:
- Download Brief > How Will the American Rescue Plan Act Benefit Infants and Toddlers? A Summary of the 2021 Act’s Impact on Prenatal-to-3 Policies (PDF)
- Event Page, including webinar recording, slides, and additional resources > Tuesday, March 30, 2021 (12pm – 1:30pm CT)
Share on Twitter:
- “How will the #AmericanRescuePlan strengthen the prenatal-to-3 system of care? @pn3policy at @TheLBJSchool has a new guide on how it impacts infants, toddlers, their families, and states.”
- “The #AmericanRescuePlan provides states opportunities they’ve never had before to support young children & their families. Join @pn3policy on 3/30/21 for a discussion with experts on the implications for infants, toddlers, & states.“
Related Resources:
- Explore the evidence on the most effective policies and strategies in the Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap executive summary (PDF)
- Learn about the importance of the earliest years in Why Do We Focus on the Prenatal-to-3 Age Period?
- Find more helpful resources on the filterable Resources page.