Economic Supports

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Economic Supports

Economic support programs provide relief to those struggling with economic adversity, such as that caused by joblessness, low income, or disability. These programs can help families with children access resources critical to optimal child development. Economic supports can take the form of cash transfer programs, tax credits, or home visiting programs that offer basic needs support.

Featured Resources

2025 Roadmap Profile: State Minimum Wage

A minimum wage establishes a floor for workers’ hourly wages to prevent exploitation by employers and ensure a minimum level of compensation.

2025 Policy Impact Calculator

What level of resources does a single parent with an infant and a toddler have to provide for their children in your state?

Implementing a Refundable State Earned Income Tax Credit in South Carolina: A Benefit-Cost Analysis

Our analysis demonstrates that the annual public benefits of the elective refundable state EITC program would outweigh its costs.

Related Resources

State Policy Progress on Earned Income Tax Credits in 2025

State earned income tax credits (EITCs) provide financial support to low and moderate-income families, offering relief that can reduce poverty and improve economic stability. Research shows that access to supports such as EITCs can lead

How Do State Policy Choices Impact Family Resources?

The Policy Impact Calculator compares the level of resources available to a full-time working family across states. This interactive tool offers a self-guided tour of the substantial variation in state policy choices for working families

Low Pay, No Matter the Path for Early Childhood Educators: Findings from North Texas

Early childhood educators are vital to shaping the development of young children, but despite the significant responsibility of nurturing young learners, many educators earn wages that fall far below a living wage. In this brief,

State Policies to Promote Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Did you know state policies play an important role in promoting infant and early childhood mental health? Infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) describes the capacity of a child leading to healthy social and

State Policy Progress on Paid Family and Medical Leave in 2025

Paid family and medical leave (PFML) is one of several evidence-based policies in our 2025 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap, which details states’ progress toward adopting and implementing policies that effectively improve child and family wellbeing.

Child Care: From Market Failure to Strategic Investment

High-quality child care is an essential service that benefits children, families, and the economy. However, rising costs and fragmented workforce structures are contributing to an overall market failure. Many families are finding reliable care to