Policies can be a powerful catalyst in establishing and maintaining a more equitable early childhood system, if thoughtfully designed and implemented.

American social policies have failed to equitably provide support to families made vulnerable by poverty, particularly families of color.

Throughout history, the design and implementation of social policies has been intentionally exclusionary. Designed to benefit White people of “respectable” standing, discriminatory practices, particularly at the state level, have consistently created barriers to access, especially for Black, Hispanic, and Native American families. Furthermore, limited support is often justified by public perceptions of “deservedness” and concerns about dependency, without regard for the compounding nature of inadequate social policies and racist practices.

Racism³ causes significant harm to families of color through dehumanizing experiences and the inequitable denial of resources. In our work, the following forms of racism are defined as follows.

• Institutional racism: the institutional policies and practices that directly contribute to racial differences in outcomes.
• Structural racism: the normalization and legitimization of historical, cultural, and institutional dynamics that consistently advantage White individuals.
• Systemic racism: the interconnected nature of the individual, institutional, and structural forms of racism.

Inequitable policy choices result in disparate outcomes.

With a history of policies that bar access and limit benefits, many families in need fail to receive the necessary supports to thrive and instead experience a range of less optimal social outcomes. Furthermore, the impact of inequitable policies can be felt across generations, as disparities are exacerbated by the cycle of poverty. Particularly, racist policies have inhibited families and children of color from accessing safe and stable housing, high-quality education, and affordable health care at rates comparable to their White counterparts. Thus, there are long-standing racial disparities in a variety of short- and long-term outcomes for young children and families.

States are uniquely positioned to implement more equitable policies.

Many federal policies provide states with significant latitude in implementation; within broad federal guidelines, state leaders can build accessible social programs with equitable, inclusive parameters that help all children and families thrive. States also have the agency to meet needs insufficiently addressed by federal policies through state-based initiatives.