PARENTS' ABILITY TO WORK

Irregular and unpredictable work schedules, lack of affordable child care, and limited access to paid time off can compromise a parent’s ability to maintain stable employment and earn enough income to adequately provide for a family. Ensuring parents’ ability to maintain steady and secure employment is foundational to building a prenatal-to-3 system of care. One outcome measure illustrates parents’ ability to find and maintain steady employment while also raising a family:

• Insecure parental employment.

Based on comprehensive reviews of the most rigorous evidence available, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center identified 12 effective solutions that foster the nurturing environments infants and toddlers need. Three policies and strategies have demonstrated effectiveness at improving parents’ ability to work.