STATE MINIMUM WAGE WHAT IS A STATE MINIMUM WAGE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? A minimum wage establishes a floor for workers’ hourly wages to prevent exploitation by employers and ensure a minimum level of
PAID FAMILY LEAVE WHAT IS PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? State paid family leave programs require employers to allow eligible parents time off from work to bond with a new child while
REDUCED ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN FOR SNAP WHAT IS ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Administrative burden refers to the barriers that increase the costs—time, money, and psychological distress—of applying for and maintaining enrollment in any
EXPANDED INCOME ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE WHAT IS MEDICAID EXPANSION AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? States can employ a number of strategies to increase health insurance coverage for their residents, and the most widely studied
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS The characteristics of families vary considerably by state. It is important for each state to have a clear picture of the current demographic composition and characteristics of its infants and toddlers and their
CHILD AND FAMILY OUTCOMES Based on the science of the developing child, we have identified 20 outcome measures to track the overall health and wellbeing of infants and toddlers and their parents. Each outcome is
EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES WHAT ARE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides funds for states to establish Early Intervention (EI) programs, which offer
EARLY HEAD START WHAT IS EARLY HEAD START AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Early Head Start (EHS) is a federally funded program serving pregnant women and infants, toddlers, and their caregivers in families with low
EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAMS WHAT ARE EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAMS AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? Home visiting programs, which provide support and education to parents in the home through a trained professional (e.g., nurse or
GROUP PRENATAL CARE WHAT IS GROUP PRENATAL CARE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Group prenatal care is a model of prenatal care facilitated by a trained healthcare provider, but delivered in a group setting, which
