Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt. Learn More

United States

United States

Effective Early Childhood Governance: Lessons Learned from Governance Change

Governance change does not happen overnight, and states rarely accomplish it alone. Drawing on case studies of five states that consolidated their early childhood systems, a new brief from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center identifies seven lessons learned, from sustained advocacy to strong, collaborative leadership, that can help state leaders pursue governance change reflecting their own early childhood goals.

Early Childhood Governance Typologies: Patterns in State Governance Across the Nation

State choices in early childhood governance shape whether families can easily find, access, and use the services their children need. A new brief from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center maps how all 50 states and the District of Columbia organize these systems, identifying three governance typologies (whole child, school readiness, and parents' workforce participation) to help leaders align governance structure with their early childhood goals.

Why Do We Focus on the Prenatal-to-3 Age Period?: Understanding the Importance of the Earliest Years

The most rapid period of growth for the human brain occurs in the earliest years of life. Our health and wellbeing prenatally and during the first 3 years of life affect all future learning, behavior, and health.

2025 Prenatal-to-3 Legislative Roundup

With most legislatures adjourned for the year, we recap the 2025 action on state policies to support children and families. So far this year, lawmakers throughout the country debated—and many passed—legislation that aligns with four key components of the prenatal-to-3 system of care.
  • United States

Expanded Income Eligibility for Health Insurance

EXPANDED INCOME ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE WHAT IS MEDICAID EXPANSION AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? States can employ several strategies to increase health insurance coverage for their residents, and the most widely studied strategy is
  • United States

Paid Family and Medical Leave

PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE WHAT IS PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Paid family leave policies allow workers to take time off work and receive a portion of their salary
  • United States

State Minimum Wage

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
  • United States

Demographic Characteristics

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS The characteristics of families vary considerably by state. A clear picture of the current demographic composition and characteristics of a state’s prenatal-to-3 population can help to inform policy leaders as to who is
  • United States

State Earned Income Tax Credit

STATE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT WHAT IS AN EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? The Federal EITC Is a Refundable Tax Credit for Low-Income Workers Households with at least one working adult
  • United States

Reduced Administrative Burden for SNAP

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

Follow us:

Twitter Facebook Linkedin Youtube
Newsletter Sign-up