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Income supports

Ten Years, Hundreds of Policies, Millions of Families

Millions of families with young children have benefited from the hundreds of investments states have made since 2016

State Strategies to Address the Benefits Cliff

Explore how states are addressing the benefits cliff by coordinating public assistance, phasing out benefits gradually, and supporting economic mobility.

Policies on the Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap that Promote Housing Security

Safe and stable housing is a foundational social predictor of health and critical for early child development and economic stability throughout life.

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.

State Policy Progress on Child Care Subsidies in 2025

High-quality and reliable child care is a vital resource for families and communities, often determining parents’ ability to work or pursue education or training—all avenues that could help them provide for their families. However, the

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

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

State Policies to Promote Employer-Supported Child Care

Research suggests that the high cost of child care can lead many parents to limit their participation in the workforce, resulting in negative repercussions for families and the economy. Though increased public investment is needed

Approaches to Improving Early Educators’ Compensation

Early educators remain among the most underpaid workers in the nation despite playing a critical role in child development and enabling workforce participation for parents. Across the country, the median wage for early educators is

The Impact of State Minimum Wage Increases

In the 20 states where the minimum wage is set at the federal level of $7.25 per hour, full-time workers earning the minimum wage are paid well below the federal poverty line, making it difficult