On August 23, 2023, First Focus on Children and ZERO TO THREE released Babies in the Budget, a new report that examines federal investment in the nation’s youngest children across more than 120 programs. Their analysis finds that the federal government invests very little in babies and toddlers – the federal share of spending on
On July 19, 2023, the Center for American Progress hosted an event titled “Health Equity in Early Childhood Policy” that facilitated a discussion about how policymakers can address inequality in health policy to create legislation that effectively serves all children. The panelists agreed that the most urgent need is to include community members in conversations
On June 28th, 2023, the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin- Madison held a webinar, "Thirty Years of the FMLA: What’s Worked, What Hasn’t, and Recommendations for More Equitable Policies," to discuss the advantages and drawbacks of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and ways to improve equity and
On June 27, 2023, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect. This legislation has the potential to benefit nearly 2.8 million people per year, including almost 75% of pregnant Black women, almost two-thirds of pregnant Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women, 60% of pregnant Latina women, nearly 60% of pregnant American
On June 20, 2023, Early Edge California and National Women’s Law Center hosted a webinar entitled “Strengthening our Nation’s Child Care Infrastructure through FFN Care” to discuss the importance of Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) care as an alternative to more formalized methods of child care. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) each
As COVID-19 Pandemic relief funding is coming to an end, the child care sector is facing a severe funding cliff. On Thursday June 15, 2023, Senators Wyden (D-OR) and Warren (D-MA) reintroduced the Building Child Care for a Better Future Act, which provides new, permanent funding so that states, tribes, and territories have the critical
On June 13, 2023, Prosperity Now held an event for Children’s Week to address unequal wealth distribution and build financial security opportunities for future generations. The Director of Policy explained that baby bonds are one of many solutions to create opportunities for those who face the brunt of the wealth gap. The Vice President of
The National Diaper Bank Network released a new report highlighting diaper need in the United States. From the report: “Families are considered to have diaper need when they cannot afford a supply of diapers adequate for changing at healthy intervals. Diaper need is a public health issue that threatens not only child health, but also
On May 31, 2023, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing focused on the stabilization funds for early childhood care centers that were initially disbursed as part of the American Rescue Plan following the COVID-19 pandemic. While Ranking Member Cassidy (R-LA) and other committee members expressed concerns that federal funding
On May 31, 2023, the National Women's Law Center published a new fact sheet, "The Child Care and Early Learning Workforce Is Underpaid and Women are Paying the Price." This fact sheet includes data and tables on who comprises the child care workforce, their educational attainment, parental status, and their pay. Key findings include: Women
