Recent State Policy Advances
Expanded investment. Restructured agencies. New caucuses, committees, and coalitions. Read about all the ways our allies on the front lines are making their state a better place for each and every child to reach their full potential.
State By State:
Several States Celebrate Wins on State-Level Child Tax Credits
Federal and state child tax credits have historically received bipartisan support. These tax credits for families with children under age 17 provide financial relief for low-income families and their children and support economic mobility. New Jersey, Vermont, and RI have recently chosen to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to enact state-level child tax credits.
A $40 Million Win for Early Education and Care in Alabama
Allies at the Alabama School Readiness Alliance (ASRA), VOICES for Alabama’s Children, and Alabama Partnership for Children championed legislation that led to a historic state investment to child care and pre-k – a new and improved QRIS system that includes generous incentive payments to providers and provides coaches to help programs improve their quality and adding 125 classrooms to the First Class Pre-k program.
Advocates in Rhode Island Leverage Relationships with the American Academy of Pediatrics for Policy Wins for Children and Families
Strong partnerships are at the core of advocacy. Nowhere is that clearer than in Rhode Island, where early childhood policy advocates at Rhode Island Kids Count and the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (RIAAP) are working together to help educate communities and policymakers on the importance of child health and early intervention.
Data and Collective Advocacy Help Make the Case to Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage in Michigan
After two years of strong collective advocacy efforts, Alliance allies at the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH) championed the plan that purposefully worked to address disparities by extending Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months postpartum.
Hawaiʻi Advocates Win Refundable EITC and a Higher Minimum Wage by Centering Racial Equity, Working Families, and Commonsense Messaging
Alliance allies at Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network (HCAN) worked in coalition with partner organizations this session to pass legislation that will improve economic security for children and families – particularly those who have been most impacted by structural racism and continue to have the lowest wages.
Virginia Allies Celebrate Budget Wins for Children, Families, and Early Care and Education
Alliance allies in Virginia – Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and Voices for Virginia’s Children – worked with bipartisan leaders to negotiate a two-year budget that supports children and families, including investments in early childhood education, children’s healthy development, and family support systems.
Illinois Advocates Centered Lived Experiences to Strengthen Access to Early Care and Education for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System
Illinois advocates worked with the state legislature and the Pritzker administration to pass Public Act 102-926. The approved legislation includes proposals developed by the state’s Early Learning Council, with support from Start Early and Illinois Action for Children. The Council’s recommendations were informed by the lived experiences of parents who access early childhood services for their children.
Allies Celebrate Launch of New Oklahoma Clearinghouse for Early Childhood Success
Alliance allies at the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR) manage The Oklahoma Clearinghouse for Early Childhood Success and partner with public and private organizations to ensure that there is cross-sector representation in decision-making and funding. OPSR aims to elevate best practices and inform implementation across early childhood systems in Oklahoma.
North Carolina Allies Center Lived Experience and Racial Equity to Strengthen the Early Childhood Social-Emotional Health System
Advocates at NC Child partnered with the NC Early Childhood Foundation to launch the EarlyWell Initiative in 2019 to lead the implementation of recommendations from the Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Action Framework. The EarlyWell initiative is informed by the voices of parents and caregivers to ensure that system best reflects the needs and lived experiences of North Carolina communities.
Connecticut Coalition Grabs Headlines With “Morning Without Child Care”
In this webinar, the Alliance for Early Success and Early Learning Nation bring together some of the providers and advocates behind the high-visibility “Morning Without Child Care” recently organized in Connecticut. Panelists shared how they organized the events in a short time span, the tools that made the effort successful, and their advice for advocates who want to plan a similar effort in their states.
Nevada Advocates Shift Power Dynamics to Build a More Equitable Parent Ambassador Program
Nevada allies at the Children’s Advocacy Alliance (CAA) have convened parents since 2019 through their Strong Start for Children Parent Ambassador program, which mobilizes parents to become involved in early childhood policy and advocacy. The program relaunched virtually in 2021, transforming its outreach efforts to be more equitable and representative of Nevada’s communities.
South Carolina Launches a New Human-Centered Portal to Transform Access to Early Childhood Services
First Five SC is a new comprehensive portal that aims to increase access and knowledge of South Carolina public early childhood state system programs and services. The portal is unique to the state since it was created by responding to the needs and concerns of South Carolina parents and caregivers.
