2021 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap

A child’s first three years of life is the most rapid and sensitive period of development, and it sets the foundation for long-term health and wellbeing. All children deserve the opportunity to be born healthy and raised in nurturing, stimulating, stable, and secure care environments with limited exposure to adversity. Unfortunately, many children lack the opportunities they deserve, and these disparities are often influenced by state policy choices. In response, this report recommends 11 effective solutions states can take to promote the environments in which children thrive, including paid family leave, state minimum wage, and state earned income tax credit legislation.