Putting the Pieces Together for Families with Young Children: Aligning State Health and Human Services, Nutrition, Child Care, and Paid Family and Medical Leave
By Sapna Mehta and Elizabeth Lower-Basch
The prenatal period through the first three years of a child’s life is a critical developmental moment. Positive interactions with caregivers during these years can produce long-term benefits for children and families. And yet many families—especially families of color and families with low income—face systemic barriers and economic hardship when children are young. Public policy can help foster the nurturing environments children and families need to thrive and help reduce long-standing racial and ethnic disparities.
To improve economic, social, and health outcomes for our country’s youngest children and their families, CLASP set out to explore the value and importance of integrating or aligning programs that support families with infants and toddlers.
