Results and Desired Outcomes
Our work has resulted in the following improved outcomes for children and their families:
- We work closely with national partners in the Automatic Benefit for Children Coalition to advance a permanent child allowance, and played a critical role in the temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit in 2021 that reached over 62 million children and lifted 5.3 million people out of poverty.
- 21 communities participating in CSSP’s Early Childhood Learning and Innovation Network for Communities (EC-LINC) have embraced parent leadership and developed the Manifesto for Race Equity & Parent Leadership in Early Childhood Systems—now with a second edition focused on parent organizing. These organizations are committed to investing in early childhood and serve as convenors, funders, and advocates for young children across health, education, social services, and other sectors.
- The Parent Leader Network (PLN) was born out of the original Manifesto for Race Equity & Parent Leadership in Early Childhood Systems, and is made up of 13 communities and hundreds of parents across the country working to center parent voice in early childhood policy and practice. Since 2019 the PLN has partnered with a national training partner, Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI). Over 100 parents and parent engagement staff have been certified as COFI trainers and over 900 parents across PLN communities have engaged in local COFI activities including organizing training, town halls, community surveys, and parent-led projects.
- Our project, the Developmental Understanding and Legal Collaboration for Everyone (DULCE), is a pediatric intervention that provides wraparound supports to families with newborns in 17 communities across the country. This program has connected over 6,500 families to the supports they need to provide a healthy start for their children.
- Our Strengthening Families framework—a research-informed approach to increase family strengths—enhances child development and reduces the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. This framework has been implemented in over 30 states, helping communities across the country adopt a strengths-based approach to supporting families.
How We Do It
Our early childhood work is grounded in deep partnerships with parents, caregivers, and service providers. Together, we:
Identify and co-develop innovative policy solutions that value and support caregiving, address parental stress, and promote the economic security and well-being of young children and families.
Build the practical infrastructure necessary to support the health and well-being of families and promote early learning in communities.
Support networks of community leaders to promote collaboration and shared ideas about how to effectively support families with young children across communities.
Facilitate the capacity-building of parents and caregivers so they can take on increased leadership in their communities.
Shift the narrative around economic and concrete supports for caregivers and families with young children, to lay the groundwork for long-term, transformational change.
Our Work
Parent Leader Network
Outcomes and Metrics for EC Systems
Passing the Baton
Building and Sharing Power: Lessons from California
Pritzker Children’s Initiative
Cradle to Community
DULCE
Early Learning Nation Collective
EC-LINC
National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Pediatrics Supporting Parents
National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers
Strengthening Families
Best Start LA
