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Policy Paper

The Biden Administration’s Budget Recognizes Investments in Families Are Long Overdue: Now Let’s Get To Work

March 2023

In its annual budget released in March 2023, the Biden administration once again proposed critical investments in families, including restoring the Child Tax Credit, establishing a national paid family and medical leave program, and expanding access to high quality child care and early education. This fact sheet shares how the Biden administration's proposals reflect what Black, Indigenous, and Latinx parents and caregivers have told us that they need.

Tags: Addressing Poverty, Building Strong Communities, Child Welfare, Immigration, LGBTQ+, Racial Equity & Justice, Young Children & Their Families
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Cover Small The Biden Administration’s Budget Recognizes Investments In Families Are Long Overdue
Policy Paper

Rescuing Child Care: The American Rescue Plan Act’s Positive Impact for Families

January 2023

This report looks at interview data combined with research and analysis from additional sources to understand how families benefited from ARPA child care relief funds, with a particular look at Michigan and North Carolina. This report was co-authored by CSSP and The Century Foundation. 

Visit The Century Foundation for a digital version of this report.

(8 pp)

Tag: Child Welfare
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Rescuing Child Care Small Cover
Policy Paper

Investing in Families Prevents Child Welfare Involvement

July 2022

To truly take an anti-racist approach to prevention, child welfare and safety net policies must address the organizational structures and injustices contributing to and perpetuating underlying economic and concrete needs of children and families. This brief, updated in July 2022, highlights policies that can make a significant impact for children and families when implemented as part of a multi-pronged approach to supporting the needs of children and families outside of child welfare.

(2 pp)

Tag: Child Welfare
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Investing In Families Prevents Child Welfare Involvement
Policy Paper

Policy Change to Promote Early Relational Health

July 2022

The early and foundational relationships that babies and toddlers experience with their parents shape the health and well-being of two generations. This brief highlights opportunities to promote early relational health with policy change and investments, including with existing programs, pandemic funding, and pending legislation in Congress.

(6 pp)

Tags: Addressing Poverty, Child Welfare, Racial Equity & Justice, Young Children & Their Families, Advancing Early Relational Health
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Small Cover Erh Policy Agenda Final
Policy Paper

“We Don’t Have that in Mississippi”: How Temporary Expansions of the Child Tax Credit & Child Care Demonstrate the Importance of Federal Investments & Oversight

June 2022

This brief synthesizes findings from our research in Mississippi, where we interviewed and surveyed families who identified overwhelmingly as Black or African American, along with diverse child care providers and other stakeholders in the child care sector, to learn whether the Child Tax Credit and child care investments were advancing economic and racial equity and helping families.

(26 pp) 

Tags: Addressing Poverty, Child Welfare, Racial Equity & Justice
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Cover We Don't Have That In Mississippi
Policy Paper

The Child Care Paradox: How Child Care Providers Balance Paid and Un-Paid Caregiving

June 2022

Care work is some of the most important work in our society, supporting children, families, and individuals across their lifespans. But, despite the critical work child care providers do for families and society as a whole, their work is systematically undervalued. This brief reports the findings from our interviews and the recommendations from providers.

(15 pp)

Tags: Addressing Poverty, Building Strong Communities, Child Welfare, Racial Equity & Justice, Young Children & Their Families
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The Child Care Paradox: How Child Care Providers Balance Paid and Unpaid Caregiving thumbnail.
Policy Paper

A ‘Godsend’: How Temporary Investments in the Child Tax Credit and Child Care Impacted Michigan Families

March 2022

To learn about the impact of the American Rescue Plan’s short-term investments in the CTC and child care, CSSP conducted interviews with low- and moderate-income (ranging from $0-$55,000/year) families of color, child care providers, and stakeholders in Michigan between September and December 2021. The findings make it clear: Robust, long-term investments in both the Child Tax Credit and child care are necessary so that all families—and particularly families of color—have the support they need to not just survive, but to thrive.

(24 pp)

Tags: Addressing Poverty, Child Welfare, Young Children & Their Families
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A Godsend: How Temporary Investments in the CTC and Child Care Impacted Michigan Families thumbnail.
Policy Paper

What We Owe Young Adults Involved with Child Welfare: A Youth Thrive Policy Agenda

January 2022

We owe young people who age out of care the structure and supports that they need to thrive. To fulfill this obligation and to remove barriers to thriving, we need new investments to support these young people. This policy agenda highlights key opportunities to advance the health and well-being of young people who are involved with child welfare systems.

(8 pp)

Tags: Addressing Poverty, Child Welfare, Immigration, LGBTQ+, Racial Equity & Justice, Youth Thrive
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What We Owe Young Adults Involved with Child Welfare: A Youth Thrive Policy Agenda thumbnail.
Policy Paper

COVID-19: Our Response Must Protect the Health and Well-Being of All Children, Youth, and Families

March 2020

As the United States responds to the public health emergency and the looming economic crisis stemming from COVID-19, there has not been enough attention to the needs of children, youth, and families who are likely to suffer most during this crisis.

Read a statement from CSSP President Judith Meltzer on COVID-19.

(2pp)

Tags: Child Welfare, Immigration, Racial Equity & Justice, Young Children & Their Families, Youth, COVID-19
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COVID-19: Our Response Must Protect the Health and Well-Being of All thumbnail.
Policy Paper

What do “Work Requirements” Actually Require? A look at programs that meet families’ basic needs in Montgomery County, Maryland

June 2019

This brief explores work we have done to understand work requirements in Montgomery County, MD. Our goal is to learn what was required of families to apply for, and receive, TANF and SNAP. 

Download the supporting infographic. 

(8 pp)

Tags: Addressing Poverty, Child Welfare, Young Children & Their Families
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