creating opportunity for families: a twogeneration approach January 10, 2015 1
Overview Annie E. Casey Foundation National and State KIDS COUNT KIDS COUNT Data Center 2-Generation Policy Report 2
The Annie E. Casey Foundation 3
KIDS COUNT 4
National KIDS COUNT Project KIDS COUNT Data Center datacenter.kidscount.org KIDS COUNT Data Book/Publications Mobile Site/ Social Media mobile.kidscount.org
State KIDS COUNT Network
KIDS COUNT DATA CENTER datacenter.kidscount.org 7
The KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Network
KIDS COUNT POLICY REPORT 2-Generation Approach 17
A Two-Generation Approach to Creating Opportunities for Families: An Overview Problem: Nearly half of young children 17 million are growing up in low-income families. We need to ensure these kids have a shot at the American dream. Today, too many programs address the needs of parents and children separately and in isolation. What we need is a new approach that recognizes kids succeed when families succeed a two-generation approach. 18
Families Are Struggling to Make Ends Meet 10 million low-income families with children age 8 and under Limited skills, low wages, inflexible work schedules: Only half with full-time work Nearly 80 percent lack postsecondary degree Nearly five times more likely to have difficulty speaking English 19
Low-Income Families Face Greater Barriers to Success 45% 17% are single-parent families of low-income parents reported child care significantly affected their ability to get and keep a job 31% of children in low-income families have parents with concerns about their development 20
The Challenge Today Many federal and state programs operate in isolation Adult programs treat children as barriers to employment Child programs often do not help parents who are struggling with day-to-day stress of providing for their family
Our Goal: Better Outcomes for Families PARENT OUTCOMES Less parental stress Stronger parenting skills Parent confidence as child s first teacher and best advocate Recognition of parents as leaders and experts on caring for their kids FAMILY ECONOMIC OUTCOMES Ability to meet basic needs Greater income and financial stability Ability to achieve major economic outcomes Housing stability CHILD OUTCOMES More positive, highquality interactions with parents Improved socialemotional development Readiness for school Ability to meet school and life milestones 22
Our Approach: Strengthening the Whole Family Financial Stability Parent Involvement Quality Early Care and Elementary Education Education and job training Access to income and work support benefits Financial coaching Access to affordable financial products Treating parents as assets and experts on their kids Having culturally competent staff Addressing family stress Enhancing social networks Access to highquality early education programs Successful transition to elementary school Quality elementary school experiences Effective teaching 23
Policy Recommendations Create policies that equip parents and children with the income, tools and skills for success. Make government policies and programs more family friendly. Build evidence on promising programs and platforms focusing on parents and children together. 7
Equip Families With the Income and Tools They Need Enable families keep more of the income they earn to raise their family - Increase and make refundable the child tax credit and expand the earned income tax credit for workers without dependents Strengthen policies that equip parents with limited education and job skills to earn a family-supporting income. Adult-serving programs should build bridges to family and child programs Policies should pay particular attention to the role of fathers 25
Equip Families With the Income and Tools They Need Give parents more flexibility and paid time off (family and sick leave) and options for parents to create more flexible work arrangements Connect families to health care and newly expanded mental health programs now available to adults. Recognize parents strengths, help them interact with fellow parents and build peer support systems, and offer leadership development opportunities. 26
Make Government More Family Friendly Use interagency commissions and innovation funds to promote cross-sector collaboration Connect child and adult data systems Adopt practices that offer no wrong door and take the whole family into account Use new federal legislation and reauthorization periods to begin to bridge policies and programs 27
Build Evidence on Promising Programs and Platforms Schools and early-education, homevisiting and job-training programs are some of the platforms that offer opportunities to create partnerships that address in the needs of parents and children together. 28
Core Principles and a Call To Action Parent voice is critical. Partner with families in creating solutions and decision making. Poverty disproportionately affects children of color. Prioritize equity for all families. Government can t do this alone. Engage a full range of public and private partners. 29
Contact Shelley Waters-Boots shelley@watersboots.com Florencia Gutierrez fgutierrez@aecf.org Report and additional resources: www.aecf.org 30