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Learn About Advocates Issues

Learn About Advocates Issues

Our country is at its best when we recognize that children, particularly our youngest, are our greatest resource.

We cannot expect a healthier, more resilient, more prosperous country in the future if we don’t invest in our children now.

Every child deserves a strong start in life

The foundation we provide for children in the early years shapes their future and the future of our communities. We have to get it right.

Early experiences during the prenatal period and first three years after birth shape brain development and the development of all other systems in the body—with substantial effects on learning, behavior, and physical and mental health.

Parents play the lead role in their child’s healthy development, but all parents are stretched in the earliest months and years of their child’s life.

When we support them in their earliest years, infants grow into healthy kids who are confident, empathetic and ready for school and life—and our communities, workforce and economy become stronger and more productive.

Early Investments Matter

Prenatal to age three is critical for lifelong health and development

A child’s early experiences during the prenatal period and first three years after birth shape brain development and the healthy development of all other systems in the body. What happens during this early period can have substantial effects on both short- and long-term outcomes in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health.

Early Investments Work

It’s not just infants, toddlers, and their families who benefit when we start early—it’s the entire community.

When we invest in the first three years of a child’s life, the returns for communities are the highest, and we can reduce the need for more expensive interventions later.

Research from Professor James Heckman at the University of Chicago found that investments in high quality programs that support young children starting at birth deliver a 13 percent annual return—significantly higher than the 7 to 10 percent return delivered by preschool alone.

Supporting American’s babies today will ensure a prosperous tomorrow

Investments in high-quality early childhood education starting at birth provides taxpayers with a return of $7.30 for every dollar invested.

This return has compounding benefits, driving a 13% year return on investment through better education, health, social and economic outcomes later in life.

Early investments support a strong economy and workforce

Programs and policies that support healthy brain development from birth to age three result in better social, economic, and health outcomes and build a more productive workforce that strengthens our economy—now and in the future.

Birth-3 investments are needed to prepare our children
for the ever-changing workforce

48% of low-income children arrive in kindergarten underprepared to succeed

The growing American skills gap will lead to 6 million unfilled jobs by 2020

Birth-3 investments in high-quality child care bolster the economy TODAY

Companies providing child care decrease employee absences by 30% and job turnover by 60%

83% of millennials say they would leave their jobs for ones with more friendly benefits

Resources

Early Head Start Advocacy Toolkit

AAP Early Childhood Campaign Toolkit

Prenatal to Three: Stories from Moms…