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Policy Makers

Why is Prenatal to Three so Critical?

A child’s brain develops faster from birth to age three than at any period in life, building the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. It is critical that we support policies that create and maintain community-wide conditions that allow all infants and toddlers to thrive. The National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers wants to work with you to educate and advocate for policies that help babies, toddlers and their families thrive.

Be a champion for infants, toddlers and families by supporting policies that support Healthy Beginnings, Strong Families and Quality Care and Learning.

What Policies are needed?

Through comprehensive reviews of the most rigorous evidence available, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University identified effective state-level policy solutions that foster the nurturing environments infants and toddlers need and reduce longstanding disparities. The annual Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap, includes additional information on each effective solution.

Economic Security Paid Family and Medical Leave Early Head Start Maternal and Child Health High-Quality, Affordable Child Care

What's Working?

PN-3 Policy and Messaging Briefs

NCIT Data Case Story

Measuring indicators of developmental well-being in the birth to 3 population allows communities to understand their starting points, plan realistic…

Innovation Brief: Oregon Makes Big Promises…

In 2018, Oregon’s state-appointed Early Learning Council asked their partners at Oregon State University to study the supply of child…

Every child in every community

For initiatives of all shapes and sizes—whether impacting states or communities, developing legislative or regulatory efforts, building and strengthening programs, or reaching diverse families with a range of needs—consider the following principles for an impactful strategy:

  • Put equity at the center of all efforts
  • Use data to develop strategy
  • Focus on measurable outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families
  • Build political will and support for your efforts with a broad group of stakeholders
  • Engage parents to identify needed changes to programs, policies, and systems
  • Understand your most powerful levers for change
  • Build and maintain the infrastructure needed to achieve impact at scale