Last week, the release of the 2024 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap marks a significant step in our collective mission to support young children and their families. Each year, the Roadmap guides states in shaping and advancing policies grounded in research, focused on the critical early years of life. This year, its significance is underscored by impressive strides in healthcare, family support, and economic stability across the nation.
Since the last Roadmap, states have been pushing boundaries, leading to landmark developments:
North Carolina’s Medicaid Expansion: Over 500,000 North Carolinians gained access to healthcare with the state’s Medicaid expansion in December 2023. This step is a testament to the power of accessible healthcare in fostering healthy beginnings for families.
Paid Family Leave in Colorado: New parents in Colorado can now take paid family and medical leave. This policy enables parents to bond with their newborns, reinforcing early childhood development and reducing stress in the critical first months.
Financial Security in Montana: Montana’s families now experience greater economic stability, thanks to a minimum wage increase and a boosted earned income tax credit. These shifts are essential in helping families meet basic needs and focus on their children’s futures.
Beyond enacted changes, the Roadmap highlights promising legislative shifts in historically resistant states. Mississippi, Alabama, and Kansas, for instance, made significant strides in proposing Medicaid expansion bills—a strong indicator of growing bipartisan recognition of these policies’ value. Although Virginia’s proposed paid family leave bill faced a setback with a gubernatorial veto, its passage in the legislature signals progress that could inspire further efforts.
The 2024 Roadmap goes beyond capturing policies on a state-by-state level. With tools like the Policy Impact Calculator, users can explore how each state’s choices directly influence families’ lives, offering a tangible look at what evidence-based policymaking can achieve.
With this year’s Roadmap, states can continue building on this momentum, fostering environments where every child can thrive from the earliest years.
See the full roadmap here. Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap 2024 – Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center
