This Ain't Texas
The chances of legislation that would limit women’s right to make decisions about their bodies is pretty unlikely here in the Old Line State. Even still, Marylanders can’t be complacent when it comes to policies affecting women and families.
Resources
Study: Banning abortion would boost maternal mortality by double-digits (University of Colorado Boulder)
Equitable Child Care
The Biden administration has openly supported improving access to child care for all families. Doing so equitably will require listening to providers and parents to meet the needs of all children. The Center for American Progress released a report this year titled 6 Ways to Ensure Preschool Contributes to an Equitable Early Childhood System. We agree with their recommendations.
Resources
6 Ways to Ensure Preschool Contributes to an Equitable Child Care System (Center for American Progress)
Fact Sheet: The American Families Plan (The White House)
The Trauma of Addiction
Why do some people develop addictions and others don’t? It’s very complicated but one reason has to do with early childhood trauma. More early interventions and supports are needed to treat addiction before it starts.
Resources
Childhood trauma can make people like morphine more (Science Daily)
The American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan is great start in helping American families recover from the financial woes caused by COVID-19. But it is just that: recovery. And recovery is always easier when you are healthy to begin with. It’s when we have underlying and preexisting conditions that recovery can be more difficult, take longer, and even be life threatening.
Resources
The American Rescue Plan (The White House)
Child Care Relief Funding in American Rescue Plan: State-by-State Estimates (CLASP)
Coming Soon: $300 Checks for Parents (NY Times)
The Amazon Needs You
It’s hard to imagine someone less at fault for the climate crisis facing the world than a newborn baby living in the Amazon. Yet, this child is among the humans most at risk to experience the negative effects of climate change. Research out of Lancaster University in the United Kingdom explains why.
Resources
The Debt of Child Care
Forty-five percent of Americans say they will incur credit card debt this summer to pay for child care. They are going in to debt to pay for the care they need so they can go to work to pay off the debt for the care they need to go to work. It is mind boggling.
Resources
2021 Legislative Wrap Up
The 2021 Legislative Session was atypical to say the least. Despite the changes and challenges there were many victories for young children!
Resources
Put Your Money Where Your Brain Is
The New York Times reported that the monthly payments included in the Federal pandemic relief package could potentially lift millions of children out of poverty. Most surprising in the report is that the money could also greatly change children’s ability to learn.
Resources
A Novel Effort to See How Poverty Affects Young Brains (New York Times)
What's in a Name?
What if your first name determined your success in life? Thankfully it's not that simple. We do one way to ensure a better chance at success -- quality child care and early learning opportunities.
Resources
Cycles of Evictions
There's never a good time to face an eviction. But if a mother is pregnant when she's evicted from her home, there can be a long lasting and devastating impact on the child.
Resources
Study: Evictions During Pregnancy Tied to Adverse Birth Outcomes (Stat News)
Maryland Emergency Rental Assistance Program (MD Dept. of Housing and Community Development)
Guidance for Rental Tenants Affected by COVID-19 (MD Dept. of Housing and Community Development)