News

  One of the strongest tools our nation has in combating hunger is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps). Unfortunately, this vital program is under attack, threatening the food security of millions of families. – Moms Rising     Promise the Children stands with MomsRising in speaking out to protect SNAP and the millions of people that depend on this vital program to feed their families. Tell Congress to strengthen SNAP ASAP – send a read more…

  “The Universal School Meals Program Act will make breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks free for every public and nonprofit private school student, regardless of family or community income, improving student academia and ending school lunch shaming.” Daily Kos via The Action Network     According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1 in 6 children — or 13 million children — face food insecurity. Children who lack access to healthy food options have a more difficult time learning. Kids read more…

  ZERO TO THREE’s State of Babies Yearbook: 2022 provides policymakers with the information they need to advance state policies to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Telling the story of America’s babies is more important than ever. Share the State of Babies Yearbook: 2022 with your members of Congress and encourage them to learn more about how your state measures up on nearly 60 data points essential to ensuring that babies have what they need to thrive. Read: read more…

  “The science is clear: when parents are stressed, babies pay the price. That is why improving conditions for families with young children is one of the best investments any nation can make.” – The Raising of America | Documentary Series     Infants are born with millions of disconnected brain cells and most cells connect in the first five years of life. Starting at birth, a baby’s brain develops rapidly and produces more than one million neural connections each read more…

    Guest post by writer and reserve military officer Diana Moga     The Department of Defense (DOD) boasts the largest employer-based childcare program in the United States. The program serves uniformed service members and DOD civilians. At an annual cost of $1 billion, approximately 200,000 children ages six weeks to five years old participate in the program. The subsidized service offers full-time childcare at a fraction of the cost compared to childcare outside the DOD program. How has read more…

  “The Supporting Children’s Mental Health Care Access Act and the Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act would increase access to mental health care services and provide direct funding to schools for mental health promotion and suicide prevention. These bills are bipartisan efforts, and they are gaining momentum. Let your elected representatives know you support them. It takes everyone to address this mental health crisis.” — Dr. Deanna Behrens, Pediatric Intensive Care     The Surgeon General has sounded read more…

    Millions of families living in America face hunger and food insecurity every day. Your neighbor, child’s classmate or even coworker may be struggling to get enough to eat. Feeding America     Hunger in America is growing. In the wake of COVID-19, unemployment and food insecurity soared, and an estimated 60 million people turned to food banks and community programs for assistance in 2020 alone. Children and adults face hunger in every community across the country, and millions read more…

  “The Universal School Meals Program Act will make breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks free for every public and nonprofit private school student, regardless of family or community income, improving student academia and ending school lunch shaming.” Daily Kos via The Action Network     According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1 in 6 children — or 13 million children — face food insecurity. Children who lack access to healthy food options have a more difficult time learning. Kids read more…

  “Child care is crucial to the growth, development and educational advancement of all children, and creates a positive economic impact for families and communities. Every family in the United States should have access to a high-quality, affordable child care system.” Child Care Aware     Our nation is in a child care crisis that hurts children, families, businesses, and communities. Across the country, families are facing barriers accessing and affording high-quality child care, forcing them to make a difficult read more…

  “We are on the verge of a major victory and the achievement of the first phase of the Common Start vision. Now is the time to make our voices heard and push hard for the affordable, accessible early education child care system we know is possible!” Common Start Coalition: The Common Start Agenda     To begin the process of providing adequate Childcare in Massachusetts, we must pass the child care bill H.4795/S.2883, An Act to Expand Access to read more…