Today’s infants and toddlers have lived virtually their entire lives during a pandemic, shaping every aspect of their growth and wellbeing. As COVID-19 continues to exacerbate racial, economic, and health inequities, research has shown that infants and toddlers in families with low incomes are falling the farthest behind.

To fully support young children and their families, decision makers must address the immediate harm caused by the pandemic as well as long-standing inequities in public policy. We must make robust, equity-centered investments to programs that infants, toddlers, and their families need to thrive—such as early care and education, nutrition, housing, paid leave, quality jobs, health care, and more.   

One year after the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Tiffany Ferrette, Alyssa Fortner, Christine Johnson-Staub, and Katherine Gallagher Robbins, examine how decision makers implementing ARPA have used COVID relief funding and policy opportunities to lay the groundwork for transformative change by equitably supporting infants, toddlers, and their families. Their new brief also offers guidance for how decision makers can leverage ARPA across myriad programs to support these children and families both now and into the future. 

From postpartum care to early education, from health care to financial support, ARPA provides the opportunity to promote the health and wellbeing of infants, toddlers, and their families. While long-term change is needed to reshape our nation’s support for young children and their families, ARPA is an essential step along the continuum to bold, transformed, equitable systems. All children and families deserve the chance to grow and thrive by having their needs met holistically, and now is the moment to start making that a reality. 

For questions or further information, please contact Tiffany Ferrette at [email protected] or Alyssa Fortner at [email protected].