Fact Sheets

• Apr 16, 2013  |  Vickie Choitz and Patrick Reimherr Mind the Gap: High Unmet Financial Need Threatens Persistence and Completion for Low-Income Community College Students Over the last three decades, college tuition and fees have increased nearly four times faster than median income and four-and-a-half times faster than inflation. The rapid increase in college costs and flat or reduced funding in student aid has resulted in sizable unmet need and has forced students -- particularly low-income students -- to borrow more, work more hours, take fewer courses, or in some cases, drop out altogether. Unmet need and student loan debt for students at high-cost institutions have attracted widespread public attention. Less attention has been paid to unmet need at community colleges, where 41 percent of all undergraduates living in poverty are enrolled, according to the most recent data available (2007-2008). Download PDF
• Apr 09, 2013  |  Jodie Levin Epstein and Dr. Eileen Appelbaum Interview Protocol for MA Business Interviews on Earned Paid Sick Time Surveys of employers about their sick days' practices and about their views regarding a new law can be helpful in a city or state campaign. We were asked by Massachusetts' advocates to come up with this survey tool. We hope advocates will adapt it to suit their particular needs. Download PDF
• Mar 20, 2013  |  Jodie Levin-Epstein Business Voices: Implementation of Sick Days Laws is Straightforward Around the nation, city councils and state legislatures are increasingly considering legislation to establish a sick days' law. Employers, particularly those who are not familiar with sick days' policy, are leery of administering it. For some, this worry leads them to oppose passage of legislation. However, in locations where laws are already implemented, many businesses have stepped forward to acknowledge that administering sick days' policy is actually pretty simple. Download PDF
• Mar 20, 2013  |  Child Care and Early Education U.S. Head Start by the Numbers 2011 This fact sheet presents Head Start PIR data for all Head Start programs in the country -- including preschool programs, Early Head Start, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. Download PDF
• Mar 01, 2013  |  CLASP and ASBC Better Businesses and Better Workplaces: The Role of Comprehensive Business Certification Increasingly, businesses are seeking out certifications as tools to assess their impact and verify that their practices are consistent with their values. For job quality advocates, who are increasingly recognizing the crucial role of business support in successful campaigns, both certifying organizations and certified businesses can be valuable partners. This issue brief provides job quality advocates with a primer on the nuts and bolts of the certification movement and suggests ways advocates can foster fruitful relationships between the movements. Download PDF
• Feb 07, 2013  |  Liz Ben-Ishai Business Support for the Family and Medical Leave Act The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which enables workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave to care for their own serious illness, a sick family member, or to bond with a new baby, has been used by millions of workers since its passage in 1993. As this important piece of legislation celebrates its 20th anniversary, new data shows that the vast majority of businesses find administering the law easy, and 80 percent of small businesses favor the legislation. But the data also point to a pressing need for paid leave programs, like those in California and New Jersey. In those states, family leave insurance programs have made it possible for employees to take paid family leave, easing the financial burden of caring for oneself and one's family. Research shows that businesses in California have found the state's Paid Family Leave (PFL) program to be good for or have little effect on business. This brief from CLASP demonstrates business support for both the FMLA and paid family leave, while highlighting the pressing need for paid leave. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Illinois Child Care Initiative The Illinois Child Care Collaboration Program promotes collaboration between child care and other early care and education providers, including Early Head Start (EHS), by creating policies to ease blending of funds to extend the day or year of existing services. While no funding is provided through the initiative, participating programs may take advantage of several child care rule exceptions that make it easier to access child care subsidy dollars to extend the day/year of EHS services. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Illinois Prevention Initiative The Illinois Prevention Initiative provides grants to home-based and center-based programs to expand access to the Early Head Start (EHS) model as well as other birth to 3 models. The goal is to serve additional children birth to age 3 and help grantees increase program quality. The initiative to expand access to EHS and other models was established by the Illinois State Board of Education in 2007, as recommended by the Illinois Early Learning Council. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Kansas Initiative Kansas Early Head Start (KEHS) provides comprehensive services following federal Head Start Program Performance Standards for pregnant women and eligible families with children from birth to age 4. KEHS was implemented in 1998 using Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) quality set-aside dollars augmented by a transfer of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. The initiative was designed to improve the availability and quality of child care for infants and toddlers in Kansas. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Maine Initiative Maine has two initiatives that build on Early Head Start (EHS). The first initiative, Fund for a Healthy Maine, provides tobacco settlement money to existing Head Start and EHS programs to expand the number of children who receive full-day, full-year services. The second initiative, Supplemental, provides state general revenue funds to all Head Start programs to add additional slots, some of which may be used for EHS. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Maryland Initiative Since 2000, Maryland has provided state supplemental funds to Head Start and Early Head Start (EHS) programs to improve access. Local EHS programs may use funds, through child care partnerships, to extend the EHS day or year. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Minnesota Initiative Minnesota provides supplemental state funding to existing federal Head Start and Early Head Start (EHS) grantees to increase their capacity to serve additional infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. The initiative was started in 1997 when the state legislature earmarked $1 million of the general state Head Start supplemental funds for children birth to age 3. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Missouri Initiative Missouri's Early Head Start/Child Care Partnership Project expands access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for children birth to age 3 by developing partnerships between federal Head Start, EHS contractors, and child care providers. Head Start and EHS contractors that participate in the initiative provide services through community child care providers to both increase the number of children receiving EHS services and improve the overall quality of care. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Nebraska Initiative Since 1999, Nebraska's Early Head Start Infant/Toddler Quality Initiative has supported Early Head Start (EHS) and community child care partnerships to improve the quality and professionalism of infant and toddler care. EHS programs apply to receive funding to establish partnerships with center-based or home-based child care. Download PDF
• Dec 19, 2012  |  CLASP and ZERO TO THREE Expanding Access to EHS: Oklahoma Initiative The Oklahoma Early Childhood Program uses public and private funds to enhance and expand high quality early care and education opportunities for children birth through age 3. The George Kaiser Family Foundation initiated the pilot in 2006 by matching state general revenue with private donations. Since that time, other private funders and providers have begun to contribute matching funds. Download PDF
• Nov 14, 2012  |  Stephanie Schmit Early Head Start Participants, Programs, Families and Staff in 2011 This fact sheet reviews the 2011 Program Information Report (PIR) data for the Early Head Start program, which serves children under age 3 and pregnant women. In 2011, Early Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families. However, only about 4 percent of eligible children receive Early Head Start services. Download PDF
• Nov 14, 2012  |  Stephanie Schmit Head Start Participants, Programs, Families and Staff in 2011 This fact sheet reviews the 2011 Program Information Report (PIR) data for the Head Start preschool program, which serves children ages 3 and 4. In 2011, Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families. However, only 42 percent of eligible children receive Head Start preschool services. Download PDF
• Oct 01, 2012  |  Child Care and Early Education Tennessee: Monitoring and Technical Assistance System In Tennessee, safety concerns along with increasing need among low-income, working families for quality child care, prompted the state to revamp its monitoring system and enact other licensing reforms. The state has worked to strengthen its child care licensing rules, as well as implement a policy that increased the frequency of inspections to better monitor providers and required annual evaluations of providers to improve the quality of care. Read Online
• Sep 18, 2012  |  Marcie W.M. Foster and Jackie Taylor Adult Education Promotes Economic Opportunity, Creates Stable Families and Makes America More Competitive Nearly 30 million adults in the U.S. have below a high school education and over 24 million have English language training needs. Even for those adults with a high school diploma, basic skills deficiencies have a detrimental and long-lasting impact on our nation's families and economic growth. Adult education (Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Title II of the Workforce Investment Act) plays a critical role in the economic opportunity of over two million adult learners each year who use these services to earn a high school equivalency, increase basic and employability skills, or improve their English language proficiency. Fully investing in adult education and reforming the program to meet the needs of today's workers will help workers and their families build a better economic future for themselves and the nation. Download PDF
• Sep 18, 2012  |  Child Care and Early Education Minnesota: R.E.E.T.A.I.N. Bonus Program Minnesota’s Retaining Early Educators Through Attaining Incentives Now (R.E.E.T.A.I.N.) bonus program encourages and rewards well-trained child care professionals who stay in the field by awarding them with a monetary bonus. The R.E.E.T.A.I.N. program recognizes the importance of offering incentives to child care providers as encouragement to stay and advance in the profession. Read Online
• Sep 07, 2012  |  Hannah Matthews At Risk: Early Care and Education Funding and Sequestration Sequestration was created in August 2011 as part of the Budget Control Act of 2011, which ended that year's showdown over raising the federal debt ceiling. Because Congress failed to come up with a deficit reduction plan, the Budget Control Act calls for $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts over the next decade, divided equally between defense and "non-defense discretionary" programs. This fact sheet explains how these cuts will impact federal early care and education funding and what can be done to prevent them. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Aug 30, 2012  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Bryant Education and Employment Pathways for High School Males of Color Summary of roundtable discussion with national experts on strengthening education and employment pathways for males of color in high school. Download PDF
• Aug 30, 2012  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Bryant Education and Employment Pathways for Out-of-School Males of Color Summary of roundtable discussion with national experts on creating education and employment pathways for out-of-school males of color. Download PDF
• Aug 30, 2012  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Bryant Education and Pathways to Employment for Middle School Boys of Color Summary of roundtable discussion with national experts on improving education outcomes and pathways to employment for boys of color in middle school. Download PDF
• Aug 30, 2012  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Bryant Health for Boys and Young Men of Color Summary of roundtable discussion with national experts on issues of health for boys and young men of color. Download PDF
• May 17, 2012  |  Sarah Fass Hiatt 21st Century Eligibility: A Menu of Options Federal policymakers and innovative states across the country are modernizing eligibility determination for public benefits by using existing data sources and sophisticated information technology. This menu of options is based on the paper "Moving to a 21st Century Public Benefits System" by Stan Dorn and Elizabeth Lower-Basch. Download PDF
• Apr 30, 2012  |  Andrea Lindemann 10 Steps to Implement D.C.'s Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008 Four years ago, Washington D.C. became the second location in the country to enact a paid sick days law. Unfortunately, the law remains little-known about and under-enforced. CLASP has developed a guide to help businesses implement the law. The guide presents 10 basic requirements of the law and provides a sample policy. When sick leave policies are implemented, businesses can benefit from a healthier work environment and increased productivity and retention. Download PDF
• Apr 16, 2012  |  Child Care and Early Education U.S. Child Care Assistance Profile 2010 This fact sheet presents state reported information on child care spending through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds used for child care. Download PDF
• Apr 09, 2012  |  Neil Ridley and Evelyn Ganzglass A Litmus for Legislation: Criteria for Evaluating Proposals to Restructure Federal Workforce Programs During the past year, a number of bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to reduce the number of federal workforce programs, consolidate programs in some cases and to improve the efficiency of the workforce system. CLASP recognizes the need for a more coherent and effective workforce development system. However, it is wrong to assume that the federal government's support of multiple workforce programs necessarily amounts to or results in duplicative services. To help advocates and other stakeholders, CLASP has developed a set of criteria with which to evaluate proposals that consolidate or restructure programs offering workforce services to low-income families and individuals. Download PDF
• Apr 05, 2012  |  Hannah Matthews and Emily Firgens Child Care and Development Block Grant Participation in 2010 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2010. CCDBG served a monthly average of 1.7 million children. While 27 states increased the number of children served, 22 states served fewer children in 2010 than in the previous year. This fact sheet reviews data, including the ages of children receiving assistance, the types of child care settings used, and the reasons families receive assistance. Download PDF
• Apr 05, 2012  |  Hannah Matthews and Emily Firgens Infants and Toddlers in CCDBG: 2010 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation of infants and toddlers in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2010. Less than a third of children served in CCDBG are under the age of 3, but the share of children receiving CCDBG who are infants and toddlers varies from state to state. This fact sheet includes state-by-state information on the ages of children served in CCDBG and other information on the participation of infants and toddlers in the program. Download PDF
• Apr 05, 2012  |  Hannah Matthews and Emily Firgens School-Age Children in CCDBG: 2010 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation of school-age children in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2010. About a third of children served in CCDBG are between ages 6 and 13. This fact sheet includes state-by-state information on the ages of children served in CCDBG and other information on the participation of school-age children in the program. Download PDF
• Mar 23, 2012  |  Vickie Choitz, Julie Strawn, and Marcie Foster FAQs on How the Loss of Ability to Benefit Options in Federal Student Aid Affects Those without a High School Diploma After July 1, 2012, newly enrolled college students without a high school diploma or secondary school equivalent will no longer eligible for federal student aid, due to the elimination of the "Ability to Benefit" (AtB) options by Congress in December 2011. The loss of AtB options threatens the economic mobility of low-skilled adults and youth seeking postsecondary credentials to improve their job prospects. This brief outlines the provision and why the AtB policy is essential for maintaining access to education and training for low-income, low-skilled students. Download PDF
• Feb 02, 2012  |  Marcie Foster Adult Education Funding Levels and Enrollment This fact sheet on adult education funding and enrollment trends shows that funding for adult education and English language services has declined by 17 percent from 2002 to 2012 in inflation-adjusted terms. At the same time, enrollment has declined by 27 percent, signaling concern that the system is unable to serve the growing population in need of services due to insufficient funding. Download PDF
• Feb 01, 2012  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Unemployment Insurance Drug Testing: A Bad Cure in Search of a Problem By the end of this month, Congress must again act to extend federal unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, or millions of workers will lose access to this vital lifeline. In December, the House of Representatives proposed to attach a provision to the extension that would allow states to require workers to take a drug test before receiving benefits. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Feb 01, 2012  |  Neil Ridley and Marcie Foster Unemployment Insurance: Congress Should Reject the Misguided Educational Requirement in H.R. 3630 House and Senate conferees are currently considering an extension of federally funded unemployment assistance through the end of 2012. The House-passed bill (H.R. 3630) that conferees are considering includes a new minimum educational requirement for Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants. The bill would change federal law to require individuals who receive UI benefits to have a high school diploma, GED or other state-recognized equivalent or be enrolled in classes leading to a secondary credential. If this requirement is deemed "unduly burdensome," state agencies may waive it for individuals. CLASP urges conferees to reject the proposed minimum educational requirement for UI recipients and any alternative formulations of this provision. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Dec 05, 2011  |  Stephanie Schmit Early Head Start Participants, Programs, Families, and Staff in 2010 This fact sheet reviews the 2010 Program Information Reports (PIR) data for the Early Head Start program, which serves children under age 3 and pregnant women. In 2010, Early Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families. However, less than 4 percent of eligible children receive Early Head Start services. Download PDF
• Dec 05, 2011  |  Stephanie Schmit Head Start Participants, Programs, Families, and Staff in 2010 This fact sheet reviews the 2010 Program Information Reports (PIR) data for the Head Start preschool program, which serves children ages 3 and 4. In 2010, Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families. However, less than half of eligible children receive Head Start preschool services. Download PDF
• Dec 02, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Louisiana: Mental Health Consultation (MHC) Program Mental health consultations can help to equip child care providers who serve infants and toddlers with the tools and training needed to implement developmentally appropriate practices that foster healthy child development and support children with special needs. In July 2007, Louisiana’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) contracted with the Tulane Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health to launch a Mental Health Consultation (MHC) program for child care centers. Read Online
• Dec 02, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Louisiana: Quality Start Child Care Rating System Louisiana Quality Start Child Care Rating System is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) for all licensed child care in Louisiana, which includes child care centers, Head Start and Early Head Start programs. design and implementation was a major focus of the state’s early childhood initiative, BrightStart, which in 2009 was designated as the state’s early childhood advisory council. With funding from the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Quality Start was implemented statewide in 2007. Read Online
• Dec 02, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Pennsylvania: Keystone Babies The Keystone Babies program was created to expand access to high-quality early learning settings for vulnerable infants and toddlers in Pennsylvania. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the voluntary program offers financial support to center-based providers to create additional slots for low-income infants and toddlers in the state’s child care assistance program, Child Care Works (CCW). Read Online
• Dec 01, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Massachusetts: Family Child Care System Contracts Family child care (FCC) is a common type of child care for children under the age of three. The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) contracts with FCC systems to ensure a stable level of access to high-quality family child care throughout the state. Any FCC system in Massachusetts that agrees to provide EEC subsidized early education and care services through its affiliated providers must hold a contract with EEC. FCC systems are significant sources of assistance and support for FCC providers in the state, particularly for those who serve subsidized children. In 2009, more than a quarter (28 percent) of subsidized children in Massachusetts were infants and toddlers, and more than a quarter of subsidized children (28 percent) were cared for in family child care or group child care homes. Read Online
• Oct 07, 2011  |  Neil Ridley and David Balducchi Work Sharing: An Alternative to Layoffs - Frequently Asked Questions Economic hard times and continuing high unemployment have spurred interest in a provision in federal unemployment insurance (UI) law that allows states to enact work sharing programs. As the nation's economic recovery remains weak, a growing number of businesses are searching for ways to weather the economic downturn and retain their workforce. Work sharing has become a viable alternative to layoffs in states that have these programs in place. This fact sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions about state work sharing programs. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Oct 05, 2011  |  Christine Johnson-Staub Arkansas: Developmental Screening Partnership Children develop along a continuum, with milestones reached at ages that vary within an accepted timeframe. Development that does not happen within the expected timeframe can raise concerns about developmental disorders, health conditions, or other factors contributing negatively to the child’s development. Child care providers are often early witnesses to the signs of developmental problems with the children in their care, but they may not have the capacity or training to identify a problem, discuss concerns with families, and guide families in seeking related services. Read Online
• Sep 23, 2011  |  Christine Johnson-Staub Rhode Island: Watch Me Grow Child care providers are often early witnesses to the signs of developmental problems that may impact children in their care, but they often lack the capacity or training to identify a problem, discuss concerns with families, and guide families in seeking related services. In Rhode Island, early childhood stakeholders have created and funded a collaborative initiative that helps build that capacity, and better serve children in participating child care programs. Read Online
• Sep 01, 2011  |  CPES Unemployment Snapshot For more than two years, the nation's unemployment average has hovered around 9 percent or more, reaching double digits in 2010. Research shows persistently high unemployment has negative long-term social and economic consequences for individuals, families and the nation. If we allow prolonged high levels of joblessness to persist, we risk the deterioration of communities as well as the nation's position as a global economic force. For the short- and long-term health of the nation, federal policymakers must address the jobs crisis with a heightened sense of urgency. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Aug 25, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Children from Low-Income Families, by Age CLASP analysis of NCCP and ACS data regarding young children below 200 percent of the poverty level, by age and state. Download PDF
• Aug 25, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Head Start and Early Head Start Funded Enrollment Data, 2007-2010 This chart shows funded enrollment data from 2007-2010 gathered from the annual Head Start PIR. Download PDF
• Aug 25, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Head Start and Early Head Start Participation by Age, 2007-2010 A CLASP analysis of annual Head Start PIR data from years 2007-2010. The data outlines participation in Head Start and Early Head Start by age from 2007-2010. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Atlanta The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Atlanta to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Baltimore The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Baltimore to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Boston The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Boston to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Buffalo The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Buffalo to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Chicago The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Chicago to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Cleveland The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Cleveland to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Columbus The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Columbus to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Denver The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Denver to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Houston The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Houston to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Indianapolis The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Indianapolis to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Jackson The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Jackson to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Kansas City The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Kansas City to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Los Angeles The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Los Angeles to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Memphis The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Memphis to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Minneapolis The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Minneapolis to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Newark The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Newark to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Oakland The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Oakland to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Philadelphia The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to Philadelphia to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: San Diego The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to San Diego to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2011 Keeping Youth Connected: Washington, D.C. The purpose of the community profiles project is to highlight data that help community members, advocates, and policymakers understand the nature and extent of issues facing large numbers of youth in low-income urban and rural communities. This fact sheet presents data and research related to District of Columbia to help elevate the issue of youth development and high school dropout Download PDF
• Aug 11, 2011 National Leaders Recognize Value of Workforce Development Programs Federally funded workforce development programs, the largest of which are funded by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), assist individuals in building skills, preparing for work, and finding jobs. Many government officials, academics, and business leaders agree that workforce and training programs are essential for our economy to succeed, especially in this period of slow economic growth. Further, most scholars who have examined the evidence find that these programs are valuable for disadvantaged individuals, businesses, and the economy. Download PDF
• Aug 04, 2011  |  CLASP Deficit Reduction: Plans to Reduce the Nation's Deficit Should Protect the Disadvantaged (August Update) From the beginning, we've known that reducing the deficit would require tough choices about how the nation invests its financial resources. But it also requires answering moral and philosophical questions about the kind of nation we want to be now and in the future. Today, one in seven of us is poor, including one in four children under age five, and nearly one-third of us are low-income. In the last three decades, the income gap between rich and poor has widened. Unemployment has hovered around 9 percent or higher for the last two and a half years and economists project it will remain high in the foreseeable future. Cutting programs that promote opportunity and alleviate poverty while leaving tax breaks for the wealthiest and corporate tax loopholes untouched is anathema to the nation's shared core values and detrimental to its future. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Jul 06, 2011  |  Elizabeth Kenefick TANF Education and Training: Oklahoma's Special Projects One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. Download PDF
• Jun 28, 2011  |  CLASP Deficit Reduction: Plans to Reduce Annual Deficits Should Not Increase Poverty or Inequality Some pending deficit reduction proposals would decimate programs that alleviate poverty and provide education and training while leaving tax breaks for the wealthiest and corporate tax loopholes untouched. This fact sheet outlines why lawmakers moving forward with deficit reduction talks should commit to ensuring final legislation doesn't harm the most vulnerable among us and does not increase poverty and inequality. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Jun 14, 2011 Off Balance: Proposal to Balance the Budget Drastic, Unrealistic and Harmful to all Americans The U.S. House Judiciary Committee is considering a bill (HJRes.1 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution of the United States) that would make an annual balanced federal budget constitutional law. While it is true that the nation must work to get its deficit under control, the bill is a plan not for balance but rather for dismantling the government and weakening programs and services on which all Americans rely. This fact sheet outlines the proposal and its potential effects on the nation. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Jun 13, 2011  |  CLASP Yesterday's Nontraditional Student is Today's Traditional Student Today's typical college student is no longer an 18pyear-old recent high-school graduate who enrolls full-time and has limited work and family obligations. Students today are older, more diverse and have more work and family obligations to balance. This fact sheet provides the most recent data available on the characteristics of today's college students. (Updated 6/29/11). Download PDF
• Jun 08, 2011  |  Patrick Kelly and Julie Strawn Not Just Kid Stuff Anymore: The Economic Imperative for More Adults to Complete College Just as our economy is demanding that more workers have some postsecondary education or training, the number of recent high school graduates, our traditional source of such workers, is leveling off and even declining in many states. This brief provides relevant data on higher education on a national scale with some broken out by state. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• May 06, 2011  |  Neil Ridley and Elizabeth Kenefick Research Shows the Effectiveness of Workforce Programs In this paper, CLASP provides a fresh look at the evidence showing the effectiveness of workforce programs. It finds that federal investments in workforce development help low-income adults and youth find jobs, improve their earnings and contribute to their communities. The national studies also tend to average out results from a wide range of local approaches and consequently mask the success of promising workforce strategies. A growing body of research suggests that workforce investments are likely to pay off for the next generation. Download PDF
• Apr 07, 2011  |  Rutledge Hutson Federal Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Under Title IV-E, FY 2009 This factsheet provides state expenditures of federal adoption and guardianship funds under Title IV-E, FY 2009. Download PDF
• Apr 07, 2011  |  Rutledge Hutson Federal Foster Care Assistance Under Title IV-E, FY 2009 This factsheet provides state expenditures of federal foster care funds under Title IV-E for FY 2009. Download PDF
• Mar 30, 2011  |  Stephanie Schmit Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program: February 2011 SIR Analysis The latest Evidence-Based Home Visiting Supplemental Information Request (SIR) has recently been released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with collaboration from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). This information request provides states guidance in preparing their updated plans for their home visiting programs. The new information request strengthens the earlier guidance in important ways. Download PDF
• Mar 15, 2011  |  Hannah Matthews Financing a Birth to Five Program: The Appleton Area School District Model Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, also known as No Child Left Behind or NCLB) funds long have been used to provide preschool services for at-risk children. This paper focuses on the Appleton Area School District (AASD) in Appleton, Wisconsin and their efforts to use Title I funds to finance a comprehensive birth-five program. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Mar 15, 2011  |  Julie Strawn New Path to Federal Student Aid for Those with No High School Diploma or GED New policy allows students without a high school diploma or GED to qualify for federal student aid if they successfully complete six credits in lieu of passing an Ability-to-Benefit test. Basic skills bridge programs could be designed to help students earn the critical six credits. NOTE: These provisions have been eliminated for newly-enrolled students as of July 1, 2012. Download PDF
• Feb 03, 2011  |  Hannah Matthews and Teresa Lim Child Care and Development Block Grant Participation in 2009 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2009. CCDBG served a monthly average of 1.63 million children. While 24 states increased the number of children served, 23 states served fewer children in 2009 than in the previous year. This fact sheet reviews data, including the ages of children receiving assistance, the types of child care settings used, and the reasons families receive assistance. Download PDF
• Feb 03, 2011  |  Hannah Matthews and Teresa Lim Infants and Toddlers in CCDBG: 2009 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation of infants and toddlers in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2009. Fewer than a third of children served in CCDBG are under the age of 3, but the share of children receiving CCDBG who are infants and toddlers varies from state to state. This fact sheet includes state-by-state information on the ages of children served in CCDBG and other information on the participation of infants and toddlers in the program. Download PDF
• Feb 03, 2011  |  Hannah Matthews and Teresa Lim School-Age Children in CCDBG: 2009 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation of school-age children in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2009. About a third of children served in CCDBG are between ages 6 and 13. This fact sheet includes state-by-state information on the ages of children served in CCDBG and other information on the participation of school-age children in the program. Download PDF
• Jan 20, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Building Comprehensive State Systems for Vulnerable Babies CLASP has developed this resource to help state leaders strategize how to create or improve early childhood systems to meet the needs of vulnerable babies and toddlers, their families, and pregnant women. Every state has the pieces of a comprehensive early childhood system in place. This tool will help state leaders locate and build them into a system that meets the needs of children and families. Download PDF
• Jan 20, 2011  |  Child Care and Early Education Making the Case for Child Care and Head Start Investments State-specific information on child care and Head Start funding, children served in these programs, child poverty rates, and more to make the case for investments in the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start Read Online
• Jan 06, 2011  |  Hannah Matthews U.S. Child Care Assistance Profile 2009 This fact sheet presents state reported information on child care spending through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds used for child care. Download PDF
• Dec 09, 2010  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch 2011 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Extension In late November, the House and Senate extended the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant for the duration of federal fiscal year 2011, as part of H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. President Obama recently signed it into law (P.L. 111-291). This fact sheet summarizes the changes made by it. Download PDF
• Nov 19, 2010  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Extending the TANF Emergency Fund Creates Jobs Now Congress should extend the TANF Emergency Fund as soon as possible so that states can continue and expand their subsidized jobs programs. Download PDF
• Nov 15, 2010  |  Child Care and Early Education U.S. Head Start by the Numbers 2009 This fact sheet presents Head Start PIR data for all Head Start programs in the nation -- including preschool programs, Early Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, and American Indian/Alaskan Native Head Start. Download PDF
• Nov 10, 2010  |  New York State Paid Family Leave Coalition Healthy Businesses Need Healthy People The New York State Paid Family Leave Coalition created a fact sheet outlining paid sick days can enhance a company's bottom line. Download PDF
• Nov 10, 2010  |  District of Columbia Department of Employment Services Official Notice: Accrued Safe and Sick Leave Act of 2008 The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services official notice explaining the Accrued Safe and Sick Leave Act of 2008 for employees and employers. Download PDF
• Nov 10, 2010  |  US Chamber of Commerce Sample Time Off Policies Sample company policy statements for holiday and vacation leave. Download File
• Oct 01, 2010  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch and Elizabeth Kenefick TANF Emergency Fund: State Applications Approved as of September 30 As of September 30, 49 states (plus the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and 25 tribes) have been awarded a total of $5 billion from the TANF Emergency Fund. This fact sheet shows the share of its maximum allocation that each state has received. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Sep 27, 2010  |  Vickie Choitz and Marcie Foster Five Strategies to Help Low-Income Adults and Youth Attain Community College Credentials Download PDF
• Sep 10, 2010  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch and Elizabeth Kenefick Analysis of Fiscal Year 2009 TANF and MOE Spending by States The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published data concerning use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds in FY 2009. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2009. (Some states revised March 2011). Read Online   |   Download Spreadsheet   |   Additional PDF
• Sep 01, 2010 CLASP's new Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success Download PDF
• Aug 31, 2010  |  Hannah Matthews U.S. Child Care Assistance Profile 2008 This fact sheet presents state reported information on child care spending through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds used for child care, and information on children and families participating in CCDBG. Download PDF
• Aug 30, 2010  |  Andrea Lindemann How Women-Owned Businesses Can Support Paid Sick Days A CLASP fact sheet detailing how women-owned businesses can support paid sick days. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2010  |  Child Care and Early Education A Guide to State Policy Examples from the Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care Project This matrix provides a current list of states for which CLASP has posted policy examples for the Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Download PDF
• Aug 19, 2010  |  Child Care and Early Education Indiana: Paths to QUALITY Infant/Toddler Specific Standards The Indiana quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), Paths to QUALITY, is a statewide voluntary system that includes infant and toddler standards and is designed for licensed child care centers, licensed family child care homes, and unlicensed registered faith-based organizations. Statewide rollout of Paths to QUALITY began in January 2008 and was completed in January 2009. A study conducted by Purdue University is currently underway to assess the impact of the QRIS. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Aug 17, 2010  |  Andrea Lindemann Mind Your Business Engaging businesses can be time intensive and often requires utilizing and developing personal relationships. It is worth it in the end, as businesses can support your work and neutralize opposition. They can testify in favor of bills, write Op Eds and letters of support, speak to the media, and counter or neutralize business association opposition. Here are three simple steps to recruiting a business to support paid sick days. Download PDF
• Jul 30, 2010  |  Elizabeth Hoffmann Early Head Start Participants, Programs, Families, and Staff in 2009 This fact sheet reviews the 2009 Program Information Reports (PIR) data for the Early Head Start program, which serves children under age 3 and pregnant women. In 2009, Early Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families. However, less than 3 percent of eligible children receive Early Head Start services. Download PDF
• Jul 30, 2010  |  Elizabeth Hoffmann Head Start Participants, Programs, Families, and Staff in 2009 This fact sheet reviews the 2009 Program Information Reports (PIR) data for the Head Start preschool program, which serves children ages 3 and 4. In 2009, Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families. However, less than half of eligible children receive Head Start preschool services. Download PDF
• Jul 29, 2010  |  Elizabeth Kenefick How much could your state receive under HR 5893? This shows the amounts that states could received under H.R. 5893 "Investing In American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010", released Wednesday July 28, 2010 by the House Ways and Means Committee. It renames the TANF Emergency Fund as the Emergency Fund for Job Creation and Assistance and extends it through FY 2011. Under this bill, states could receive up to 30 percent of their adjusted block grant during FY 2011 Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Jul 16, 2010  |  Josh Bone TANF Education and Training: Maine's Parents as Scholars One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. Download PDF
• May 26, 2010  |  Elizabeth Hoffmann Early Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) Data Available through CLASP's DataFinder This document explains CLASP's DataFinder tool and lists the Early Head Start state data available through this tool. Download PDF
• Apr 14, 2010  |  Josh Bone TANF Education and Training: Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. Download PDF
• Apr 14, 2010  |  Josh Bone TANF Education and Training: Kentucky's Ready-to-Work Program One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. Download PDF
• Apr 14, 2010  |  Josh Bone TANF Education and Training: Pennsylvania's KEYS Program One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. Download PDF
• Mar 23, 2010  |  Thomas Hilliard and Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield Summary of Key Postsecondary Education and Training Provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 Download PDF
• Mar 17, 2010  |  Child Care and Early Education Tennessee: The Strengthening Families Initiative Tennessee Strengthening Families is an initiative overseen by the Tennessee Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) in the state’s child welfare agency. CTF partners with the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) to promote and integrate the Strengthening Families framework into state systems. This framework, developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, aims to prevent child abuse and neglect by building five protective factors around young children and working with their families. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Mar 09, 2010  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt, Linda Harris, and Kisha Bird Follow the Money: Funding and Legislative Opportunities on the Horizon for Communities to Serve Disconnected Youth Several pieces of legislation have been proposed or passed that present opportunities to fund programs in communities to keep young people connected to school and recapture those who have fallen by the wayside. Most of these resources, however, are from competitive funding streams which will require communities to demonstrate innovative practice in planning and implementation. Communities need to be aware of these potential opportunities very early in the process in order to plan strategically and create partnerships to program at-scale and meet the needs of their disconnected youth. Download PDF
• Mar 05, 2010  |  Kisha Bird and Chris Scott Youth Opportunity Community Profile: Baltimore By implementing a service delivery philosophy that relied on highly skilled youth service professionals and neighborhood-based youth centers, YO! Baltimore not only became a hub for training and education but also for relationship and community building among residents young and old. YO! Sites were safe havens where caring adults gave young people the resources, skills and opportunities they needed to stay on track and to get back on track to achieve their goals. Download PDF
• Mar 05, 2010  |  Kisha Bird and Chris Scott Youth Opportunity Community Profile: California Indian Manpower Consortium In 2000, the California Indian Manpower Consortium, Inc. (CIMC) was awarded a $15.9 million Youth Opportunity Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The YO! CIMC Project was a collaborative effort of 23 Indian Tribes and CIMC aimed at providing comprehensive development activities and support for youth, ages 14- 21. The YO! CIMC experience afforded disadvantaged youth (many of whom attended schools in rural and isolated areas, which lacked qualified teachers or adequate curricula and serious health, social, and economic disparities) the opportunity to gain educational and occupational skills through Internships and Subsidized Employment, Life Skills Training, Job Readiness Training, and College SAT Prep programs. Download PDF
• Mar 05, 2010  |  Kisha Bird and Chris Scott Youth Opportunity Community Profile: Hartford In 2000, Hartford was awarded a $28 million Youth Opportunity (YO) Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, YO! Hartford. This fact sheet outlines the lessons, legacy and impact YO had on community practice in the city of Hartford. The Hartford site served as an example of how collaborations and partnerships can increase educational options for under-credited, over-aged students and for those who have dropped out of school. Download PDF
• Mar 05, 2010  |  Kisha Bird and Chris Scott Youth Opportunity Community Profile: Southeast Arkansas In 2000, Rural Arkansas was awarded a $19.8 million Youth Opportunity Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This fact sheet outlines the lessons, legacy and impact YO had on community practice in rural Southeast Arkansas. Much was accomplished in a relatively short period of time in this community. The YO Arkansas experience gave Phoenix Youth and Family Services (PYFS) a unique opportunity to address the needs of young people and help the community move toward its goal of reversing the economic decline of the area and the consequent departure of its young people. Download PDF
• Feb 22, 2010  |  Hannah Matthews Immigrant Families and Child Care Subsidies: What Federal Law and Guidance Says One in four young children in the United States lives in an immigrant family. Federal law establishes policies on immigrant eligibility for child care assistance, yet questions regarding eligibility remain at the state and local level. Most child care assistance is funded through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, which have differing rules regarding immigrant eligibility. This fact sheet lays out rules and guidance related to immigrant eligibility for child care subsidies through both funding streams. Download PDF
• Feb 04, 2010  |  Rutledge Q. Hutson President's Budget Calls for Key Investments in our Most Vulnerable Children and Families Our nation's children will be safe and well cared for only when we invest in a continuum of services including: prevention and early intervention services that help prevent child abuse and neglect whenever possible; effective treatment services for children who experience maltreatment and their families; and aftercare services that support children and their families once a crisis is stabilized so that further abuse and neglect do not occur. President Obama's 2011 budget takes a number of positive steps towards supporting this continuum, but The Administration and the Congress must take additional steps to make up for years of underinvestment in critical services for our nation's most vulnerable children. Read Online
• Feb 01, 2010  |  Hannah Matthews and Danielle Ewen Administration Reverses a Decade of Indifference The President's FY 2011 budget proposal provides resources for expanding quality child care and early education opportunities for children and families. Read Online
• Jan 29, 2010  |  Lexer Quamie Award-Winning Employers: State by State CLASP has compiled a state-by-state listing of firms that have been recognized through national awards for their workplace policies. Read Online
• Jan 22, 2010  |  Child Care and Early Education Missouri: The Quality Rating System and Infant/Toddler Responsive Caregiving Checklist The Missouri Quality Rating System (MO QRS) is a voluntary system that seeks to address infants and toddlers both in terms of the design of the system and in the content on which child care quality is measured. The MO QRS was developed in part to align with the state's early learning standards and core competencies for early childhood professionals. Certain specific measures have been included to address infant/toddler care. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Jan 21, 2010 State Fact Sheets on Child Welfare Funding 2010 These fact sheets, compiled as part of a joint project of CLASP and the Children's Defense Fund, are designed to help policymakers, advocates, and the public better understand the complex financing structure of child welfare services in the states, and to enable them to work effectively toward national, state and local reforms that will promote a child welfare system that helps keep children and families out of crisis, provides specialized treatment services for those that do experience crisis and provides supportive services to families after a crisis has stabilized. Read Online
• Jan 20, 2010 Child Welfare in the United States This fact sheet, part of a collection of 50 state fact sheets compiled as part of a joint project of CLASP and the Children's Defense Fund, is designed to help policymakers, advocates, and the public better understand the complex financing structure of child welfare services in their states, and to enable them to work effectively toward national, state and local reforms that will promote a child welfare system that helps keep children and families out of crisis, provides specialized treatment services for those that do experience crisis and provides supportive services to families after a crisis has stabilized. Download PDF
• Jan 11, 2010  |  Child Care and Early Education California: The Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards (CARES) Program and CARES Plus The First 5 California Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards (CARES) program is a professional development and retention program that aims to build a highly-qualified and culturally and linguistically diverse early childhood workforce. Open to all ends of the spectrum of those caring for children from 0 to 5—from family, friend and neighbor (FFN) caregivers to licensed family child care providers and center-based teachers and directors, the program offers financial incentives and other supports and services to increase the pursuit of training and education and reduce turnover in the early learning field. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Jan 11, 2010  |  Child Care and Early Education Educare: Creating Comprehensive Early Care and Education Centers Educare is an initiative that draws on public and private resources to create and sustain comprehensive early care and education centers for low-income families with children from birth to age 5. These centers can serve as a model location, program, and a platform for policy change in the communities and states in which they are developed. Centers are currently open in Chicago (IL), Denver (CO), Miami (FL), Milwaukee (WI), Oklahoma City (OK), Omaha (NE), and Tulsa (OK). Additional centers in Kansas City (MO), Omaha (NE), Phoenix (AZ), Seattle (WA), Tulsa (OK), Waterville (ME), West DuPage (IL), and Yakima (WA) are in development. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Dec 17, 2009  |  Hannah Matthews Infants and Toddlers in CCDBG: 2008 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation of infants and toddlers in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2008. Fewer than a third of children served in CCDBG are under the age of 3, but the share of children receiving CCDBG who are infants and toddlers varies from state to state. This fact sheet includes state-by-state information on the ages of children served in CCDBG and other information on the participation of infants and toddlers in the program. Download PDF
• Dec 17, 2009  |  Hannah Matthews School-Age Children in CCDBG: 2008 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation of school-age children in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2008. A third of children served in CCDBG are between ages 6 and 13. This fact sheet includes state-by-state information on the ages of children served in CCDBG and other information on the participation of school-age children in the program. Download PDF
• Dec 10, 2009  |  Evelyn Ganzglass Proposal to Create Career Pathways State Policy Leadership Grants Program CLASP proposes the establishment of a Career Pathways State Policy Leadership Grants program within the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The program would be jointly administered by the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor to strengthen and align adult education/ ESL, postsecondary education, career and technical education and workforce development systems in a career pathways framework. Download PDF
• Dec 10, 2009  |  Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield and Thomas Hilliard Recommendations to Refocus WIA Title II on Career and Postsecondary Success Download PDF
• Dec 02, 2009  |  Dorothy Smith State Poverty Task Forces a Step Ahead on Modern Poverty Measure In the absence of a modern federal measure of poverty, a growing number of state poverty task forces are calling for federal action and have begun exploring alternative ways to more accurately measure income poverty. Download PDF
• Dec 01, 2009  |  Hannah Matthews Child Care and Development Block Grant Participation in 2008 Based on preliminary data from the Child Care Bureau, this fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2008. CCDBG served a monthly average of 1.6 million children. While 19 states increased the number of children served, 29 states served fewer children in 2008 than in the previous year. This fact sheet reviews data, including the ages of children receiving assistance, the types of child care settings used, and the reasons families receive assistance. Download PDF
• Nov 18, 2009  |  Evelyn Ganzglass Job Creation: Creating Work and Learning Opportunities for Low-Income Populations The current economic and job crisis requires that additional steps be taken to create employment and training opportunities for those hardest hit by the recession. Experts and policymakers have proposed numerous strategies to create and retain jobs such as tax credits, public service employment and the expansion of work-sharing/short-time compensation options under the Unemployment Insurance program. This fact sheet offers a number of ideas for how the public Workforce Investment and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families systems could be mobilized to create new work opportunities for low-income, unemployed workers. Read Online   |   Download PDF
• Oct 28, 2009  |  Josh Bone and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Analysis of Fiscal Year 2008 TANF and MOE Spending by States The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published data concerning use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds in FY 2008. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2008. Read Online   |   Download Spreadsheet   |   Additional PDF
• Oct 23, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education U.S. Head Start by the Numbers 2008 This profile provides data across all Head Start programs (Early Head Start, Head Start preschool, American Indian/Alaskan Native Head Start, and Migrant Head Start) for all grantees. Profiles on individual states are available through "In the States." Download PDF
• Oct 15, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education California: Child Care Initiative Program—Building the Supply of Quality FCC Homes The California Child Care Initiative Program aims to increase the supply of quality child care options by recruiting, training, and retaining licensed family child care (FCC) home providers. CCIP is implemented at the community level by local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) and has the potential to support a significant share of infant/toddler care in the state. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Sep 30, 2009  |  Jodie Levin-Epstein Healthy Families Act: Advocates' Answers to Businesses' Frequently Asked Questions This document provides a distilled version of the Healthy Families Act in a Question and Answer form and is aimed at dispelling any myths about the legislation. Download PDF
• Sep 30, 2009  |  CLASP Paid Sick Days: A Comparison of Three Cities' Laws and Pending Federal Legislation A comparison table of the bills in San Francisco, Washington DC, Milwaukee, and the federal Healthy Families Act. Download PDF
• Sep 30, 2009  |  CLASP Paid Sick Days: Reaching Out to Businesses to Say YES to a Level Playing Field Paid Sick Days: Reaching Out to Businesses to Say YES to a Level Playing Field is a resource guide to help state and local advocates recruit business leaders, owners, and trade groups to help gain support for paid sick day's legislation. Download PDF
• Sep 16, 2009  |  Jodie Levin-Epstein Poverty and Opportunity: State Government Task Forces This publication provides information about how states are addressing poverty through task forces. It includes links to state-specific information such as authorizing legislation and poverty task force reports. Download PDF
• Aug 10, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Cleveland To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Aug 10, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Minneapolis To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Aug 06, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Atlanta To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Aug 06, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Washington, DC To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Aug 05, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Chicago To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Aug 05, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Detroit To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Aug 03, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Indiana: Increasing Access to Child Care Information for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families Indiana uses its eleven local child care resource and referral agencies (CCR&Rs) to provide information on infant/toddler care to families from the state's cultural and linguistic groups, through onsite bilingual staff, partnering with community-based organizations, translating materials and forms, and offering enhanced referral services for families with infants and toddlers. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Aug 03, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Indiana: Providing Information and Training to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Providers and Caregivers The Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral provides services and supports to Spanish-speaking providers, supports local CCR&Rs with outreach, and maintains a database on 18 different languages spoken throughout the state. Professional development opportunities addressing cultural and linguistic diversity include the Infant Toddler Specialists of Indiana and the Non-Formal CDA Credential Project. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Jul 30, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Boston To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Jul 30, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Oakland To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Jul 30, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Keeping Youth Connected: Focus on Philadelphia To promote greater understanding of the scope of youth distress in high poverty, urban areas, we analyze data on indicators related to education, crime and victimization, employment, and family stability. This data highlights the major school, community, family and peer factors which impede a young person on the path to completing high school. Communities and advocates can use this data to galvanize support for needed interventions, and to benchmark and track progress on achieving outcomes. Download PDF
• Jul 10, 2009 U.S. Head Start by the Numbers 2007 This fact sheet presents Head Start PIR data for all Head Start programs in the nation -- including preschool programs, Early Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, and American Indian/Alaskan Native Head Start. Download PDF
• Jun 26, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Delaware: Implementing Preservice Training Requirements and Group Sizes for Licensed Center-Based Infant/Toddler Providers As part of its 2007 revised regulations for child care centers, Delaware improved provider-to-child ratios for infants and toddlers, as well as strengthened preservice training, health and safety, and monitoring. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Jun 26, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Delaware: Training for Relative Care Providers Receiving Child Care Subsidies Delaware requires child development training for all relative caregivers receiving child care subsidies. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Jun 26, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Delaware: Training that Supports Infant/Toddler Providers and Caregivers A variety of Delaware's training initiatives tied to child care licensing and subsidy policies support infant/toddler providers and caregivers, including center-based providers, family child care providers, and relative caregivers receiving child care subsidies. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Jun 22, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Massachusetts: 12-Month Subsidy Eligibility Massachusetts switched to a 12-month subsidy eligibility period for most families to help children retain access to child care assistance and to reduce state administrative and staff burden. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Jun 22, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education New Mexico: Defining Common Core Content and Specialized Knowledge to Promote the Effectiveness of Infant/Toddler Providers and Professionals New Mexico requires coursework on Common Core Content that outlines what all early childhood professionals should know and be able to do. The state has also established three areas of specialization: early childhood teacher, early childhood program administrator, and family, infant toddler professional. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Jun 19, 2009  |  Linda Harris and Sara Hastings Youth Opportunity Grant Evaluation Fact Sheet At the end of 2008, the Department of Labor released the findings of an independent evaluation conducted by DIR, Inc. showing positive results from the YO initiative and highlighting effective practices for serving youth. During the grant period, these 36 communities enrolled 92,000 mostly minority youth -- 48 percent of them out of school. The evaluation documented that for this population, grantees were able to increase educational attainment, Pell Grant receipt, labor market participation, and employment rates and earnings. The evaluation also showed that when adequate resources are targeted at building community capacity to serve youth, labor force participation and education outcomes can improve. Download PDF
• May 22, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education California: Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) The Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) is a comprehensive, multi-media, training of trainers initiative using a relationship-based approach to early care, that has been operating in California since 1985. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• May 22, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Indiana: Requiring Continuity of Care in Licensing Through licensing rules for child care centers, Indiana requires centers to make a reasonable effort to achieve continuity of care for infants and toddlers up to 30 months of age. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• May 22, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Minnesota: Policies that Support Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregivers A grant program supports diverse family, friend, and neighbor caregivers through six initiatives across Minnesota. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• May 22, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Montana: Infant/Toddler Merit Pay and Certified Infant/Toddler Caregiver Stipend The Infant/Toddler Merit Pay Program and Certified Infant/Toddler Caregiver Stipend encourage providers and caregivers to participate in additional training and remain in the child care field in Montana. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• May 22, 2009  |  Child Care and Early Education Montana: Using Subsidy Policy to Promote Continuity of Care The state designed its subsidy policies on absent days, medical appointments, and presumptive eligibility to promote stable care for children receiving child care assistance. This state example is part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• May 21, 2009  |  Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Provisions Which Can Support Programming to Improve Outcomes for Black Men & Boys Prior to the economic downturn, Black males already faced disproportionately negative outcomes in so many areas, including education, health, justice, and employment. The recession has only exacerbated the problems faced by this population. There is a case to be made for targeting American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) resources to this population and for using these one-time resources to begin to put in place programs and efforts which will have lasting effects for Black males. This document highlights the funding streams in the ARRA which may provide such opportunities. Download PDF
• Apr 06, 2009  |  Matt Lewis and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Analysis of Fiscal Year 2007 TANF and MOE Spending by States The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published data concerning use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds in FY 2007. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2007. Read Online   |   Download Spreadsheet
• Mar 10, 2009 State Infant/Toddler ARRA Policies Series Part of CLASP's "Reinvesting in Child Care" series, this set of eight fact sheets provides policy recommendations and state examples for using economic recovery funds to improve the quality of infant/toddler care. Read Online
• Feb 13, 2009  |  Vicki Turetsky How Much Restored Child Support Funding Will Each State Receive Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act? The ARRA includes a 2-year suspension of a provision in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006 that reduced federal child support funding to the child support enforcement program. The ARRA temporarily restores funding to help families continue to receive child support payments and prevent widespread cutbacks in child support services. Download PDF
• Feb 13, 2009  |  Hannah Matthews Impact of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 on Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Funding State Allocations for $2 Billion in CCDBG Funding. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes $2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). CLASP has estimated the state allocations for the child care funding as well as the share of funds states will receive for quality initiatives. Download PDF
• Jan 08, 2009  |  Vicki Turetsky Child Support Funding Stimulates an Economic Recovery Reversing the child support cuts would provide stimulus to the federal government, states, and to low-income families. This fact sheet describes why reversing the child support cuts is a cost-effective means to help low income families meet basic household expenses and will aid state and county budgets. Download PDF
• Nov 21, 2008  |  Hannah Matthews U.S. Child Care Assistance Profile 2007 This fact sheet presents state reported information on child care spending through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds used for child care, and information on children and families participating in CCDBG. Download PDF
• Nov 06, 2008 Side-by-Side: Comparison of Provisions in the House Fostering Connections to Success Act, the Senate Finance Committee Chairmans Mark and the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act Download PDF
• Nov 05, 2008  |  Hannah Matthews U.S. Child Care Assistance State Profile 2006 This fact sheet presents state reported information on child care spending through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds used for child care, and information on children and families participating in CCDBG. Download PDF
• Oct 03, 2008  |  Rutledge Q. Hutson Protecting Children and Strengthening Families Too many children experience abuse and neglect with negative lifelong consequences. Too few children get the services and supports they need to heal. Yet, proven and promising practices can reduce maltreatment and ameliorate harm. Taking these practices to scale will require federal investment and leadership in five strategic areas. We must: (1) increase prevention and early intervention services that help keep children and families out of crisis; (2) increase specialized treatment services for those children and families that do experience crisis; (3) increase services to support families after a crisis has stabilized (including birth families, as well as kinship and adoptive families created when parents are unable to care for their children); (4) enhance the quality of the workforce providing services to children and families; and (5) improve accountability both for dollars spent and outcomes achieved. Together these efforts will improve the lives of millions of children across the nation. Download PDF
• Aug 14, 2008  |  Rachel Schumacher and Elizabeth DiLauro (ZERO TO THREE) State Early Head Start Initiative Profiles CLASP and ZERO TO THREE conducted in-depth interviews with 10 states taking actions to build on Early Head Start. These individual profiles of state initiatives include data on the approaches used to build on Early Head Start, the state program, funding and supports, governance and coordination, and monitoring and evaluation. Read Online
• Aug 08, 2008  |  Hannah Matthews Child Care and Development Block Grant Participation in 2006 This fact sheet provides a snapshot of participation in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in 2006. CCDBG served a monthly average of 1.8 million children. While 29 states increased the number of children served, 22 states served fewer children in 2006 than in the previous year. This fact sheet reviews data, including the ages of children receiving assistance, the types of child care settings used, and the reasons families can receive assistance. Download PDF
• May 20, 2008  |  Vicki Turetsky Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2007 This brief on legislation outlines the provisions of the proposed Responsible Fatherhood and Health Families Act of 2007. Download PDF
• May 20, 2008  |  Aaron Nelson and Vicki Turetsky Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention This brief on legislation outlines the provisions of the Second Chance Act, which was signed into law in April 2008. Download PDF
• May 06, 2008  |  Vicki Turetsky Preserve the Child Support System: Don't Let the New Hire Database be Hijacked for Immigrant Employment Verification Congress should not authorize the use of a child support data base, called the National Directory of New Hires, to establish mandatory electronic employment verification system as is proposed in the "New Employee Verification Act of 2008" (HR 5515). This use of the National Directory of New Hires will seriously undermine the goals and effectiveness of the child support system. Download PDF
• Mar 04, 2008  |  CLASP The Congressional Budget Resolution: Recommendations for a Blueprint in Support of Low-Income Individuals and Families President Bush's budget proposal sends a simple and stark message: even in an economic downturn, those at the bottom of the income scale don't matter. It is now Congress' turn to prepare a budget plan. The Congressional budget resolution should inflict no harm to low-income workers, restore prior cuts, and invest in the future by supporting the workforce and ensuring safe and healthy children. Download PDF
• Jan 31, 2008  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Final TANF Rules Include Modest Improvements; Further Action Needed to Restore the Safety Net This week, the Department of Health and Human Services placed on public display the final rules implementing the changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The rule includes several modest but positive changes affecting the work participation rate requirements, but does not change the overall focus on documenting participation. Many of the changes respond to concerns that CLASP and numerous other organizations submitted in response to the interim final rule. Download PDF
• Jan 31, 2008  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Summary of TANF Rules The final rules implementing changes in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 are scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on February 5, 2008; this summary is based on the pre-publication version made available for public inspection. Download PDF
• Jan 29, 2008  |  Vicki Turetsky Child Support: It Makes Sound Fiscal Sense to Restore Funding for Child Support Enforcement (4 of 4) The final fact sheet in this series illustrates why funding for child support enforcement should be restored. Download PDF
• Jan 29, 2008  |  Vicki Turetsky Child Support: Restored Federal Funding Needed to Implement New Child Support Pass-Through Options (3 of 4) Effective next year, new state options included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) will allow states to pay up to 100 percent of collected child support to current and former TANF families -- up to $2 billion more money for families every year. States and advocates alike support the new DRA distribution options. However, a cut in federal funding for child support enforcement also included in the DRA threatens state implementation of these new options. The third fact sheet in this series examines this issue. Download PDF
• Jan 29, 2008  |  Vicki Turetsky Child Support: Reversing Cuts Now Will Provide a Needed Boost to the Economy (1 of 4) Quick action is needed by Congress this year to reverse counter-stimulative federal cuts to state and child support programs included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Allowing these cuts to take effect will result in lay-offs of child support enforcement workers, and even worse, will cost families with children at least a billion dollars a year. In contrast, preventing the loss of federal funds will provide needed state relief, while ensuring that families do not lose support in an economic downturn. This is the first of four fact sheets on the subject. Download PDF
• Jan 29, 2008  |  Vicki Turetsky Child Support: Ripple Effects Throughout the Community (2 of 4) The child support program helps families become stronger and more self-sufficient. The program has other bridges into the community as well -- bridges that are at risk of collapse without adequate support. The impacts of the child support funding cut will ripple throughout the community, as illustrated in the second of four fact sheets on the subject. Download PDF
• Jan 09, 2008  |  Rachel Schumacher, Elizabeth Hoffmann, and Anne Goldstein (ZERO TO THREE) Policy Framework: Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care This policy framework sets forth four key principles that establish the foundation of supports that all babies and toddlers in child care need, as well as 15 recommendations that state child care licensing, subsidy, and quality enhancement policies should address. Download PDF
• Dec 20, 2007  |  Hannah Matthews Improving Access to Child Care and Early Education for Immigrant Families: A State Policy Checklist State policies can promote, or impede, access to high-quality child care and early education for immigrant families. CLASP has created a technical assistance tool for states that lists recommended policies that states can implement to address immigrant access to high-quality child care and early education programs. Policymakers will want to evaluate the current set of policies they have in place that support these recommended courses of action as well as to plan for future policy changes and improvements. Download PDF
• Dec 20, 2007  |  Danielle Ewen and Hannah Matthews Selected State and Local Policies to Support Immigrant and Limited English Proficient (LEP) Early Care and Education Providers. As the young child population is growing in diversity, the early childhood field is facing a shortage of bilingual and bicultural providers. One way to increase the supply of qualified, bilingual and culturally competent early care and education providers is to assist providers from immigrant communities to gain the skills to become licensed child care providers, as well as to provide supports to immigrant providers in order to retain them in the early childhood field and to encourage further professionalization and credentialing. CLASP has created a checklist of selected policies that support immigrant providers, particularly those with limited English proficiency. This tool offers strategies and examples for improving policies in the areas of language access, training and professional development. Download PDF
• Oct 09, 2007  |  Marcie Weadon-Moreno and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Analysis of Fiscal Year 2006 TANF and MOE Spending by States This Excel workbook shows how the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the nation as a whole spent the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants and state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funds in fiscal year 2006. Read Online   |   Download Spreadsheet
• May 03, 2007  |  Jan Justice State Policy Regarding Pass-Through and Disregard of Current Month's Child Support Collected for Families Receiving TANF-funded Cash Assistance This chart lists all 50 states and the District of Columbia's child support pass-through and income disregard policies. Download PDF
• Mar 19, 2007  |  Vicki Turetsky It Makes Sound Fiscal Sense to Restore Funding for Child Support Enforcement The goal of the child support enforcement program is to ensure that children receive financial and medical support from their parents. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 cut funds from the program, threatening to reverse the progress made in its effectiveness over the last 10 years. This fact sheet offers several reasons that Congress should restore funding. Download PDF
• Mar 08, 2007  |  Child Care and Early Education Arkansas: Framework for Infant and Toddler Care The Arkansas Framework for Infant and Toddler Care promotes high standards for programs and guidelines for early learning for infants and toddlers. This state example was originally written as part of Starting Off Right: Promoting Child Development from Birth in State Early Care and Education Initiatives and updated for the Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Mar 08, 2007  |  Child Care and Early Education Connecticut: Early Childhood Consultation Partnership The Early Childhood Consultation Partnership uses consultants to provide mental health and behavioral health consultations in child care centers for an individual child or to help improve the socio-emotional environment of the whole classroom. This state example was originally written as part of Starting Off Right: Promoting Child Development from Birth in State Early Care and Education Initiatives and updated for the Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Mar 08, 2007  |  Child Care and Early Education North Carolina: T.E.A.C.H. & WAGE$ The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Project and the Child Care WAGE$ Project use scholarship, bonus, and wage enhancement strategies to promote compensation and benefits, including for infant/toddler teachers. This state example was originally written as part of Starting Off Right: Promoting Child Development from Birth in State Early Care and Education Initiatives and updated for the Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Mar 08, 2007  |  Child Care and Early Education Wisconsin: Infant and Toddler Professional Credential The Wisconsin Infant Toddler Professional Credential promotes a strong workforce and supported caregivers for infants and toddlers. This state example was originally written as part of Starting Off Right: Promoting Child Development from Birth in State Early Care and Education Initiatives and updated for the Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project. Read Online
• Mar 02, 2007  |  Tiffany Conway and Rutledge Q. Hutson Is Kinship Care Good for Kids? More than 2.5 million children are being raised by grandparents and other relatives because their parents are unable--for a variety of reasons--to care for them. A number of states have utilized subsidized guardianship programs as a way of supporting these "kinship families." Some wonder whether kinship care is a good thing--and how we know this. This fact sheet addresses these often unasked but crucial questions. Download PDF
• Feb 27, 2007  |  CLASP and Policy Studies, Inc. Child Support Distribution Calculator This calculator was jointly prepared by Policy Studies Inc. (PSI) and CLASP, under a grant by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, to provide states and advocates with a tool to estimate the net cost or benefit to a state considering adoption of the child support pass-through and distribution options included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). The calculator compares the distribution of support under the DRA options to the distribution of support under the PRWORA status quo. Download Spreadsheet
• Feb 08, 2007  |  Jodie Levin-Epstein Here's a Tip: When Restaurant and Hotel Workers Don't Have Paid Sick Days, It Hurts Us All Restaurant and hotel workers are typically low-paid employees, and their employers rarely provide them with paid sick days. Instead, these workers are forced to make difficult choices when they or their family members are sick, including coming to work sick--which also presents a public health risk. This fact sheet details both the need for paid sick days for restaurant and hotel workers and some current efforts to ensure that workers have them. Download PDF
• Dec 12, 2006  |  Abbey Frank Increasing Opportunities: Creating and Expanding Transitional Jobs Programs for TANF Recipients Under the Deficit Reduction Act The passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) significantly changed the structure of the work requirements mandated in the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Faced with increased work participation rate requirements and stricter definitions of the allowable work activities, states are now facing difficult choices regarding their TANF programs. One program model that has been proven to improve employment outcomes is transitional jobs (TJ) programs. TJ programs have been used successfully to provide hard-to-employ TANF recipients with paid work experience. This policy paper outlines the ways in which states should report participation in transitional jobs programs under the interim final rule. On December 21, 2006, HHS issued new guidance to states regarding their work verification plans. This paper has been updated to reflect that guidance. Download PDF
• Nov 02, 2006  |  Hannah Matthews U.S. Child Care Assistance State Profile 2005 This fact sheet presents state reported information on child care spending through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds used for child care, and information on children and families participating in CCDBG. Download PDF
• Oct 05, 2006  |  Elizabeth Lower-Basch Two-Thirds of States Qualify for Extended Counting of TANF Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance Under TANF rules, job search and job readiness assistance may only be counted toward the work participation rate for 6 weeks in a fiscal year; however this limit is extended to 12 weeks in high unemployment states and those qualifying as "needy" under the Contingency Fund provisions of the law. This provision gives eligible states some flexibility in providing activities that address barriers to employment and that are only countable toward meeting TANF participation rates under the job search/job readiness work activity as defined in the interim final regulations. Download PDF
• Oct 01, 2006  |  Marcie Weadon-Moreno and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Analysis of Fiscal Year 2005 TANF and MOE Spending by States This Excel workbook shows how the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the nation as a whole spent the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants and state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funds in fiscal year 2005. Read Online   |   Download Spreadsheet
• Sep 12, 2006  |  Katie Hamm Head Start Participants, Programs, Families, and Staff in 2005 This fact sheet reviews the 2005 Program Information Report (PIR) data for all Head Start programs, including preschool, Early Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, and American Indian and Alaskan Native programs. Data show that while Head Start helped more families access social services in 2005, the number of children served decreased. In addition, Head Start teacher education levels continued to rise, while salaries remained stagnant. Download PDF
• Sep 01, 2006 State Fact Sheets on Child Welfare Funding 2006 These fact sheets, a joint project of CLASP and the Children's Defense Fund, are designed to help policymakers, advocates, and the public better understand the complex financing structure of child welfare services in their states, and to enable them to work effectively toward national and local reforms that will help ensure our nation's child welfare system protects children, accurately identifies and addresses their needs--including the needs of their families--and helps all children grow up in safe and loving families. Read Online
• Aug 25, 2006  |  Katie Hamm Early Head Start Participants, Programs, Families, and Staff in 2005 This fact sheet reviews the 2005 Program Information Reports (PIR) data for the Early Head Start program, which serves children under age 3 and pregnant women. In 2005, Early Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families, most of which included at least one working parent. Most children received medical, dental, and disability screenings and follow-up services when necessary. Families also accessed services at high rates; 80 percent of families accessed at least one social service. However, just 2.5 percent of eligible children receive Early Head Start services. Download PDF
• Aug 17, 2006  |  Evelyn Ganzglass Ten Years after Welfare Reform, It's Time to Make Work Work for Families On the 10th anniversary of passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, CLASP calls for the implementation of a more holistic set of strategies that truly expand opportunities for low-income families to move into the middle class and achieve the American dream. Download PDF
• Jul 10, 2006  |  Jodie Levin-Epstein Get the Prescription: Child Care Workers Need Paid Sick Days This handy fact sheet lays out the importance of paid sick days to child care workers. In Congress, states, and cities, initiatives are arising to establish paid sick days laws so that workers who are sick or need to care for a family member do not lose a job or wages if they take some days off. About half of workers in the U.S. are without paid sick days. For child care workers, the lack of paid sick days is particularly problematic. Child care workers have a double whammy reason to support paid sick days: these workers need it not only for themselves but also for the parents of the children in their care; otherwise, parents with sick children who face losing a day's wages may try to leave a sick child with the child care worker, despite any rules that say otherwise. Download PDF
• May 08, 2006  |  Amy-Ellen Duke and Julie Strawn New Student Aid Changes Help Nontraditional Students Although Congress has yet to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, the fiscal year 2006 federal budget--enacted in February 2006--included several higher education provisions that will provide additional financial aid to low-income working adults and other non-traditional students. This fact sheet examines those provisions and what they likely mean for low-income families and students. Download PDF
• Feb 07, 2006  |  Hannah Matthews and Danielle Ewen Understanding Early Care and Education Participation Among Immigrant Families: A Brief Children born to immigrant parents often face multiple risk factors that make their participation in quality early education programs particularly beneficial--yet these children appear less likely to participate in such programs. This two-page brief summarizes the 26-page paper, Reaching All Children? Understanding Early Care and Education Participation Among Immigrant Families, part of CLASP's Breaking Down Barriers project intended to better understand and remedy the barriers immigrant families face to accessing high-quality early education programs. Download PDF
• Jan 26, 2006  |  Vicki Turetsky and Joan Entmacher (NWLC) Cuts to Child Support Enforcement in the Budget: A Fact Sheet In February, Congress is expected to vote on the FY 2006 budget agreement. The current version would cut federal child support funds by more than 20 percent--resulting in at least $8.4 billion in child support going uncollected over the next 10 years. This fact sheet offers a clear overview of the impact of the cuts on the child support enforcement program, states, and the families who benefit. Download PDF
• Jul 28, 2005  |  Vicki Turetsky The Child Support Program: An Investment That Works This four-page paper provides data to explain how child support helps children and increases self-sufficiency. It also briefly discusses the federal program's performance and its funding. The paper was revised in July 2005 to include 2004 data. Pub No. 05-23. 4 pages. (See also the October 2005 update.) Download PDF
• Jun 30, 2005  |  Elisa Minoff Analysis of Fiscal Year 2004 TANF and MOE Spending by States This Excel workbook shows how the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the nation as a whole spent the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants and state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funds in fiscal year 2004. Read Online   |   Download Spreadsheet
• Feb 28, 2005  |  Jodie Levin-Epstein Presenteeism and Paid Sick Days Employers who do not provide paid sick days may feel it is too expensive to pay for workers who do not come to work. However, new research suggests that when workers are sick on the job, their presence comes at a cost to employers--the \"hidden\" cost of reduced productivity. This four-page paper defines \"presenteeism\" and discusses what can and is being done about it. Download PDF
• Mar 01, 2003  |  CLASP and the Transitional Jobs Network Transitional Jobs Programs Work This fact sheet describes employment and earnings outcomes from four transitional jobs programs serving rural and urban areas, as well as welfare recipients, ex-offenders, and non-custodial fathers. Download PDF
• Mar 01, 2003  |  CLASP and the Transitional Jobs Network Transitional Jobs: Real Jobs, Real Wages, Real Success Transitional jobs programs provide a paycheck to welfare recipients who need the most assistance leaving welfare for work, as well as for others having difficulty succeeding in the workplace. This fact sheet describes the TJ model. Download PDF