June Newsletter

Federal Funding Streams for Children and Youth

Children and youth ages 0-24 make up 34% of the U.S. population, but only about 3% of all 2022 federal spending targeted that age group. As we look across federal agencies, what do we currently know about where our government prioritizes spending for children and youth? Our new federal funding database has the answers.

The new tool catalogs the purposes and key characteristics of more than 280 federal funding programs that support initiatives from the prenatal stage through young adulthood. This tool can help communities identify additional funding streams for which their states, tribes, or localities might be eligible.

To learn more about the database, see our fact sheet and introductory webinar.

Explore the Database

What's New

Spring 2023 Ballot Measure Round Up

Recent ballot measure wins from the first half of 2023 will generate more than $30 million annually in dedicated funding for kids, financing child care, early education, youth mental health, and more! Our new blog post breaks down these recent wins in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington.

New Funding Approach a Key Component of Boston Universal Pre-K Expansion of Quality Care

We partnered with Boston Public Schools Department of Early Childhood to create a cost model for universal pre-K in the city’s child care centers. In the process, we developed a new hybrid funding model the city will use to serve all 3- and 4-year-olds. Our new blog post offers lessons for communities looking to create their own cost model.

Strategic Public Financing Coordinator Job Opportunity

Our partners at the Children’s Opportunity Alliance are seeking a strategic public financing coordinator to align and strengthen the investments supporting their goals for young children in Montgomery County, MD. We believe a strategic public financing coordinator is one of the most important roles a community can have to help kids, as we demonstrate in a recent blog post.

Apply Here

In Case You Missed It

Spreading the Word About Funding Our Kids

Our staff recently spoke at several national events about the importance of funding programs and services for kids. CEO Elizabeth Gaines appeared at the EdRedesign Lab By All Means convening, while Amelia Vaughn and Courtney Moore, two of our strategic public financing experts, spoke at Start Early’s Community of Practice.

Our Team

Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Video

Voter-approved children’s funds work, and we want everyone from civic leaders to families to understand how these funds benefit their communities. Our new video gives the 101 on voter-approved children’s funds and highlights the importance of funding kids’ programs and services.

Watch Here

Spotlight on Out-of-School Time

For millions of kids, June means one thing: school’s out! But programs for children and youth don’t end with the close of the school year. Countless young people take part in summer programs from camps, to work experiences, leadership opportunities, and more. Summer programs are not only a great time to expand horizons and learning outside of school but they also are hugely popular. Recent polling from Afterschool Alliance shows that 8 out of 10 voters believe summer and after-school programs are an absolute necessity for their communities.

Our most recent poll shows similar results, emphasizing the need for communities and their local leaders to fund these programs. They can do so through many different means, including dedicated sources of funding approved through a ballot initiative and community-school partnerships that prioritize holistic child well-being, including mental health.

June Newsletter

What's New

In Case You Missed It

Follow Us