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

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

    Guest post by Janice Russell with Parenting Disasters. Image via Unsplash.     All parents want the best for their kids. This includes wanting your child to know how to make good choices. One day your children will no longer live at home; when that day comes, you do not want to worry about whether they are making smart decisions for their mental and physical wellbeing. Here are three ways you as a parent can encourage your kids read more…

  Head Start is our country’s most successful early learning program. It has been the most important social and educational investment in children, families, and communities the United States has ever undertaken. But now, Republicans in Congress are considering hurting families by cutting funding for Head Start by $750 million—depriving roughly 80,000 children access to this critical program. Moms Rising     Head Start was launched in 1965 as a comprehensive child development program. Over the last 60 years, Head read more…

  In 2015, Ethan Song was only 15 years old when he was unintentionally shot and killed with an unsecured gun in his best friend’s house. Tragically, Ethan is not alone. Every day, eight children and teens are unintentionally injured or killed due to family fire, which refers to a shooting caused by someone having access to a gun from the home when they shouldn’t have it. This includes children as well as those who display behavior that indicates they read more…

  “Evidence proves background checks are highly effective. States that require background checks on all handgun sales suffer less than half as many mass shooting incidents as those without the requirement, as well as 35 percent fewer gun deaths per capita. Among the 21 states and the District of Columbia that have built upon and expanded background checks, 53 percent fewer law enforcement officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty, and 47 percent fewer women have read more…

  “Data shows that a federal ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines is highly effective in saving lives in mass shootings. When a federal ban was in effect from 1994-2004, America saw a 37% decline in gun massacres and a 70% decline in assault weapons traced to crime. That means countless lives saved from preventable tragedies. But after Congress let the ban expire in 2004, mass shooting deaths increased by 347%.” – Brady United     Some of the read more…

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

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

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