The Administration for Children and Families currently funds the Early Head Start program, which is aimed at enhancing the development of infants and toddlers while strengthening families. This report includes research from the Survey of Early Head Start Programs to gain information for program improvement in Early Head Start. The results from this study include demographics of the Early Head Start program participants and information on how these programs are implemented in sites around the country.

Through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), this case study reviews Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) enrollment trends in Michigan from 1999 to 2003. Additionally, it looks at the activities in Michigan under the Covering Kids and Families (CKF) project through RWJF, and enrollments associated with the CKF grant, as well as State and local policy changes during that time.

The Urban Institute authored this report on findings from the Opportunity and Ownership Project. Information in this report is provided on housing reforms necessary to support low-income families. Researchers argue that shifting public funds from programs that subsidize rental housing projects to a revised voucher program would increase homeownership among low-income households.

This toolkit on the Earned Income Tax Credit was developed by the Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute) at the National League of Cities in 2004, and has since been updated with the latest information on the EITC. The toolkit includes information to help support municipal leaders in maximizing the potential of the EITC in their localities. Specifically based on research and best practices, NLC’s YEF Institute provides ideas for action, examples from cities, advice for local elected officials, and timelines and materials for EITC campaign activities, as well as other issues relating to youth, education and families.

Nancy Cauthen, Ph.D., Deputy Director, National Center for Children in Poverty, testified before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, House Committee on Ways and Means. Her remarks are included in this testimony speaks of the importance of measuring poverty in a way to best identify who needs assistance and what kinds of assistance. Additionally, in order to address poverty in the United States, income poverty as well as material hardship must be addressed.

Child Trends authored this research brief on food insecurity, which persists in many households across the United States with young children. While food insecurity can cause a number of negative outcomes, overweight is one of the negative consequences for children that experience food insecurity. Utilizing data from the 9-month and 24-month waves of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), authors examine the indirect links through which food insecurity may affect overweight for infants and toddlers.

From the Finance Project, this strategy brief gives information on the use of TANF funds to finance out-of-school programs to improve outcomes for children. Authors provide information on three strategies for out-of-school initiatives for children and innovative programs from states across the country.

This report from the Urban Institute offers an update on affordable rental housing in Louisiana after the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. It was estimated that 36 percent of homeowner stock and 56 percent of rental stock was damaged or destroyed. Authors offer information on rental housing policy and promising practices for addressing the challenges facing low-income renters returning to their communities.

Early care and education has become a reality for many young children with an increasing number of working parents in the United States. The early years for children are extremely important for future development and prove the need for high-quality early care and education for low-income families. This resource, from the Urban Institute, found that more than half of children younger than the age of six in low-income families are enrolled in early care and education programs.

From the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, this research brief uses data from a 2005 study to examine health coverage, access and the financial impacts of health care for low-income parents and their families. It was found that low-income uninsured parents are mostly without access to health coverage and are much more likely to have uninsured children than those with insurance. In fact, four in ten low-income parents are without access to health coverage and are much more likely to have uninsured children than those with insurance.