PCA America Announces Federal Policy Priorities
August 25, 2024
All children and families deserve to live a purposeful and happy life with hope for the future. A child’s early experiences impact them throughout life – both positively and negatively. When families face an overload of stress, it can hamper their ability to provide the supportive relationships and environments children need to prosper. When families have what they need, when they need it, without stigma, children can thrive.
Priorities Supporting Children and Families
Investments in Primary Prevention
- Prevention is possible. Programs and policies supporting families before they are in crisis can equip parents with the tools they need to give their kids a safe and healthy environment. Funding federal programmatic efforts such as Community Based Child Abuse Prevention grants and Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences allows states and communities to implement efforts tailored to the needs of their families.
Comprehensive Family Supports
- The ability to access services and systems is critical to the health of families and children. Through available systems of prevention, we can create and build environments that strengthen families and open opportunities – elements that prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs. Programs such as early childhood home visiting and family resource centers serve as gateways for families to access important supports, stabilize crises, and promote positive physical, mental, and behavioral health.
Economic Stability and Mobility
- Policies strengthening family financial security help create the conditions for all children, families and communities to thrive. Economic security gives families hope. Policies such as childcare subsidies, paid family leave, and the child tax credit reduce the stressors of poverty that can overload families, promote safe and nurturing family environments, and ultimately build more prosperous communities.