Support for Working Families with Young Children
A report from the Convergence Collaborative on Supports for Working Families suggests bold moves that people across the political spectrum can agree on to help families with young children, including providing cash benefits, improving access to high-quality child care, and guaranteeing paid parental leave. The report emphasizes the importance of bipartisan efforts to support families and children.
Key Points
- Cash benefits for children, prioritizing families with young children
- Increased funding and flexibility for the Child Care and Development Block Grant
- Federal policy guaranteeing at least 12 weeks of paid parental leave for newborns
- Importance of intergenerational equity in federal spending
Pros
- Providing cash benefits to low- to moderate-income families can have significant benefits for children and society
- Improving access to high-quality child care can positively impact children's development and parental well-being
- Guaranteeing paid parental leave can lead to better health outcomes for children and parents, as well as increased workforce participation
Cons
- Disagreements exist on finer points such as incentivizing parents to work and funding sources for family support programs
- Challenges in reaching all eligible families with existing programs like the Child Care and Development Block Grant