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Did you know that early childhood supports are crucial for a child’s success?

Posted on February 14, 2024

Alena Siddiqui Data Analyst

By Alena Siddiqui
Data Analyst

For more information on this topic or kids count data, contact Alena at asiddiqui@acnj.org

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In continuation of the 2024 Race for Results series, this week’s blog post focuses on Early Childhood. An emphasis on a child’s early years is essential to their well-being and their future. As advocates, decision makers, and concerned community members, it is crucial to understand data concerning young ones and how to best address any concerns so that all children have a strong foundation. 

For early childhood, the two indicators that The Annie E. Casey Foundation highlights are the percentage of babies born at a normal birthweight and the percentage of children enrolled in an early childhood program. Focusing first on the percentage of babies born at normal birthweight, this accounted for 92% of babies born in New Jersey in 2021 (Table 1). In comparison with 2016, the percentage of babies born at normal birthweight in New Jersey has not really seen any change even when broken down by race or ethnicity. The report cited that babies born at low birthweights (less than 5.5 pounds) may be at more risk of developing particular health problems than babies born at normal birthweights.

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Based on data collected during 2017 to 2021, 70% of New Jersey’s children ages 3 to 5 were enrolled in nursery school, preschool, or kindergarten compared to 58% nationwide. The Annie E. Casey Foundation notes that early childhood education helps to give children a steady foundation for developing skills and learning. Comparing data from 10 years ago to now, this number was previously 73% (Table 2). Non-hispanic Black or African American children decreased from 77% to 71%, non-Hispanic White children decreased from 76% to 73%, and children of two or more races decreased from 73% to 68% in the past 10 years.

A possible explanation for this decrease is that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents chose not to enroll their children in the early childhood programs due to safety concerns, while others chose not due to costs. However, New Jersey has been making progress with more children attending state-funded, full-day preschool. As a result, more families have the opportunity to enroll their kids if they choose to do so.

The 2024 Race for Results report has many other interesting indicators with regard to the well-being of our children. You can learn more about the report and access it here.

ACNJ Joins Child Care Site Visit, Hosted by Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill

Posted on February 10, 2024

ACNJ staff members (Shaday Bennett and Winifred Smith-Jenkins) attended a site visit to the Clinton Hill Early Learning Center in Newark, hosted by Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (CD- 11) where federal, state, and local officials along with advocates came together to highlight the importance of child care. Joined by two local state lawmakers – Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, the press conference drew attention to the significance of the child tax credit and the importance of bolstering our child care system (infrastructure, access, quality).

The House (federal) recently passed a package of tax bills that includes a measure which will expand the federal child tax credit. If signed into law, the credit limit will increase to $1,800 for the 2023 tax year (retroactively), $1,900 for 2024, and $2,000 for 2025 – up from the current $1,600 limit.

The Child Care Stabilization Act (also federal) is a measure sponsored by the Congresswoman to extend federal grants to child care providers as the previously funded Child Care Stabilization Grant Program expired in September. I believe the measure would extend funds for an additional year. Also believe the bill has only been introduced with no further action.

Did you know nearly half of U.S. parents struggle with diaper need?

Posted on February 8, 2024

olivia headshot 2

By Olivia Carrara Leontine Young Fellow

For more information on this topic, contact Olivia at ocarrara@acnj.org

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Diaper need is defined as parents’ and caregivers’ inability to provide a sufficient supply of diapers to keep their babies clean, dry, and healthy. According to the National Diaper Bank Network, 47% of U.S. parents reported diaper need in 2023.

On average, infants need their diapers changed 10 to 12 times a day, adding up to around $80 a month per child, for an average of three years. This cost continues to rise as diaper prices have increased upwards of 22% since 2018. As a result of these high costs, 48% of parents reported that they delayed diaper change due to insufficient supply. This delay increases the risk of health complications like rashes and urinary tract infections in children.

47%
of families reported
diaper need
in 2023

On average,
a child uses
50
diapers per week
for 3 years

48%
of parents delay
diaper change due
to insufficient
supply

For families, diaper need often leads to financial struggles, decreased work attendance, increased stress, and mental health impacts. Many U.S. parents struggling with diaper need report cutting back other expenditures, like food and utilities, to afford diapers. Additionally, many NJ child care programs require parents to provide diapers, thus limiting child care access for families unable to provide them. 25% of parents with diaper need reported missing about five days of work or school per month as a result of being unable to provide the required diaper supply needed to drop their child off at child care.

The National Diaper Bank Network works to address diaper need across the country and helps coordinate a network of diaper banks in each state. New Jersey has a total of nine diaper banks associated with the national network. These nine banks serve approximately 10,024 infants and toddlers a month, and distribute about 6,014,543 diapers a year.

As a result of this growing need, state and federal legislators have begun proposing legislation to support families and increase access to diapers and diapering supplies. Here are a few pieces of legislation currently being discussed:

  • The End Diaper Need Act of 2023 (H.R. 5644/S. 2879)- Introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro in the House of Representatives, and Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senator Kevin Cramer in the Senate, the End Diaper Need Act of 2023 hopes to use federal funding to eliminate diaper need. Passage of the bill would authorize the use of $200 million annually from 2024 to 2027 to provide diapers and diapering supplies to families throughout the U.S. The bill would also expand the use of Medicaid by providing families with medically complex children 200 diapers a month, and permitting the purchase of diapers using Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). The bill was introduced in September of 2023 and has yet to be voted on.
  • Improving Diaper Affordability Act (H.R. 3352)- Introduced by Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rosa DeLauro, and Barbara Lee, this legislation would prohibit state and local taxation of diapers, while also making the purchase of diapers using HRAs reimbursable. The bill was introduced in May of 2023 and has yet to be voted on.
  • New Jersey Legislature Bill (A2027 previously A5662/S3035)- This bill, introduced in the NJ State Legislature, intends to establish a Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) diaper benefit program. WFNJ is New Jersey’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program which provides families with cash assistance and other supports. If passed, this proposal would provide WFNJ participants with a diaper benefit equal to $30 a month per dependent under 36 months of age, thus decreasing the monthly cost of diapers by 37.5%. This bill was passed by the Senate on June 26, 2023, but was not passed prior to the end of the 2023 session. The bill was reintroduced on January 9, 2024.

Diaper need is an issue that deserves greater awareness and support. It is crucial that state and federal policies recognize this need and individuals advocate for diaper access. Currently, diaper banks in New Jersey rely solely on individual contributions and donations. Without these donations, diaper banks would all shut down within weeks as their supply would run out. For this reason, donating funds or diapers to local diaper banks directly helps serve families in need. Individuals can support this cause by reaching out to their legislators, volunteering at a local diaper bank, holding a diaper drive, or simply starting the conversation about diaper need.

Last year, ACNJ held a Lunch and Learn webinar on diaper need in New Jersey in partnership with the Central Jersey Diaper Bank. The webinar can be viewed here.

ACNJ Meets with Members of Congress as Part of the National Home Visiting Summit

Posted on February 3, 2024

The ACNJ team (policy analyst Diane Dellanno and policy associate Hannah Korn-Heilner)  along with staff from the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative and ACNJ parent leadership council members hit up Capitol Hill for visits with New Jersey's members of Congress as part of the National Home Visiting Summit to bring attention to the importance of home visiting and other critical programs for children and young families.

Ensuring the Continuum of Care for Children Aged 0 – 5 years

Posted on February 2, 2024

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We believe every child should have access to high-quality early care and education.

ACNJ was involved in the New Jersey Supreme Court education funding case, Abbott v. Burke, which mandated that 31 school districts with high concentrations of low-income students were required to provide high-quality preschool. Districts met this requirement by collaborating with local child care and Head Start programs. These quality standards included small class sizes, the implementation of a research-based curriculum and teachers with bachelor’s degrees and specialized training in early childhood education. In addition to ensuring that more young children enter kindergarten ready to learn, providers collaborating with the district receive a steady source of revenue, which helps sustain their other child care programs (such as care for infants/toddlers and before- and after-school care) and promotes stronger economic development.

Child care is critically important, not just so that parents can go to work, but for providing young children with educational and social/emotional experiences that are so important to them as they grow.

As the number of 3- and 4-year-olds attending full-day public preschool continues to grow in New Jersey, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) has been involved at every step, from helping parents and community members bring preK expansion to their districts to encouraging school officials to collaborate with local child care and Head Start programs, to supporting child care providers in their efforts to partner with the district. See toolkit.

ACNJ has strongly advocated for state-funded preschool to be implemented through a “mixed delivery” model of public preschool, Head Start and child care programs.  We believe that it is the only way that the maximum number of 3- and 4-year-olds can benefit from this high-quality program. We created a toolkit to help child care providers begin the conversation with eligible school districts to serve children in their community as an extension of the district's preschool program. Last year, ACNJ and its partners also successfully advocated for a clause to be included in the state budget, requiring all eligible districts applying for the funds to show that they were reaching out to child care and Head Start programs in order to identify potential collaborations.

Through our advocacy efforts to address the child care crisis in our state, we have become acutely aware of the unintended consequences that preschool expansion is having on local providers and ultimately on the infants and toddlers that need care in their communities. We’ve heard stories of eligible school districts unwilling to work with providers as well as programs having difficulty meeting the licensing requirements. That is precisely why we’re exploring all avenues to ensure the care continuum for children aged 0 - 5 years is not only maintained but strengthened. The care and education of our youngest members in their local communities are vital to the health and well-being of families across New Jersey, impacting our community and the economy.

We know that tackling the issues within a struggling system is tough, but our determination is unwavering. We’re on the front lines, advocating for the necessary changes to keep our system afloat and thriving. Your support and voice in this cause are incredibly valuable to us as we push forward with our mission. Our Director of Early Learning for Policy and Advocacy, Winifred Smith-Jenkins, would love to connect with local child care providers to learn more about the concerns regarding the impact of preschool expansion. Winifred can be reached at wsmith-jenkins@acnj.org.