WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report released today by First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, calls for an end to the antiquated and often fragmented approach to federal policies affecting children traditionally taken by lawmakers, and instead calls for a comprehensive approach to addressing such issues. The report, titled Putting Children Front and Center: Building Coherent Social Policy for America’s Children, outlines the shortcomings of the current model of constructing effective policies for children, and recommends a new, all-inclusive approach that commits to children across developmental periods that transcends institutional boundaries, defining progress on an individual rather than a group level.
“Now more than ever, this new research is important. As we head into an historic election at the end of this year, we see children faring worse than ever before at the federal level, and people are looking for answers” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “Undoubtedly, it is time to reevaluate the current federal approach to children’s policies, and ensure that we are providing them with a long-term commitment, which acknowledges the depths of each child’s individual needs. This report is an outstanding document that will hopefully guide the development of coherent children’s policies now and in the years to come.”
Traditionally, children’s policies have addressed a single need, in one context and at one developmental stage. This fragmented approach limits their effectiveness, as they ignore the reality that children grow in a variety of settings that change over time. The new approach outlined in this report urges that policies be aligned to acknowledge how a child’s various needs and contexts interact with each other, how they shape a child’s future experiences, and how they change as the child grows.
The report also explains that in order to improve the well-being of children and increase their odds of becoming productive adults, a steady stream of investments must be made throughout their childhood. Furthermore, the report states that these investments cannot be haphazard, or occur in silos. If they do, too many young people will fall through the cracks.
Jonathan Zaff, Ph.D of First Focus joined Becky Smerdon, Ph.D of the Academy for Educational Development in authoring this report.
Click here to find the full report, as well as a policy brief.