What’s in the FY2018 Budget for Babies?

and services that impact infants, toddlers, and their families, and compare the final amounts with the President’s proposal and the previous year’s actual levels. The analysis uses the perspective of the supports infants and toddlers need to succeed – good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences. Today’s young children are the key to the long-term security and global competitiveness of our country. How we support their development now will determine the strength of our nation in the future.

ZERO TO THREE tracks 70 programs and subprograms in areas that include early care and learning, health and mental health, child welfare, and justice programs. A number of programs that are not aimed solely at children are included on the assumption that children do benefit from broader health or basic needs programs and that their parents’ wellbeing is also important to their own. This analysis does not include tax policies, such as the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit, that also benefit children and account for almost 40 percent of total expenditures on children birth to age 18.

To learn more about the federal budget process, see The Federal Budget Process At-A-Glance.

For ideas on how to get involved, see Babies and the Budget: Opportunities for Action.

Health and Human Services Programs

Early Care and Learning Programs

Funding Levels in Millions of Dollars

Child Welfare Programs

Funding Levels in Millions of Dollars

Health and Mental Health Services

Funding Levels in Millions of Dollars

Family Support Programs

Funding Levels in Millions of Dollars

Education Programs

Funding Levels in Millions of Dollars

Nutrition Programs

Funding Levels in Millions of Dollars

Justice Programs

Funding Levels in Millions of Dollars

Labor Programs

Funding Levels in Millions of Dollars

References

^{1. The infant-toddler quality improvement funds formerly were a set-aside within the overall CCDBG appropriation. Starting in FY2017, states were required to set aside 3% of all CCDF funds for improving infant-toddler care. Amounts from FY 2017 on are estimated amount based on new statutory set-aside.}

^{2. The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), which reauthorized the Elementary-Secondary Education Act, created a successor program to the old Preschool Development Grants, also called Preschool Development Grants, moving primary administration to HHS with joint administration by the Department of Education.}

^{3. Numbers used are Annual Appropriations Amount from the Congressional Budget Justification.}

^{4. The funding levels for CHIP in the table represent outlays during the fiscal year. The state allotments, or the budget resources allocated to states on an annual basis, are as follows: $16.5 billion in FY 2015, $14.6 billion in FY 2016, and $20.4 billion in FY 2017. The amounts for 2015 and 2016 reflect rescissions of about $4.5 billion in those years.}

^{5. Mandatory funding for the Community Health Centers was included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and extended through 2017 in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-10), commonly known as the “Doc Fix”.}

^{6. Total TANF funding includes State Family Assistance Grants, Family Assistance Grants and Matching Grants for Territories, Health Marriage/Responsible Fatherhood Grants, Tribal Work Programs, Contingency Fund.}

^{7. The amounts for FY 2015 and FY 2016 do not reflect the application of the sequester.}

^{8. Ibid.}

^{9. President Obama’s Preschool for All proposal would have provided $75 billion over 10 years to fund preK for all 4 year-olds with family income at or below 200% of poverty. This proposal was not enacted.}

^{10. ESSA codifies a federal literacy program similar to that funded through appropriations under Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program for the past few years. It will continue to set aside 15% of funds for children from birth through age 5.}

^{11. New program authorized in ESSA, continuing funding that had been under the Investing in Innovations initiative.}

^{12. Large increase in President’s budget to test private school choice.}

^{13. Appropriations bills combined into a Consolidated Youth-Oriented Program}

^{14. President’s proposal would fund 6 weeks of paid leave, financed through Unemployment Insurance program.}