Policy Resource
2019 State Budget Wins for Babies
Thanks to dedicated advocates and policymakers, babies and their families around the country will benefit from state budget boosts in the upcoming year.

These new funds will improve services and support via home visiting, early intervention, early learning programs, and prenatal care. In addition to many other wins that benefit young children this year, here are a few of the baby-focused increases that we are celebrating at ZERO TO THREE.
Arizona added $1 million for telemedicine and sonogram equipment to help rural hospitals that lack adequate access to prenatal providers to provide care to expectant mothers.
Illinois legislators increased state dollars for Part C early intervention by $12 million, expanding access for children exposed to lead and increasing provider reimbursement rates for the first time in over a decade.
Ohio included a $30 million increase in investments over the biennium for the Help Me Grow home visiting program, bringing the total biennial investment to $70 million and supporting the Governor’s goal of tripling the number of families served by the program. Ohio legislators also invested nearly $25 million additional state funds over the biennium in Part C early intervention.
Pennsylvania legislators added a $5 million investment in evidence-based home visiting programs to serve more eligible families.
Texas legislators approved an additional $5 million over the biennium to boost support for home visiting and related prevention programs, as well as an additional $31 million in state funds to support the Part C early intervention program for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
Washington D.C. Council set aside almost $15 million from the District’s budget to begin paying for Birth-to-Three For All D.C.
Congratulations to these policymakers and advocates for continuing to Think Babies™!
Read more about:
You might also be interested in
-
Article
Communities Commit to Young Children
In the absence of sufficient federal or statewide funding, communities across the nation have begun to develop their own solutions to longstanding early care and learning challenges. Here are two rec…
-
Video
Building Strong Foundations for Families Project: Impacts and Lessons Learned
Building Strong Foundations for Families (BSFF), a state technical assistance project conducted from 2020 - 2022, was designed to assist selected states in building and strengthening comprehensive po…
Explore More Arizona Focused Resources & Initiatives
-
Article
Virtual and In-Person – 2020 State Strolling Thunder Events Rolled and Rumbled Across the Country
This year, ZERO TO THREE Think Babies partners in states kept the needs of babies in front of policymakers in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Article
First Things First was created in 2006, when voters passed a ballot initiative setting aside 80 cents from each pack of cigarettes sold in order to fund the expansion of health and education programs…
-
Article
Quality First, Arizona's Quality Rating and Improvement System
In June 2011, Arizona rolled out its quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), Quality First, as part of its commitment to an interconnected early learning system.
-
Article
-
Article
Learn about First Things First, a program created in 2006 when voters passed a ballot initiative setting aside 80 cents from each pack of cigarettes sold in order to fund the expansion of health and …