Advocating for policies that make an impact.

Through broad community partnerships and multi-sector relationships, The Urban Child Institute raises awareness of the needs of babies and young children and their families in Shelby County. We also directly advocate for policies and best practices designed to effectively address those needs.

UCI’s advocacy efforts are aligned with Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center and Tennesseeans for Quality Early Education.

Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center

Policy Priorities

Expanded Income Eligibility for Health Insurance (to 135% FPL)
Paid Family Leave (at least 6 weeks)
State Minimum Wage ($10 or greater)
State Earned Income Tax Credit (at least 10%)

Core Strategies

Child Care Subsidies
Community-Based Doulas
Comprehensive Screening and Connection Programs
Group Prenatal Care
Early Head Start
Early Intervention Services
Evidence-Based Home Visiting Programs
Reduced Administrative Burden for SNAP

See the State Policy Roadmap See Tennessee’s 2023 Roadmap Summary

Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE)

Policy Priorities

Build a robust early care and education (ECE) workforce
Invest in child care quality
Make quality child care affordable for more working families
Establish incentives for employers to co-invest in child care for their employees
Strengthen the child care business model through shared services
Make high-quality Pre-K an option for more Tennessee families, and develop a mixed delivery system to optimize parent choice
Strengthen academic supports for children in the early grades
Leverage modern technology and real-time data for a better consumer experience and informed decision-making for parents, providers and policymakers

Core Strategies

High Quality Birth-Through-Age-Eight Learning Environments
Physical and Mental Health and Development on Track from Birth
Supported and Supportive Families and Communities

See the TQEE Policy Blueprint

Advocating for Equity

It is important to acknowledge and address the significant economic and racial disparities in education outcomes for young children. These gaps perpetuate ongoing disparities in health, education, and well-being across Shelby County, which has some of the highest and lowest 3rd Grade literacy proficiency rates for public school students in the state of Tennessee.

Advocacy

UCI’s advocacy efforts are aligned with Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center and Tennesseeans for Quality Early Education.

Advocating for Equity

2022-2023 Academic Year

UCI Advocacy & Systems-Building Relationships

Reports on Child and Community Well-Being