Advocacy

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 RoadmapSee 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.

2022-2023 Academic Year

UCI Advocacy & Systems-Building Relationships

Reports on Child and Community Well-Being