A child’s earliest experiences will either drive future success or create barriers that last a lifetime. When we invest in high quality child care, the return is healthy families, strong businesses, and a thriving economy. Child care is essential infrastructure, just like roads, bridges, and public education. But New Jersey’s childcare systems are failing. The state’s investment in this critical service is shockingly low and we all pay the price – families are losing income, businesses are losing productivity, and the state is losing tax revenue. New Jersey must invest in child care, because our state simply can’t work without it.

The First 1,000 Days Policy Coalition is a group of advocates, researchers, educators, and other community leaders working together to make safe, nurturing, and consistent child care accessible for all New Jersey families by identifying and advancing research-informed policy solutions. We know that the time from pregnancy through age 2 — the first 1,000 days — is the most crucial period of development and that the best investment New Jersey can make is in its youngest residents.

View our Policy Agenda here.