Publications

Connecticut Voices for Children released a new publication, “The Employment Situation in Connecticut – December 2022.” This publication is part of a series of short, monthly briefs that provide a snapshot of Connecticut employment. Using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, we are providing an overview of employment status in the U.S. and Connecticut by major demographic group, which no other organization in Connecticut currently provides on a monthly basis. We are also providing an overview of the change in total nonfarm employment in the U.S. and Connecticut as well as the change in nonfarm employment by major sector in Connecticut.

Connecticut Voices for Children released a new report, “2022 State of Working Connecticut.” The report provides a detailed overview of Connecticut’s labor market and provides several recommendations to address issues with Connecticut’s employment situation and its wage growth, inequality, and gaps.

Connecticut Voices for Children released a new report, “The State of Early Childhood: Equity of Access for Immigrant and Refugee Families.” Early Care and Education (ECE) is a critical service for children and families, with documented short- and long-term benefits beyond school readiness or achievement. In Connecticut in 2019, approximately one in 3.6 children was part of an immigrant family. The report, which examines the experiences of immigrant and refugee families in accessing early child care, outlines 12 policy recommendations to extend and expand access, increase funding, and reduce barriers to early care for both immigrant and refugee families.

Connecticut Voices for Children released a new report, “The 2022 Candidate Briefing Book.” Designed to provide a snapshot of helpful research and data for Connecticut residents and candidates running for political office this election cycle, this document lays the foundation for what we’re calling the Connecticut Families Plan, which we first mentioned in January of 2022. Due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our health and economy these past two-plus years, this “Book” should be viewed in tandem with our Issue Briefing Book 2020-2022, which was published in July of 2020.

Connecticut Voices for Children released a report, “Protecting or Pushing Out: The Prevalence and Impact of School Resource Officers in Connecticut,” which finds evidence that SROs increased exclusionary discipline for students of color, and failed to find evidence that SROs make schools safer. The report is particularly significant in that it helps grow the limited literature on the impact of SROs in Connecticut. To support the state create safer and more equitable schools for Connecticut’s children the report outlines eight recommendations.

Connecticut Voices for Children released a report, “Reimagining Connecticut’s Special Education Systems for a Post-Pandemic Future,” which examines Connecticut’s special education systems and discovered Connecticut’s methods of funding and delivering special education services are insufficient, ineffective, and inequitable. Additionally, the report explores the loss of learning experienced by special education students due to the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines policies that will help build a more adequate, effective, and equitable education system.

The Connecticut General Assembly passed an historic budget and accompanying policies this legislative session.  While we are disappointed that fair revenue measures to correct our regressive tax system were not passed, we celebrate the increase of the state EITC to 30.5%, inclusive state CTC language should Congress not enact a permanent expansion, and a plethora of policies that advance economic justice.  As is our custom, we’ve laid out our take in our “2021 Legislative Session in Review.“

Connecticut Voices for Children released a report, “The State of Early Childhood During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which offers a total of six short-term and seven long-term recommendations Connecticut can use to reimagine the child care industry as an essential public service and infrastructure in order to address the longstanding barriers to the sector—exacerbated by the pandemic—and that get us closer to universal access to high-quality child care. Our video Just Facts can be found HERE.

Connecticut Voices for Children released a report, “More Than a Health Crisis: Long-Term Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Connecticut Youth and Families,” which analyzes the impact of the pandemic on employment, basic needs, and education and outlines the necessity of prioritizing the safety and stability of Connecticut’s youth and families in the state’s recovery planning to avoid long-term economic harm. In order to understand the severity of the pandemic-induced recession on Connecticut’s youth and families, the report examines data collected between August 19, 2020 and March 1, 2021 from the U.S. Census Bureau’s weekly Household Pulse Surveys and compares the data against national trends. The report enumerates six overarching recommendations.

Connecticut Voices for Children released a report that analyzes where increases in minimum wage may have unanticipated effects on some families’ receipt of benefits and hinder families with children from gaining economic mobility, despite increases in their income. The report entitled, “Impact of Connecticut’s Minimum Wage Increase on Access to Benefits for Working Families” outlines 10 policy solutions to mitigate the impacts of benefits cliffs—when a small wage increase leads to a significant reduction in public benefits. Benefits cliffs inadvertently worsen a family’s economic security, stifle economic growth by keeping individuals from participating in the workforce, and disproportionately impact women and people of color.