Publications

Connecticut Voices for Children released a new publication, “The Employment Situation in Connecticut – March 2022.” This publication is the 2nd in 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 publication, “The Employment Situation in Connecticut – February 2022.” This publication will be the first in 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, “Connecticut’s 2022 Tax Incidence Report: A High-Level Overview and Comparison to the 2014 Report,” which is a response to the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services’ new, statutorily required tax incidence report. 

Connecticut Voices for Children released a new report, “The Case For The Connecticut Child Tax Credit,” which provides a detailed overview of why creating a state-level child tax credit (CTC) will make the tax system fairer for families as well as contribute to economic growth. Additionally, we include an array of options for implementation—inclusive of providing a Connecticut CTC in monthly payments—as well as options for funding. This report is a companion piece to our report entitled, “Steps To A Fairer Tax System: Proposals for Tax Reform, Transparency, and Timely Support,” which was published last month. 

Connecticut Voices for Children today released a report entitled, “Steps To A Fairer Tax System: Proposals for Tax Reform, Transparency, and Timely Support,” which outlines a proposal for a fairer tax system that would put more money in the pockets of working- and middle-class families, especially families of color. Although Connecticut has the second highest level of per capita personal income in the U.S., making it exceptionally wealthy overall, many families consistently struggle because Connecticut also has the second highest level of income inequality and a substantial racial income gap. This report is accompanied by the typical Just Facts and Executive Summary, a document we pair with lengthy reports. Additionally, due to the density of the report, we’re including five Just Facts for each of the report’s sections.

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.

Connecticut Voices for Children released a new report, “The State of Working Connecticut,” which highlights the depth and scope of the state’s economic problems and outlines the need for progressive budget reform. The combination of a shrunken economy with a highly inequitable distribution has weakened both the state’s fiscal standing and the standard of living for most families, and Connecticut’s economy is on track to grow slower than the U.S. economy during recovery from the recent recession if the state doesn’t act to ensure this doesn’t happen.

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, “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.