This policy alert was authored by Rebecca Feeney, practicum student at the Clark-Fox Policy Institute. Beginning January 1, 2024, the Missouri minimum wage increased to $12.30/hour for most workers. The increase follows a 2018 referendum that raised the minimum wage to $12/hour over five years and will continue to adjust the minimum wage every following […]
Yesterday, the Respect for Marriage Act was codified into law and it will go a long way toward protecting families and promoting child wellbeing. The recognition of same-sex marriages allows children to be raised by loving same-sex parents who are committed to one another and to their children. It contributes to a stable and supportive […]
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, nationwide nearly two-thirds of child care providers have closed, leaving working parents struggling to find reliable care. Without additional public funding, over four million providers of early childhood care and education (ECE) across the United States are at risk of permanently closing. One recent survey, by the National […]
May 2018 Justice for Juveniles: Raising the Age for Inclusion in Juvenile Courts Over the past 10 years, many states that previously prosecuted 16- and 17-year-old offenders in the adult judicial system have raised the age to 18. This trend has occurred in response to a growing body of research demonstrating the harmful effects of […]
The Trump Administration has eliminated over $213 million in funds for teen pregnancy prevention programs and research, raising concerns that teen pregnancy rates will begin to rise. The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP) was established by the Obama Administration in 2010 to promote evidence-based interventions for reducing teen pregnancy rates among young people at higher risk. Administered by […]
If funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is not extended by Congress this month, millions of children in the United States will be at risk of losing their health insurance coverage in just six months. Currently, 8.9 million children throughout the United States and between 60,000 and 70,000 children in Missouri have coverage through CHIP. In 1997, CHIP was […]