Getting Out the Vote in St. Louis

Few actions shape public policy more directly than voting, yet contemporary efforts to protect election integrity have instead erected barriers to voter access, particularly in communities of color. As we approach the 2024 election season, there is an urgent need to understand barriers to voting in our community. In a new policy brief, Getting Out […]

New data brief on wage supplements for childcare educators

Early childhood education centers face significant financial constraints that limit their ability to raise wages for their educators. Addressing this issue requires investment from both the government and private sectors, policy reforms, and innovative funding solutions to ensure that educators are fairly compensated without making early childhood education unaffordable for families. Click below to download […]

The Next Generation: Preparing for the Future of the Workforce

Family-Friendly Business PoliciesPart 3 of a 3-Part Series The Clark-Fox Policy Institute has produced a three-part policy brief focused on family-friendly business policies The evidence-informed policy recommendations were developed by layering scientific research with community voice. They are aimed at supporting employees by providing the flexibility needed to balance the responsibilities of work and family while […]

Good Businesses Attract Good Employees: Promoting Employee and Family Wellbeing

Family-Friendly Business PoliciesPart 2 of a 3-Part Series The Clark-Fox Policy Institute has produced a three-part policy brief focused on family-friendly business policies  The evidence-informed policy recommendations were developed by layering scientific research with community voice. They are aimed at supporting employees by providing the flexibility needed to balance the responsibilities of work and family while […]

Paid Leave: Good for Families, Businesses, and the Economy 

Family-Friendly Business PoliciesPart 1 of a 3-Part Series The Clark-Fox Policy Institute has produced a three-part policy brief focused on family-friendly business policies The evidence-informed policy recommendations were developed by layering scientific research with community voice. They are aimed at supporting employees by providing the flexibility needed to balance the responsibilities of work and family while […]

Marriage Equality and Its Impact on Child Wellbeing

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 […]

Fragile early childhood education system at greater risk

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 […]

Launching Lifelong Success

A Solution for St. Louis Children in St. Louis do not begin life on an even playing field – and this has profound impacts for the current generation and generations to come. Given the compounded benefits of early childhood care and education (ECE), investment in a coordinated ECE system has the potential to yield greater […]

Impact of Weapons and Violence on Schools and Communities

Weapons and violence in schools are a significant public health challenge that affects the physical and mental health of young people across the United States, as well as their families and communities. The Congressional Social Work Caucus (chaired by Rep. Barbara Lee, CA-13), in conjunction with the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, […]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care in Uganda: A Three-Part Series

In Uganda, children make up about half (56%) of the total population, and they often present with multiple physical, mental health, and educational challenges. Large numbers of Ugandan children live in communities with high rates of chronic poverty (38%), domestic violence (30%), physical violence toward children (80%), depression (33 to 39%), malaria (70 to 80%), […]

Access is critical but by itself not sufficient

Access is critical but by itself not sufficient   The Affordable Care Act is credited with expanding healthcare coverage to more than 20 million previously-uninsured Americans – a significant achievement for the United States as access to healthcare is a major driver of health outcomes. Still, access alone will not eliminate racial health disparities, ranging […]

Moving Toward a Healthier Missouri: Reinstituting Therapy Services in Missouri Medicaid

Moving Toward a Healthier Missouri: Reinstituting Therapy Services in Missouri Medicaid   In October 2017, the Center for Health Economics & Policy at the Institute for Public Health and the Clark-Fox Policy Institute at the Brown School at Washington University hosted Transforming Healthcare in Missouri: Ideas for Innovation and Investment to generate ideas for improving […]

Healthcare for Children Still at Risk: Funding CHIP is Only Half the Battle

Since Fall 2017 the Clark-Fox Policy Institute has been raising awareness on the importance of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides federal matching funds to states to provide health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage. Funding for CHIP expired in […]

Trumping Healthcare: Presidential Executive Orders and the ACA

In the months since taking office President Trump has acted decisively to undermine the health security of Americans that was established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA, also commonly referred to as ObamaCare, currently provides health insurance to nearly 12 million Americans. While the ACA remains the law, executive actions by the Trump […]

Expiration of CHIP: Putting the Health Care of Millions of Children at Risk

On September 30, 2017, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expired without reauthorization. Even though a bipartisan bill for extension of CHIP was introduced last month, it was never brought to a vote. If no action is taken, 8.9 million children in the United States will lose their health insurance coverage. In Missouri, about 87,790 children are in danger of losing their coverage. The […]

From Budget Cuts to Baby Wipes: Will Teen Pregnancy Be Back On The Rise?

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 […]

CHIP-ing Away At Health Care Coverage For Children

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 […]