September 2021Vol. 22, No. 8State of Babies Yearbook 2021
ZERO TO THREE released the third iteration of its State of Babies Yearbook. This report gives an indepth look at the story of babies in America though a lens of equity. It shows how racial and economic inequities affect babies-even before birth-and how the COVID-19 pandemic deepened the divide and illustrated the chain reaction that hardship can have on families and their children's development. The yearbook prioritizes looking at data about how racial and economic inequity affects the well-being of babies and families in the present as well as the future and it also features a call to action throughout. The authors state that policymakers can use these data to craft lasting and effective policies to address the issues affecting the well-being of babies in the United States.
In addition, State of Babies Yearbook 2021 focuses on good health, which includes preventative care and issues surrounding food insecurity; strong families, which includes indicators of well-being and babies in the child welfare system; and positive early learning experiences, which includes parent-child language interactions and early intervention and child care indicators. All three sections include additional information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and paths forward through policy change at all levels of government.