Key Takeaways from the Prenatal to Age Three Policy Conference

Last month, amidst the busy holiday planning, I joined the South Dakota team at the Great Progress, Great Opportunity Prental-to-3 Policy conference in Denver, Colorado.

The positive impact that can be realized for families during the prenatal to age three period is immense. For example, the most rapid and foundational brain development happens during the first three years of life. Children's health, growth, and ability to thrive are directly tied to their caregivers' ability to provide nurturing, safe, supportive environments, starting with meeting basic needs.

Learn more: Why Do We Focus on the Prenatal-to-3 Age Period?: Understanding the Importance of the Earliest Years.

Systems are designed to assist families, and the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University has developed an evidence-based roadmap detailing best practices in systems and policy creation. During the conference, each state evaluated its performance compared to the roadmap guidance.

Learn more about how your state is doing on the roadmap: PROGRESS ACROSS STATES SINCE THE 2020 PRENATAL-TO-3 STATE POLICY ROADMAP

Cynthia Osborne, founder and executive director of the National Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, provides an overview of the Policy Impact State Roadmap.

My home state, South Dakota, has had some significant success noted on the policy roadmap, including:

• The development of coverage for community-based doulas

• Statewide nurse home visiting services for new mothers

• Expansion of Medicaid, specifically the expansion of the postpartum coverage period

The South Dakota Team: Christine Young, Myself, Darla Biel, Linda Duba and Tony Burke

The conference brought together state teams from all 50 states to celebrate the progress and make plans for the future.

Our team learned that as a state with a smaller population, we are nimble, can respond quickly to needs, and have made significant progress quickly.

The challenges our team identified include the need for deeper collaborations and coordination across state agencies and the private sector to decrease the administrative burden for families trying to use health and social programs, more funding to develop meaningful outreach to rural and tribal areas, unique funding mechanisms to support quality childcare, and paid family leave statewide.

Planning for the future of the youngest South Dakotans was not only a meaningful way to conclude 2024, but it also served as a vital reminder of our responsibilities toward the next generation. As we gathered insights and feedback from various community stakeholders, including educators, parents, and local leaders, it became evident that a concerted effort is necessary to create an environment where our children can thrive. I look forward to seeing what tangible changes we can implement together to ensure that the youngest members of our society are equipped with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed and flourish in the years to come. By investing in their potential today, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more prosperous South Dakota tomorrow.