Every baby has enormous potential. But too often, families only receive support after a crisis brings them into the child welfare system. This updated executive summary of the policy framework from Safe Babies, a program of ZERO TO THREE, outlines how states can build coordinated, prevention-focused systems that strengthen families early and transform outcomes for infants and toddlers.
Why it matters
The earliest years shape lifelong health, learning, and resilience. Yet:
- Infants and toddlers enter foster care at higher rates than any other age group.
- Poverty and unmet basic needs are often mistaken for neglect.
- Critical supports, like health care, housing, mental health services, early learning, are frequently available only after families are in crisis.
A stronger child and family well-being system can reduce unnecessary separation, promote positive development, and help families build protective factors before challenges escalate. Safe Babies show that when systems center on early childhood science and parent voice, outcomes improve.
What you can do
This framework outlines 11 policy recommendations across two priorities:
1️⃣ Build a Child and Family Well-Being System
Expand early access to health care, behavioral health, housing, economic supports, and high-quality early learning, coordinated through community-based systems that families can navigate without entering child welfare.
2️⃣ Transform Child Welfare for Babies
For families who do enter the system, infuse early childhood development, frequent family time, strong legal representation, and parent partnership into courts and child welfare practice.
States have an opportunity to lead this shift from the very beginning, from preventing harm to strengthening families.
Acknowledgments
ZERO TO THREE deeply appreciates Ballmer Group for its generous support of our work to scale the Safe Babies approach. We’d like to especially thank Connie Ballmer for her vision and commitment to transforming the child welfare system so that all babies thrive. Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities.
