Better Life Lab

When New Mexico became the first state to enact universal child care, which basically means free child care for whoever needs it, in November 2025, the policy was widely praised for its commitment to expanding access to care, lowering the cost of living for families, and unlocking economic opportunity. In an article in the @CrucesSunNews, journalist Isabel K. Latz, with support from the Better Life Lab, centers perspectives from parents, child care providers, and community leaders as they navigate the implementation of child care for all, capturing both the financial relief and mental health benefits for families and the ongoing challenges related to statewide access and quality of early childhood education. The reporting highlights concrete impacts of the policy, including business owners expanding child care capacity and young professionals choosing to remain in the state rather than relocate elsewhere. Within the broader movement for universal child care nationwide, New Mexico’s experience shows that statewide action is possible and that community involvement is essential to turning policy into real support for families. Latz’ reporting was shaped by conversations with women across the state whose care, coordination, and persistence are bringing this policy to life. Link to the articl: lcsun-news.com/story/opinion/…

In climate terms, we often talk about "mitigation" and "adaptation." The current birth rate conversation in the U.S. is almost 100% about mitigation. That's all well and good. But, as I wrote for @voxdotcom, it's time to start taking adaptation seriously.

Hidden Homelessness: One Family. 26 Moves. What a Reporter Didn't Expect. The Godfrey family has moved 26 times. Not because they weren't trying — but because the system wasn't built to catch them. Reporter @BrigidSchulte spent time with the family and uncovered a hidden housing crisis that millions of families face, but few people talk about. In this video, she shares what surprised her most and what her reporting revealed about the intersection of race, housing instability, and a broken child care system. youtube.com/watch?v=OwQyta…

DC Made National News for a Fund Paying Early Educators Fairly. Now the Mayor Wants to Cut It. #DC created the nation's first pay equity fund for early educators. It worked. Salaries jumped, turnover dropped, and 219 new educators entered the field. Now the mayor wants to cut $60 million from it. Preschool teacher Ashley Ross saw her pay go from $47,000 to $67,000. She bought a home. Her kids joined after-school activities. If the cuts go through, she says she'd likely have to leave, and with her will go 20 years of experience. Paying child care teachers enough to stay in the profession IS an affordability strategy. When they leave, families lose the stable care they depend on. Other states are racing to replicate this program. DC is about to dismantle it. This isn't just a DC issue. It's a test case for whether we'll invest in the people we trust with our youngest children. youtube.com/watch?v=V6knSQ… Read the full article by @Beckgale in @The74: the74million.org/zero2eight/pay… #preK #ECE #teacherpay #mayorbowser

New piece out in @TheAtlantic this morning about how Trump may not think the federal government should pay for child care, but his administration's actions are bringing the hammer down on a fragile sector and making it enormously difficult for states to step up.

Since last September, hundreds of child care programs have closed across Indiana, Oklahoma, and North Carolina alone. That means parents who can't get to work, businesses that can't find workers, and communities that lose, writes @ehaspel in @TheAtlantic. Fixing child care is an everyone issue. theatlantic.com/family/2026/04…

Ohio approved $600 million to build a football stadium. But couldn't find the heart to give families a tax credit that would have given the neediest about $250 a month. Let that sink in. In 2021, 36 million families nationally received monthly checks through the expanded Child Tax Credit. The result? Child poverty dropped to a record low of 5.2%, writes @Beckgale via @The74. Families didn't splurge. They bought groceries. Paid utilities. Kept the lights on. These were nurses, police officers, and utility workers — people with good jobs who still couldn't make ends meet. Then the credit expired. And child poverty climbed back up. Here's what's happening now: • 22 states have created their own version of a child tax credit to fill the gap • Research shows state-level credits are working, pulling families out of poverty • This isn't a partisan issue — red, purple AND blue states are pushing for it But the new federal version excludes the families who need it most by limiting refundability. And Ohio chose to nix the tax credit, the same year it approved millions for the stadium. (Note: A court this week temporarily blocked use of the stadium funds until a lawsuit is resolved.) Instead, the state adopted a flat income tax, which actually lowered taxes for the wealthy. State lawmakers have the power to act right now, and many are. Minnesota implemented a $1,750 per child credit and is on track to cut child poverty by one-third. Your state could be next. Is your state doing enough to support working families? #childtaxcredit the74million.org/zero2eight/sta…

How much should you help your college applicant? Warm and involved parenting is great for kids’ well-being and helps them flourish, says @BrigidSchulte. Research shows it can lead to higher academic achievement, motivation at school and a greater sense of safety. But, Schulte stresses, overparenting can have negative and potentially long-lasting consequences. Children can feel suffocated, especially during the critical teen years when they’re seeking to establish their own identity and independence. usnews.com/education/gett…

Virginia employees are one step closer to a future where taking time off to care for themselves or a loved one doesn't mean choosing between their health and their paycheck. A new paid family and medical leave insurance program will give workers the peace of mind to step away when it matters most, without sacrificing financial security. “This is a win-win for working families and businesses. It’s a win for the economy because it means more people can be working. They have more money to spend on goods and services,” says @VShabo, about the program. virginiaindependentnews.com/health-care/pa…

Today, New America relaunches our brand and website, strengthening how we advance independent research and bold solutions for a new America. 📍 newamerica.org

Despite our growing awareness of the needs of children and adolescents with caregiving responsibilities, we have done little on a national scale to support them, writes Better Life Lab fellow Feylyn Lewis. theguardian.com/us-news/2026/m…

Better Life Lab's Haley Swenson will be speaking at @WFRN 's upcoming conference at an event titled: From Academia to Everywhere: How to Translate Research for Global Audiences. wfrn.org/event/virtual-…

Better Life Lab's @BrigidSchulte will be speaking at the National Conference for Women on March 4 for the session titled: “Over Work: From Daily Grind to Wellbeing.” Don't miss this virtual event where Brigid will share her insights on burnout, reclaiming your time, and building work boundaries. register.conferencesforwomen.org/reg_items.aspx

"Child care has long been an industry known for slim margins. But an influx of government funding can change the business model of any sector — and New Mexico isn’t the only state changing the economics of owning and operating a child care center" writes @Beckgale . "Increased state funding has done more than raise salaries at local child care centers. It’s also attracted an influx of interest from businesses. As child care providers grow their profit margins, they are now able to increase their spending and become more lucrative customers. And as child care centers become more profitable and have opportunities to expand, they also become more attractive to investors." krwg.org/regional/2026-…

For too long, women's leisure has been treated as a luxury, something we only "earn" if the to-do list is empty (spoiler: it never is) or something we have to monetize to justify. In her piece for @ThePersistent_ , @BrigidSchulte explores the radical shift in how we view our free time. She breaks down why reclaiming "me-time" is more than just a break; it's a radical act of resistance against a culture that demands constant output. As Brigid beautifully puts it: Leisure isn't a "waste" of time; it's a reclamation of your humanity. thepersistent.com/women-leisure-…

What's missing from the Olympics? Child care! In 2024-first time in history-Olympic Village opened a nursery, with dedicated area where athletes could spend time with their children. But 2 years later, the #MilanoCortinaOlympic2026 doesn't have a nursery. the74million.org/zero2eight/oly…

Public investment in child care is reshaping the industry, raising wages and expanding access while drawing new business and investor interest. Collab with @voxdotcom and @BetterLifeLab. Listen now: buff.ly/IqeAIHW

"Alex Pretti’s killers saw his care and concern not as an asset to our society, as the fabric that knits together a healthy community, but as a threat," writes Better Life Lab's Haley Swenson via @Slate. slate.com/life/2026/01/a…

I study male caregivers. We can learn a lot from Alex Pretti. slate.trib.al/vgU2FRx