| Reports |
 |
A Local Ladder for Low-Income Workers:
Recent Trends in the Earned Income Tax Credit
[Download PDF]
This report, produced by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, presents findings from an analysis of IRS data on low-income working families who received the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in tax years 2000 and 2004.
|
 |
Economic Returns for Investing In Children's Health
By: Dr. Steve Seninger, The University of Montana
[Download PDF]
This article examines the situation regarding uninsured rates for Montana's children as well as a cost analyis of expanding health care coverage to uninsured children. The following article appeared in the Summer 2008 issue of the Montana Business Quarterly.
|
 |
Exceptional Returns: Economic, Fiscal, and Social Benefits of Investment in Early Childhood Development
[Download PDF]
This study, produced by the Economic Policy Institute, demonstrates the substantial payoffs of providing all 20% of the nation’s three- and four-year-old children who live in poverty with a high-quality early childhood development program.
|
 |
Ready for College
Advocates Series, Action Brief #1
[Download PDF]
The Forum for Youth Investment started the Ready by 21 initiative in 2005 to challenge states and localities to better harness their collective horsepower to ensure that all youth are Ready by 21: Ready for college, work and life. The Forum has compiled this brief as a part of our work with KIDS COUNT grantees focused on older youth.
|
 |
An Overview of State-Level Data on Child Well-Being Available through the Federal Statistical System
[Download PDF]
This paper provides an overview of Federal sources of social indicator data on children’s well-being that provide estimates at the state-level. Twenty-one major survey and administrative data sources are summarized and discussed. Areas of strength are identified, as are important gaps and opportunities for future development. In addition, it provides an Appendix that includes systematic one- to two-page summaries for each of the data sources reviewed for purpose, content, and periodicity. Several important opportunities are identified for increasing and preserving
|
 |
[Download PDF]
This discussion paper from the Policy Matters Project puts forth an approach to setting benchmarks for a state policy agenda to encourage stronger family relationships.
|
 |
Early Learning Left Out: An Examination of Public Investments in Education and Development by Child Age
[Download PDF]
This study, produced by Voices for America's Children and the Child and Family Policy Center, presents a comprehensive picture of public investments in the education and development of children by three age groupings – the early learning years the school aged years and the college-aged years It is based upon detailed analysis of state, federal, and school district spending in 12 states across the country, conducted by organizations in those states with strong understanding of early childhood services and state budgeting.
|
 |
WHOSE KIDS ARE COVERED?
A State-by-State Look at Uninsured Children
[Download PDF]
This report was released in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Cover the Uninsured campaign, in 2007.
|
 |
2007 MONTANA JOB GAP STUDY
Living in the Red: Montana Family Budgets Falling Behind
[Download PDF]
This report produced by the Northwest Federation of 0ocmmunity Organizers, features: A living wage for all counties in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington; A comparison of real wage growth with the rise in the living wage; The percent of job openings that pay a
living wage; The ratio of the number of living wage job
openings to the number of people looking
for work.
|
 |
Invest in the Very Young
[Download PDF]
In this paper, James J. Heckman, Ph.D., explores the assumptions and foundations of current policies toward skill formation. He examines the conventional wisdom articulated by our political leaders and draws on a body of recent scholarship that challenges many of the premises that govern popular policy discussions. This scholarship suggests that taking a broader view of the way skills are produced in a modern economy is more appropriate and, ultimately, more beneficial.
|
 |
POVERTY IN AMERICA: Economic Research Shows Adverse Impacts on Health Status and Other Social Conditions as well as the Economic Growth Rate
[Download PDF]
This GAO report found that economic research suggests that individuals living in poverty face an increased risk of adverse outcomes, such as poor health and criminal activity, both of which may lead to reduced participation in the labor market.
|