A new report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families showed Utah is one of the states to see the largest percentage declines in their child Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program population, with 25% fewer children enrolled than prior to the initiation of the unwinding process which started last year.

Ciriac Alvarez Valle, senior policy analyst at Voices for Utah Children, said the process was full of "hiccups," and called it disheartening to see how many Utah children have lost coverage, not because they were ineligible, but due to procedural reasons.

"The real life consequences is that they aren't able to get their prescriptions, they aren't able to visit their doctors, they aren't able to just get those child visit checkups that they need," Alvarez Valle outlined. "It is hard for families too because sometimes they may not even know that their kids are uninsured until they go into the medical office."

Alvarez Valle encouraged families who were utilizing the programs to visit their MyCase accounts through the state's Department of Workforce Services where they can review their status and reapply if needed. She noted for those who may need assistance in a language other than English, she suggests getting help from health care navigators at Take Care Utah.

The report showed if the share of children losing coverage remains, it will mean a larger number of lower-income children will go without essential care, leading to poor health outcomes, as well as exposing their families to higher medical costs and debt.

Utah has a low participation rate in Medicaid and CHIP. In 2019, the state saw almost 80% of all eligible kids enrolled, compared to almost 92% nationally. Alvarez Valle added the unwinding process has highlighted the areas where state agencies and partners can work together to enhance outreach and enrollment.

"We don't have as much as we need when it comes to outreach and enrollment dollars and funding," Alvarez Valle contended. "I think more of that will definitely help families, and like you mentioned families of color, where there are community based organizations that work specifically with different groups."

Alvarez Valle emphasized substantial work remains to get the process more streamlined and accessible to everyone who needs it, saying her organization will be one to help make it happen.


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Pennsylvania is facing what children's advocacy groups call a historic child care crisis, leaving thousands of young children without access to early learning programs.

A new report estimates Pennsylvania loses $6.65 billion annually when families do not have child care and preschool options.

Kari King, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said the report examines the policies on child care and pre-K, and highlights workforce challenges affecting many families with young children.

"Both in terms of parents and families in the workforce, and the need for child care to be able for parents to work," King outlined. "We know in the report, just over 70% of families with children currently have both parents or caregivers in the workforce."

In his latest budget proposal, Gov. Josh Shapiro addresses some of the workforce challenges with a $17.7 million boost to early childhood education. $15 million is proposed for Pre-K Counts and $2.7 million for Head Start Supplemental Assistance, investments he said are crucial for working parents' economic stability.

King pointed out Pennsylvania child care workers earn just over $15 an hour, or less than many retail jobs, and half of pre-K programs are delivered through child care centers. But some centers struggle to attract and keep qualified staff.

King observed the wage gap leaves some centers with not enough revenue to pay competitive salaries and keep care affordable.

"That's where we've seen there's been quite an impact since the pandemic, with quite a few programs that have actually closed their doors," King noted. "Over 600 child care providers have been lost since right before the pandemic. So, I think you're seeing a lot of those businesses again in that untenable situation."

The report pointed out pre-K teachers in Pennsylvania earn annual salaries about half those of kindergarten teachers. One recommendation is to provide pay for pre-K teachers on a par with elementary school educators.

Advocates for children in New Hampshire said the state needs elected officials who will put kids' futures first.

With biennial budget negotiations to begin next year, they said access to quality early education, school meals and services are all on the line this election.

Megan Brabec, New Hampshire state manager for the Save the Children Action Network, said children cannot vote but they are on the ballot.

"It's really important that we have Senators and representatives that are aware of these issues," Brabec stressed. "That are prioritizing these issues and recognize the role for government in addressing these issues."

Brabec pointed out with child care for two children younger than five now topping $30,000 a year, too many children are forced to go without the early education known to improve their long-term outcomes.

A bipartisan mix of candidates is offering solutions, including the establishment of universal Pre-K to ensure all kids start kindergarten on the same footing. Others want to simplify eligibility for free or reduced-price meals using Medicaid data or create a state fund to finance early educator recruitment and retention.

Ella Bender, a child advocate and student at the University of New Hampshire, has been registering voters and encouraging them to think of future generations.

"We want students to know that the power is in their hands to vote for officials in the state of New Hampshire that are going to put children's needs first," Bender emphasized.

Bender argued every child in New Hampshire deserves a quality education and to have their basic needs met.

A recent Save the Children Action Network survey found a majority of likely voters across the United States feel more favorable about a political candidate who supports greater investments in child care or programs to relieve food insecurity.

A federal pilot program distributing diapers to Massachusetts families in need is expanding.

The program has already distributed more than two million diapers, along with wipes and other supplies, to roughly 2,500 children over the past year.

Melissa White, director of programs for the Valley Opportunity Council in Hampden County, said the program is especially helpful for newly homeless and migrant families.

"It's one less thing you have to think of with all the stressors of, 'I don't even know where I am, so I don't know where to get the diapers, or how to get there, or how I'm going to afford all those things,'" White explained.

White is thrilled federal funds will support the diaper program for another year. More than one-third of Massachusetts families said they cannot afford enough diapers for their children.

Community action agencies distributing the diapers said they are operating at capacity with growing waitlists. Many parents said they cannot leave their infants at child care without providing diapers.

Lisa Smith, executive director of Neighbors in Need in Lawrence, said she has seen the stress it causes for the hundreds of families they serve.

"There is a direct economic correlation that families need diapers so they can go to work, utilize day care," Smith pointed out. "There are so many social and emotional reasons to why this program is important."

Smith noted the diapers help families stretch their dollars a bit further to help meet their basic needs. WIC and SNAP funds cannot be used for diaper purchases.

Advocates hope to make the diaper program permanent in Massachusetts.

Joe Diamond, executive director of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, a coalition of more than twenty community action agencies, said proposed legislation would create a state diaper fund to improve families' financial security and well-being.

"Our goal is to help people address their fundamental needs," Diamond emphasized. "So they can focus on the kind of training and education that's necessary to continue to get employment or better employment."

Diamond added the association is working with Children's Health Watch in Boston to gather data on the diaper program's effects. Studies show a lack of diapers for their babies as the number one predictor of postpartum depression in new mothers.