Spending Smarter: A Funding Guide for Policymakers and Advocates to Promote Social and Emotional Health and School Readiness

This document is part of a policy series intended to improve social, emotional, and learning outcomes for young children. Building on NCCP's work over the past several years (see Promoting the Emotional Well-Being of Children and Families series, at www.nccp.org), Spending Smarter describes effective programs, highlights policy opportunities, and offers fiscal strategies to promote the emotional health of young children and their families. The analyses in this series will help state officials, community leaders, and advocates take action to ensure the healthy development of children and their families. Spending Smarter focuses on strategies to maximize existing funding streams by building on federal programs. The companion document, Resources to Promote Social and Emotional Health and School Readiness in Young Children and Families—A Community Guide, describes targeted interventions that can help parents and other early care providers, such as home visitors and teachers, be more effective in promoting healthy relationships and reducing challenging behavior in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers