Don't miss this care session during the upcoming Charter's Workplace Summit, when @BrigidSchulte and Molly Moon Neitzel, founder of Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, will be discussing the latest research on caregiving at work, the ROI for providing caregiver support, and innovative solutions for bridging the gap between research and practice. Register here: lnkd.in/gR9mQn3W

Child care subsidies going to stay at home parents? The Trump administration is preparing a rule that would allow federal child care funds to go to families with a stay-at-home parent. Better Life Lab’s @ehaspel weighs in on Fox News on what the proposal is a trap, and how we get to a point where families have can thrive financially whether they decide to stay home or not. Americans “want the control over their care and work situations”, he stressed, and that’s going to take proposals that focus on funding the high costs of care.

Do you have a childcare story to tell? The Better Life Lab at New America is launching a new round of childcare reporting grants, and I want to make the case for why you should apply. This is my favorite kind of news to share — it's a chance for hardworking journalists to get paid to cover an issue long underrepresented in traditional media. If that could be you, keep reading. What you get • Money. A stipend plus editorial support for a piece of journalism on childcare in the U.S. We want solutions-oriented stories — the situation can be dire, but we're looking for what a better way forward looks like, spotlighting where parts of childcare policy are genuinely working. • Creative freedom. Written, audio, graphic, documentary — we're open to experimenting with format. The goal is great storytelling, not a rigid template. • Real support. Based on grantee feedback, we're adding more editorial support and cohort collaboration this year, so everyone walks away with a stronger final product. What this isn't Not a shortcut to an easy byline. Pitching and placing the story is part of the work. We'll advise, but landing placement takes real effort, especially freelancing — budget time and persistence. Not enough to replace a full-time income. If you already cover childcare, want to start, or are a freelancer or newsroom reporter looking to do more — great fit. Looking for full-time work? This isn't that. Is this you? You'd work directly with Better Life Lab's @Beckgale. Some of her favorite must-read writers on family policy today are former Better Life Lab grantees. The application is straightforward, but Gale is available if you're unsure whether your idea fits. Our goal: more high-quality childcare journalism. More reporters covering it. More of them paid fairly to do so. The application is open now. Apply here and also get additional information about the grants: newamerica.org/insights/care… #caregiving #journalism #carereporting #reporters

"This isn't just a work problem or a life problem. It's a collision problem." Burnout isn't always about working longer hours. Sometimes it's the invisible mental load: the constant planning, remembering, coordinating, anticipating, and decision-making that happens behind the scenes at work and at home. When organizations recognize and address mental load, not just visible workloads, they create healthier teams, better decision-making, and more sustainable performance. Read the full article by Leah Ruppanner, Haley Swenson, @ManginoKate, Colleen Stuart, David Smith, and @molly_dickens in @HarvardBiz: hbr.org/2026/07/the-invisibl…

Whether you’re caring for someone now, are thinking about caregiving in your future, or you're just trying to take care of yourself, you have something to say about care. We want to hear from you. Join us for the Day to Have Your Say and be one of 1 Million Care Conversations: #1MCare caringacross.formstack.com/f…

How much do you know about the cost of child care and the cost of home care for older adults? A new poll from New America's Better Life Lab finds too many of us don't understand the real costs and implications of care. Gaps in Americans’ understanding of care can lead to false or misinformed views that SHAPE POLICY AND profoundly impact the lives of people and families with care responsibilities, maintain authors @BrigidSchulte and @ehaspel. The key findings: • Most Americans have little understanding of how much care costs, especially over time—often underestimating the costs while overestimating how much care workers are paid and how much the government spends on child care. • A majority of Americans think the government should help all families pay for care, but don’t understand what “universal child” care means. • A majority of Americans see value in care, though care is still invisible for many—and opinions vary significantly by demographic group, caregiving experience, and type of care. • Right now, care does not drive political action. newamerica.org/insights/the-…

What if child care wasn't just your family's problem to solve? In the United States, child care is mostly left to families, while care providers struggle with low wages and thin margins, and national reform keeps stalling. But Vermont did something bold. In May 2023, after nearly two decades of groundwork, the state passed Act 76: landmark legislation creating a near-universal child care system. How? Advocacy group @LetsGrowKids built a statewide coalition of parents, providers, and business leaders, won bipartisan support step by step, pivoted to support providers during COVID, and helped land a sustainable funding source: a shared payroll tax (employers + employees, retirees exempt). They even overrode a governor's veto to get it done. A new report traces the full decade-long journey — the coalition-building, the strategic pivots, and the political organizing — and pulls out practical lessons for anyone fighting to expand public investment in child care. Vermont's story shines a light on what's possible. This video, narrated by the report’s author and Better Life Lab staff writer @Beckgale, explains how they did it. Read the full report here: newamerica.org/insights/verm…. #ChildCare #EarlyChildhood #PolicyChange #Vermont #Act76 #WorkingParents #ChildCareForAll #Advocacy #FamilyPolicy #daycare #inflation @LetsGrowKidsAN

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…

New report: ICE raids and rising immigration enforcement are shrinking the U.S. child care workforce, reducing mothers’ employment, and shifting families to less formal #childcare—disrupting the economy and communities. newamerica.org/better-life-l…

You can watch the whole @CBSSunday piece here: youtube.com/watch?v=-AhA107I…

Better Life Lab's reach when it comes to bolstering child care in the US is growing. Take the @CBSSunday  shout out @Beckgale's post on @NewAmerica's The Thread got. The piece focuses on how Vermont's leading the way when it comes child care's future.  newamerica.org/the-thread/ve…

Better Life Lab's @VShabo was interviewed by @ChabeliC_ in @19thnews about our work to help equip Hollywood creatives to tell richer and more nuanced stories about work, family, and care. 19thnews.org/2025/10/hollywo…