Archive: Brief

Robbed of Choice: The State of Work Among Women with Young Children

by | Jul 13, 2026 |

Affordable child care is essential infrastructure that supports families’ economic well-being as well as other economic activity. Without accessible and affordable child care, mothers—especially those with low incomes—face barriers to employment, deepening economic insecurity, and gender inequities. Decades of evidence show child care investments empower families and strengthen the economy.

Drawing on data from the last six years and firsthand accounts, this brief describes how temporary federal investments and expanded remote work options during the pandemic enabled record-breaking labor force participation among mothers—but also how the expiration of these supports has caused many women to fall back out of the work force, especially Black mothers. The piece underscores the importance of child care as a foundational economic policy and calls for meaningful action to enable women to make choices about work and caregiving without being constrained by structural barriers. By illustrating the continued gaps and the urgent need for robust investment in child care infrastructure to support women, especially those with young children, the brief aims to inform policymakers and inspire changes that promote equity and opportunity for all families.

Closing the Gap: How Expanding Refundable Tax Credits Advances Affordability and Equity for Women of Color

by and | Jul 7, 2026 |

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) have proven effective at reducing poverty and narrowing racial and gender disparities, especially for women of color and children in low-income households. However, in 2025, H.R. 1 expanded benefits for higher-income families while restricting access and reducing benefits for many low-income and immigrant families. As a result, millions of children — particularly children of color, in large families, or in rural areas — were excluded from receiving the full CTC, despite evidence that the credits support family well-being and alleviate poverty.

Co-authored by the National Women’s Law Center and the Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality, this brief makes the case for expanding the Child Tax Credit and reversing the restrictive provisions of H.R. 1 to build on the success of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, which temporarily made the credit fully refundable and widely accessible, resulting in historic reductions in child poverty. It highlights research showing that expanding the CTC provides not only immediate relief for families but also long-term societal benefits, including improved health, higher earnings, and reduced crime. Recommendations include expanding the Child Tax Credit to reach up to 19 million more families, strengthening the IRS’s capacity to deliver these credits equitably, and restoring funding for vital programs like Medicaid and SNAP through increased and equitable tax revenue.

What’s at Stake for Families as Federal Child Care Funding Faces Cuts

by | Jun 1, 2026 |

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is an essential source of assistance for working families struggling to shoulder the ever-growing cost of child care. Millions of children across the country meet CCDF eligibility criteria – but the current program does not meet the full need, and recent federal actions threaten to put child care even further out of reach for many families.

The brief explains the basic structure and function of the CCDF, and how recent funding freezes and rule changes could make child care even more challenging for families to access. At a time when child care costs are skyrocketing, the piece encourages policymakers to bolster the program to support families in addressing barriers to affordable child care.

Colorado Seizes the Moment to Rebuild a People-Centered Benefit System

by | May 7, 2026 |

Millions of people rely on public benefits to meet their basic needs, but families face delays and barriers to access when state enrollment and eligibility systems are running on outdated, burdensome technology. GCPI’s People-Centered Digital Benefits Project highlights state innovations for modernizing benefits delivery systems to meet people’s needs.

In this fourth and final case study, Visiting Fellow Andrés Argüello explores Colorado’s shift to state leadership of its public benefits system, building the internal capacity to redesign systems around the real needs and experiences of Coloradans. The brief highlights the conditions and strategic decisions that enabled the transformation and shows how increased state capacity will improve service delivery to families.

Making Work Pay: Ending Benefits Cliffs for Families

by | Mar 29, 2026 |

For millions of Americans, public benefits play a critical role in helping make ends meet, but the way these benefits cut off as income rises can mean families face a financial setback when their earnings increase. This brief explains what benefits cliffs are and shares recommendations with policymakers for creating clear, understandable step-downs in benefits programs to help families translate increased earnings into increased financial security.

Maryland’s One Benefits Application: A Case Study in People-Centered Modernization

by | Feb 24, 2026 |

Millions of Americans rely on public benefits to meet daily needs, yet unnecessary barriers and outdated technology too often make accessing help a struggle. GCPI’s People-Centered Digital Benefits Project highlights state innovations for modernizing benefits delivery systems to meet people’s needs.

In this case study, Visiting Fellow Andrés Argüello explores Maryland’s people-centered design approach to building the One Benefits application—which allows people to apply for multiple public benefits programs through a single, streamlined application—and the leadership, governance, and organizational structures that were critical to success.

How New York’s Customer Experience Office Helps Deliver People-Centered Services

by | Feb 18, 2026 |

Millions of people rely on public benefits programs to meet their basic needs, but outdated systems can make it difficult for families to access support. As states work to modernize public services, people-centered design offers a promising approach. Understanding how states translate principles into practice is essential for policymakers and administrators to create more effective public benefits systems. 

This case study, part of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality’s People-Centered Digital Benefits Project, highlights how the state of New York’s Office of Customer Experience is transforming service delivery by embedding customer-centered design across state agencies. This brief explores the leadership structures, community partnerships, and human-centered design practices that helped New York redesign Medicaid renewals, modernize WIC outreach, and streamline child care assistance – offering lessons and practical strategies for other states. 

Building Public Capacity to Deliver People-Centered Services: A Case Study of Massachusetts

by | Nov 5, 2025 |

Millions of Americans rely on public benefits to meet daily needs, yet unnecessary barriers and outdated technology too often make accessing help a struggle. GCPI’s People-Centered Digital Benefits Project highlights state innovations for modernizing benefits delivery systems to meet people’s needs.

Massachusetts offers a particularly powerful example of people-centered public benefits modernization. In this case study, Visiting Fellow Andrés Argüello profiles the creative, multi-pronged effort of the Massachusetts Digital Service to build public-sector capacity across state government. Massachusetts is helping state agencies improve their digital services and ensuring that the people designing and overseeing delivery of digital benefits are the same people who hear from residents, spot system failures, and are held accountable for fixing them.

What’s At Stake if Congress Lets the Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits Expire?

by and | Sep 3, 2025 |

Without action from Congress, subsidies that keep health insurance premiums affordable for millions will expire at the end of 2025. Expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits would push health care out of reach for millions, roll back progress toward health equity, and destabilize the health care system. Families with low incomes, particularly Black and Latinx families, and people at risk of losing Medicaid would be hit the hardest. This analysis highlights what’s at risk for families, health equity, and the broader health care system.

Work Requirements Are Unworkable

by and | Mar 20, 2025 |

Work requirements in public benefits programs don’t help people work. They block access to food, health care, and housing assistance, making families and local economies worse off. This brief illustrates how work reporting requirements fail to increase work while straining state resources and imposing harmful and costly burdens on all. The brief also provides an overview of better alternatives that would be more effective at supporting employment and reducing poverty.