“There is nothing new about poverty. What is new, however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it…Why should there be hunger and privation in any land, in any city, at any table, when man has the resources and the scientific know‐how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life?…There is no deficit in human resources, the deficit is in human will.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go From Here? (1967)
Mission Statement
We advance policies to achieve equity in economic opportunity, mobility, and security for all families in the United States. We view our work as one critical driver of racial and gender equity and disability inclusion, while also recognizing that equity and inclusion require a multitude of actions and transformations in society.
Together, economic security and essential supports are fundamental to helping children and families thrive. We advance a range of policies to ensure optimal physical and mental health for infants and young children and economic supports for historically disadvantaged populations like communities of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, and women. We identify approaches to policy and program implementation that are tailored to families from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and informed by families’ strengths, goals and values.
Collaboration strengthens our capacity and effectiveness. We pursue and highly value partnerships with national, state, and local organizations and stakeholders inside and outside of government. We partner with advocates, policymakers, program administrators, service providers, and others. Together, we use research to design and implement policies and programs that better support low-income families and children.
NCCP conducts research and translates evidence into actionable recommendations that advocates and policymakers can use to improve the lives and futures of low-income children and their families.
NCCP HISTORY
Founded at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in 1989, NCCP has worked for over 30 years to advance family-oriented research and translate findings into actionable recommendations that reduce the number of families experiencing hardship. Our work has informed policy changes in early care and education, paid family leave, disability policy, immigration, early childhood mental health, and more. We are grateful to our partners at Columbia University for their support of the center’s work.
In July 2019, NCCP moved to the Bank Street Graduate School of Education to continue our mission to put research into action. For over a century, Bank Street College of Education has been a leader in early childhood education, teacher and leader preparation, and the development of innovative practices in schools and communities.