By Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell | June 2026 On July 1, Connecticut’s Baby Bonds program will reach an important milestone: three years since the launch of the first-in-the-nation statewide policy to provide every eligible child with a publicly funded investment at birth. Since then, nearly 50,000 Connecticut babies have been born eligible, each receiving a $3,200 public investment in their future and a pathway toward greater economic … Read More
Investing in Michigan’s Next Generation
By Jasper Martus, Michigan State Representative | June 2026 Young Americans are increasingly worried about their financial futures. Nearly half of Gen Z say they are worried they won’t be able to save for emergencies, according to a recent poll by YouGov. Many households report having little financial cushion if their income suddenly stopped, with a recent DepositAccounts survey showing … Read More
How are Trump Accounts Like a Jade Pendant? Neither Will Close the Wealth Cap.
By Amy Matsui, NWLC | June 2026 In Chinese and many East Asian cultures, jade symbolizes wealth and prosperity. When my daughter was born, an aunt and uncle sent a jade pendant, which to this day she keeps in her jewelry box and wears on special occasions. As a mom, I was touched by this lovely gift of jewelry and … Read More
Beyond Capital: The Promise of Programming within Baby Bond Programs
By Jessica Norton, PhD | May 2026 Baby Bonds programs are gaining momentum nationwide, with nearly a dozen states passing legislation or building evidence through accelerated pilot programs. Although the who, what, when, and where are clearly defined, the efforts vary in design, including eligibility, capital uses, disbursement age, and capital amounts. Despite these differences, they share a common ‘why’ … Read More
Building Opportunity from Birth: Why Wisconsin Needs Baby Bonds
By Senator Kelda Helen Roys | May 2026 I know firsthand how difficult it is to raise children in an environment where the cost of everything is soaring. Like all Americans, kids in Wisconsin should have the opportunity to build a great life here in our state, and it should never depend on where they live or how much money … Read More
Early Investments, Lasting Impact: City Strategies for Family Economic Security Through the Prenatal–3 Impact Lab
By Lara Burt | April 2026 Economic security is a cornerstone of a child’s healthy development, especially during the critical prenatal-to-three period when the foundations for lifelong learning, health, and well-being are formed. Research shows that the earliest years of life are a time of rapid brain development. A family’s ability to meet basic needs during these early years has … Read More
Beyond the Bank Account: How Baby Bonds Help Create a Healthier Future
By Dr. Sarah DeSilvey and Dr. Patricia Welch Saleeby | April 2026 When we talk about health, we usually focus on what happens inside a doctor’s office. But as any public health expert will tell you, our health and well-being are shaped long before we enter that office. “Social Determinants of Health” (SDOH) account for the vast majority of our … Read More
Accelerated Baby Bonds: What Happens When Policy Meets Financial Reality
By Yaw Owusu-Boahen | March 2026 In August 2025, we launched Cash Catalyst, the first “Accelerated Baby Bonds” program in the country. The program combines capital, financial education, and wraparound services to measurably increase wealth for 52 young adult residents of Greater New Haven. We structured Cash Catalyst to mirror Connecticut’s first-in-the-nation Baby Bonds law, using the Connecticut Treasurer’s requirements … Read More
What Baby Bonds Mean to Us, to Arkansas, and to the South
By Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families | February 2026 What does it take to build real opportunity? And what happens when that opportunity is out of reach from the start? In this Baby Blog, leadership at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF) lend their voices and their unique perspectives to reflect on why Baby Bonds matter, and how … Read More
Baby Bonds and the Great Wealth Transfer: Building Opportunity Where Private Inheritance Falls Short
By Dr. Mingli Zhong | February 2026 Discussions about early wealth-building programs often center on implementation: how should accounts be structured? What savings matches work best? Which investment options make sense?Yet less attention has been paid to how these initiatives connect to the broader landscape of intergenerational wealth transfer, particularly the looming Great Wealth Transfer, a projected $124 trillion shift … Read More