Policy & Practice | April 2021

president‘smemo By Tracy Wareing Evans

Investing for the Future: The Possibility of the American Rescue Plan

A s we usher in the welcome signs of spring—sunshine and warmer temperatures, birds chirping outside our home office windows, kids (and parents) able to enjoy some much- needed outside activities—we also see other important signals of hope and possibility. More than 3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are being admin- istered each day. There are concrete signs of a stronger economy as unem- ployment numbers drop and jobs grow in multiple sectors. Also, last month Congress passed much-needed relief for families and communities through a major economic stimulus package—the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The ARP supports a lifeline for families impacted by the pandemic this past year, like housing, utilities (including water and broadband), child care, and nutrition assistance. 1 It also makes an important down payment toward an equitable recovery by including upstream investments in maternal and paternal health; commu- nity-based grants that support family well-being and prevent child maltreat- ment; aging and disability supports; increased access to quality child care; and asset-building through child tax credits, among many others. Coupled with direct allocations to states and localities, including dedi- cated resources to invest in building the workforce and technology infra- structure, the ARP helps ensure that public agencies, and the community organizations they work alongside, can continue to meet the needs of people experiencing the most adver- sity while striving to repair past harms and lay new tracks that advance

Indigenous communities of color. Through people-centered approaches that meet people where there are, we can embed preventive approaches that center families as the best architects of their future and equip them with what they need to prevent prolonged exposure to stress, help build resil- iency, and adapt to adversity. Together we can help lift the weight of toxic stress that has been pressing down on families and communities. We can invest in technology and tools to modernize our delivery systems by engaging community members and the front-line workforce in the redesign to make systems work for people instead of the other way around. By tapping strategies already in our toolkit—like blending and

equity. 2 Notably, many investments in the ARP will extend beyond the duration of the public health emer- gency and are explicitly designed to address the racial and economic injustices COVID-19 has exacerbated by positioning communities for a more equitable long-term recovery. 3 Furthermore, if Congress ultimately passes one or more infrastructure bills, the impact of these investments could be greatly amplified. In short, the opportunity before us is a game changer. We can make significant strides on pernicious issues by reducing child poverty, addressing health disparities, and closing wealth gaps , especially for the vastly dispro- portionate impacts of generational poverty and community trauma experienced by Black, Brown, and

See President’s Memo on page 33

Illustration via Shutterstock

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April 2021 Policy&Practice