Children and Families

Governors and state leaders play a critical role in the protection and support of vulnerable children, families, and individuals. The Children and Families (C&F) team provides timely and individualized state-focused technical assistance to Governors, their human services policy advisors, and state agency leadership so they can improve policies and systems that will allow children, families, and communities to reach their full potential. With an emphasis on helping States develop opportunities and policies that support all communities, the C&F team aids Governors to advance and fulfill their vision for the children and families in their states.

Our Focus Areas

  • Whole-family Approaches to Serving Children and Families
  • Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Juvenile Justice
  • Human Services Data and Delivery Systems
  • Housing and Homelessness
  • Food Insecurity and Hunger
  • Family Economic Security
  • Anti-Poverty Solutions
  • Foster Care, Kinship Care, and Adoption
  • Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
  • Empowering Families and Communities
  • Reducing Barriers to Opportunity and Equity

Meet The Team

  • Jordan Hynes
    Program Director
  • Jess Kirchner
    Senior Policy Analyst
  • Eli McCabe
    Policy Analyst
  • Ekaan Ahmad
    Policy Coordinator

Major Initiatives

Policy Academy on Strengthening Youth Mental Health  

This Policy Academy builds on last year’s Chair’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth, Led by Governor Murphy of New Jersey. NGA will support up to 6 states in intensive technical assistance and strategic planning to implement the Chair’s Initiative Playbook through 4 main policy pillars:  

  • Prevention and Resilience 
  • Increasing Awareness and Reducing Stigma 
  • Access and Affordability of Quality Treatment and Care 
  • Caregiver and Educator Training and Support 

Children & Families Core Advisors Board 

The NGA Children and Families Team established the Core Advisors Board (CAB) to provide feedback on governors’ top priorities impacting the lives of children and families. Each year, a small group of governors’ human services policy advisors and agency leaders are selected to provide critical input and feedback on the structure and content of the NGA Center’s work with the states on human services and early childhood education and care issues.  


Human Services Policy Advisor Institute 

The Human Services Policy Advisors Institute is a network of governors’ policy advisors and state leaders from social services and children and family-serving agencies that comes together on a monthly call to share innovations and best practices for serving the complex needs of children and families. This network serves as a regular check-in for updates, content, peer-to-peer exchanges, and networking for policy advisors to discuss multidisciplinary policy considerations. Recent topics include: Human Services Workforce; Integrating Eligibility Screening Systems; and Supporting Older Populations.  


Children and Families Library

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Summer Camps and Summer Learning Opportunities

As states shift their focus from the immediate emergency of COVID-19 school closures toward the reopening of schools and educational centers in the summer and fall, there has been growing ...

Steps to Address Food and Financial Insecurity for Individuals and Families in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

This memo looks at what system level changes governors are making to address food and financial insecurity, including support for affected workers, as a result of COVID-19. This memo is ...

Flexibilities Under CCDBG/CCDF, CARES Act Supports for Small Businesses and Child Care

The National Governors Association recently hosted a webinar in partnership with the Office of Child Care within the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and ...

COVID-19 Responses in the Juvenile Justice System

As the number of COVID-19 cases increases, governors are taking action to limit the spread of this disease, including coordinating with correctional leaders to prevent and limit the spread and ...
Integrating and Advancing State Prenatal to 3 Policies

Integrating and Advancing State Prenatal to 3 Policies

November 13-15, 2019 | Charleston, SC The NGA Early Care and Education and Human Services Teams hosted six states as part of the Prenatal to Age 3 Policy Academy in ...
Governor’s Pocket Guide to Early Literacy

Governor’s Pocket Guide to Early Literacy

Summary Early literacy has been elevated by governors across the nation as an indicator of success in school and in life. The 2019 Governor’s Pocket Guide to Early Literacy underscores the ...
Reforming child welfare through a three-branch approach

Reforming child welfare through a three-branch approach

Recent developments in the field of child welfare have challenged child welfare professionals to approach the work of promoting child and family safety, well-being and permanence in new and innovative ...
Human Services Policy Institute

Human Services Policy Institute

Sept. 11-13, 2019 | Chicago, IL NGA Economic Opportunity hosted its annual Policy Institute for Governors Human Services Advisors as a venue for senior leadership in states and territories to ...
NGA Works with 6 States to Advance Prenatal to Age 3 Policies

NGA Works with 6 States to Advance Prenatal to Age 3 Policies

Investing in early education yields benefits over the long term The National Governors Association today announced that six states -- Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland and Missouri -- will receive ...
Prenatal to Age Three Learning Collaborative 

Prenatal to Age Three Learning Collaborative 

Prenatal to Age Three Learning Collaborative January 7-9, 2019 | New Orleans, Louisiana NGA Center Education Division hosted its Integrating and Advancing State Prenatal to Age Three Policies Learning Collaborative ...
Governors Applaud Extension of TANF Program

Governors Applaud Extension of TANF Program

The National Governors Association (NGA) applauded Congress and the president for extending the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through June 30, 2019. Yesterday, the president signed H.R. 430 ...
National Governors Association Warns on TANF Benefits During Shutdown

National Governors Association Warns on TANF Benefits During Shutdown

The National Governors Association, the nonpartisan association of the 55 governors of U.S. states and territories, issued a letter to congressional leadership calling for swift action on renewing funding for ...