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Children, Youth, & Families

ASPE produces a range of policy research to promote child development, early childhood care and education, child welfare, positive youth development, and child and family well-being. 

Resources for Youth and Youth Programs

youth.gov: This page features resources to help create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs. Included are youth facts, funding information, and tools to help you assess community assets, generate maps of local and federal resources, search for evidence-based youth programs, and keep up-to-date on the latest youth-related news. 

engage.youth.gov: This page provides youth-focused resources and opportunities that inspire and empower young people to make a difference in their lives and in the world around them by improving their knowledge and leadership skills. 

Reports

Displaying 1 - 10 of 790. 10 per page. Page 1.

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ASPE Issue Brief

Over the Past 10 Years, Head Start Administrative Spending Remained Relatively Steady and Always Below the 15 Percent Statutory Ceiling

This brief describes the share of spending on administrative expenses in Head Start. Key findings include:
ASPE Issue Brief

Exposure to Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence Is Associated With Child Welfare System Involvement

KEY POINTSExisting research shows that children’s exposure to domestic violence (DV)/ intimate partner violence (IPV) increases the likelihood of involvement with the child welfare system (including child protective services (CPS) involvement and foster care entry).
ASPE Issue Brief

From FY16 to FY25, Fewer Head Start Families Received Comprehensive Services and the Percentage of Families Receiving Services Also Declined for Many Categories

This brief examines how Head Start’s comprehensive service delivery changed between the 2015-2016 (FY16) and 2024-2025 (FY25) program years, focused on volume (total number) and rate (percent) of children and families who received comprehensive services. Key findings include:
ASPE Issue Brief

Structure Matters: How State Child Support Program Administration and Procedures Can Impact Federal Spending and Support Order Establishment Performance

h3 { max-width: 100% !important; } p{max-width: 100% !important;}KEY POINTSFederal spending per child support case increased from $374.31 to $435.82 (in inflation adjusted dollars) between Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) and FY24.
ASPE Issue Brief

HHS' Historical Approach to Head Start Regulation Following the 2007 Statutory Reauthorization has Increased Costs and Reduced Access, without Substantial Quality Gains

This brief describes HHS' historical approach to Head Start regulation following the 2007 statutory reauthorization. Key findings include:
Case Study

How Texas Achieves Strong Program Integrity in CCDF: Practical Considerations for State CCDF Lead Agencies

To facilitate cross-state learning, the Office of Child Care (OCC), in partnership with the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), is launching a snapshot series to highlight promising state practices.
ASPE Data Point

Estimates of Child Care Subsidy Eligibility & Receipt for Fiscal Year 2022

In 2022, 11.8 million children were eligible for childcare subsidies under federal rules; under state rules – which can be more restrictive – 9.1 million were eligible.1.8 million children received subsidies, representing 16 percent of those eligible under federal rules and