Click on the links below for overviews of programs that support families with young children and see how they vary across states. We also provide links to additional information and data.
Nutrition Support
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service oversees all domestic nutrition assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Although the federal government sets overarching policies for SNAP and WIC, states have some flexibility in how they administer the programs.
The SNAP provides nutrition support to children and adults in households with low incomes.
The WIC supports the nutritional needs of children younger than age 5 and pregnant and postpartum women.
The CACFP supports nutritious meals and snacks served at participating child care programs.
Tax credits
The Internal Revenue Service administers three tax credits that support families with children: the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC), and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC). Some states also provide one or more of these tax credits.
The EITC is a refundable federal tax credit for families with incomes from working. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia have state EITCs.
The CTC is a tax credit for each qualifying child in a family. Fifteen states have state CTC's.
The CDCTC is a tax credit for some of the expenses incurred in caring for qualifying children in a family.
Other income support
Federal and state income support programs advance the economic security of families with low incomes. The Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services administers Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a cash assistance program. Some states have paid family leave, and some localities have universal basic income programs.