Local governments are on the front lines of one of the defining challenges of our time—advancing economic mobility for low-income youth, families, and communities. The Economic Mobility Catalog provides resources on evidence-based practices, programs, and policies designed to improve outcomes that drive upward economic mobility. We hope that these materials help accelerate change in your community.
Early Childhood
Early childhood strategies focus on family health and stability and preparing children for kindergarten, including academic development, social-emotional growth, and health and wellbeing from ages 0-5. Children who enter kindergarten ready to learn are more likely to achieve positive academic outcomes through elementary and middle school, avoid risky behaviors in adolescence, graduate from high school, and continue on to post-secondary education.
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K-12 Education
K-12 education strategies focus on academic growth, social-emotional development, and physical and mental health and wellbeing for students in elementary, middle, and high school. These strategies contribute to positive outcomes at every stage of an individual’s life: reaching key academic and social milestones in elementary and middle school, earning a high school diploma, and receiving a post-secondary degree or credential.
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Post-secondary Education and Workforce Development
Post- secondary education and workforce development strategies provide individuals with the skills and preparation they need to obtain higher-quality employment. Individuals with a post-secondary degree or credential tend to earn higher wages, experience better health outcomes, and are less likely to be incarcerated than individuals without post-secondary training.
Workforce development strategies can improve high school graduation rates, boost post-secondary enrollment and graduation, and create pathways to good, stable jobs. For parents, high-quality employment strengthens stability at home, leading to better economic, social, and health outcomes for their children.
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Health and Well-being
Good health is a critical foundation to all mobility outcomes. Healthy families and neighborhoods contribute to positive outcomes at every life stage. Healthy children are more likely to be ready for kindergarten, stay on-track through elementary and middle school, and graduate from high school. And healthy adults are more likely to receive a post-secondary degree and obtain and keep good jobs.
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Justice and Public Safety
Justice strategies can reduce the negative effects of incarceration, help individuals returning from incarceration successfully re-enter society, and facilitate community healing after crimes have been committed. Public safety strategies can reduce crime and improve neighborhood well-being. These strategies can improve family stability and neighborhood quality, which create better mobility outcomes at all life stages.
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Housing and Community Development
Affordable, stable, and safe housing is foundational to individual and family well-being. Children who grow up in safe and stable housing are more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn, succeed in elementary and middle school, and graduate from high school. Adults living in stable housing are more likely to complete post-secondary training and obtain and keep high-quality employment. And lower-income individuals living in mixed-income neighborhoods tend to experience better outcomes at all life stages.
Community development strategies focus on improving the economic opportunities, physical infrastructure, environmental quality, and social capital of communities. These strategies can improve family well-being and neighborhood quality, which promote better mobility outcomes at all life stages.
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Financial Security
Financial security strategies focus on increasing residents’ economic strength, short-and long-term incomes and savings, and financial knowledge and skills. These strategies can improve family health and well-being, housing stability, and educational attainment, all of which promote better mobility outcomes at all life stages.