Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab

Recognizing that healthy environments, financial stability, and safe homes are essential for thriving children, families, and communities, NLC’s Early Childhood Success team is excited to launch the Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab, a unique nine-month initiative to drive local action for the prenatal-to-three population. The Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab will focus on strategies to address key contributors to poor maternal and infant outcomes, including climate & environmental factors, family economic insecurity, and housing instability.

The Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab offers a blend of in-person and virtual sessions that connect participants with early childhood experts, peer networks, tailored resources, and real-world city examples. Throughout the series, leaders will refine their strategic vision and develop actionable commitments on behalf of the prenatal-to-three population in their cities through collaborative cohort discussions, as well as guidance from national partners and NLC staff. Participating cities will select one focus area to drive targeted impact.

Selected cities will receive support to:

• Integrate early childhood frameworks with climate and environmental initiatives that promote healthy air, green space, and sustainable neighborhoods.
• Embed early childhood and family-centered strategies in economic development efforts that enhance financial stability and workforce participation for parents and caregivers.
• Connect housing policies to the specific needs of expectant parents and families with infants and toddlers, ensuring access to stable, safe, and affordable homes.

Through this initiative, participants will gain the tools, expertise, and collaboration necessary to create lasting, meaningful change for their youngest residents and broader communities.

Who is this Series For?

This initiative is for cities, towns, and villages dedicated to improving early childhood outcomes through policy, collaboration, and strategic action. While team leads must be a city staff member, the ideal team will consist of:

• Municipal leaders
• Cross-departmental city staff (e.g., Early Childhood, Housing & Community Development, Economic Development, Sustainability)
• Community partners (e.g., community partners, parent leaders, foundations)

Important Information

• Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, October 31, 2025.
• The support of your city, town or village’s top executive is required.
• During each program, cities will be expected to participate in one in-person convening. The location of this meeting will be determined in Fall 2025.

Informational Session

An informational webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 20. Register now to learn more about this opportunity and get insights into the application process.

Participating National Partners & Resources

• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
  • The mission of the Center on the Developing Child is to leverage the power of science in pursuit of better, more equitable outcomes for young children facing adversity.
  • Resource: Extreme Heat Effects Child Development
• The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy
  • The Institute aims to address economic insecurity through strategic partnerships and people-focused investments.
  • Resource: A Brighter Future with Baby Bonds
• SchoolHouse Connection
  • SchoolHouse Connection is a national non-profit organization working to overcome homelessness through early care and education. They provide strategic assistance to early childhood programs, schools, institutions of higher education, service providers, families and youth. 
  • Resource: Infant and Toddler Homelessness Across 50 States: 2022-2023

This Impact Lab is made possible by the generous support of the Pritzker Children’s Initiative.