As the governor and legislature deliberate on Connecticut’s 2026 state budget, we face a persistent challenge: child poverty.

It has been shaped and deepened through our history of systemic inequities, and yet at this moment, we may be able to surmount them through sustained, intentional public investment.

Federal funding changes are already deepening instability for families across our state, particularly those living closest to the edge. In the last year, the leadership shown by Gov. Ned Lamont and legislators was a game changer. Together, they took meaningful steps to strengthen Connecticut’s early childhood systems. The creation of the Early Childhood Education Endowment reflects serious commitment to support early educators and the families who rely on them. It showed imagination and courage.

Access to early care, stable housing, nutritious food, and economic security are increasingly recognized —globally and locally— as foundational conditions for human dignity. They are prerequisites for children to grow, learn, thrive, and ultimately contribute to our shared future. In Connecticut, we experience some of the largest income and opportunity gaps in the country —gaps that track by ZIP code and shape daily realities. They influence whether children arrive at school nourished and ready to learn, whether families can remain housed, and whether parents can weather illness or disruption without falling further behind.

End Child Poverty Now —a campaign stewarded by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut in partnership with more than 100 organizations statewide—brings together families, service providers, advocates and policymakers with knowledge, commitment and expertise. Our coalition has identified clear, actionable priorities that should be reflected in the state budget to protect children and strengthen our future:

• A permanent, refundable Connecticut Child Tax Credit of $600 per child
• Universal no-cost healthy school meals for all students
• Stronger housing stability protections
• A state-funded nutrition assistance program for families losing SNAP eligibility due to federal rule changes

These priorities respond directly to the realities families are facing —and to the added strain created by federal policy shifts. They represent practical, proven tools the state can deploy now to lift children out of poverty and protect future generations.

Despite all the challenges – national, statewide and local – Connecticut is well positioned to address child poverty. We have the resources, expertise and the tools to respond. We are among the richest states in the nation. We have the capacity to act —and the responsibility to use our resources in ways that reflect our values. It all comes down to political will.

Investing in children is the most consequential investment we can make. It strengthens our communities, our workforce, and our future. Our leaders can demonstrate with clarity, courage and sustained commitment, that Connecticut has the political will to ensure that the future generation will have every opportunity to succeed.

Maryam Elahi is President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.