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The cost of not funding our children and youth is visible all around us. Last year, we mapped out some of the federal cuts planned for programs that kids and families rely on, and now the impact of those cuts are being felt in communities across the country. Meanwhile, for those seeking to invest in kids, asking how much it will cost becomes a crucial step in meeting goals for their state, locality, or Native community.
Cost analysis and modeling turns that question into valuable data. A cost model calculates the true cost of delivering a specific program or service at a desired level of quality by collecting data from direct service providers, capturing every component that goes into delivering a service from staffing, compensation, space, materials, administration, and more. When local leaders and advocates accurately understand those costs, then they have the information they need to pursue the means to fund the services kids need.
For instance, cost models have supported efforts to raise wages for teachers and staff in universal pre-K programs in Boston, MA; helped expand funding for out-of-school time programs and services in Poughkeepsie, NY; and laid the groundwork for a ballot measure campaign in Travis County, TX, that resulted in $75 million per year in annual dedicated funding to expand access to quality child care for families.
We help states and communities understand the cost implications of different policy choices before committing resources, and now you can learn more about those services in a new fact sheet about cost models, analysis, and estimation. State and community leaders seeking assistance with a cost model should reach out to us to learn more.
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