A lot happens between a child’s birth and their fourth birthday: for example, learning to talk and walk, discovering the world around them, and developing their own personality. It’s a critical time of growth for children—and their parents—who often lean on others for help. The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC) provides and advocates for research-backed policies that support the state’s youngest residents and those who care for them.
AT A GLANCE
Top executives: Libbie Sonnier, PhD, Executive Director
Phone: 504.442.0298
Address: P.O. Box 13552, New Orleans, LA 70185
Website: policyinstitutela.org
The institute was founded in 2014 by Melanie Bronfin, who saw a need for a nonpartisan, nonprofit source of research and data on issues affecting babies through 4-year-olds along with their families and care providers. Since then, LPIC has made significant strides. Louisiana now offers $87 million in assistance to help ensure access to quality childcare, and the state ranks in the top 20 nationally for accountability of how those dollars are spent.
Research from the institute has helped shape those policies. It continues to aid leaders’ decision-making through unbiased data on key issues such as how to keep childcare centers open during COVID and the need for pay raises for providers.
