Next Generation will continue on in 2016 and beyond as a nonprofit incubator, developing projects and programs that may have homes in other organizations or be time limited.

The great baseball player and sometimes philosopher Willie Stargell once said, “Life is one big transition.” That is certainly how we feel here at Next Generation.

For the Children & Families Program at Next Generation it’s the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one too. Too Small to Fail and the policy team are moving on to The Opportunity Institute. And as part of these transitions, there is another big change to announce: the next chapter for the California Work & Family Coalition.

American policy has failed to keep pace with the shifting roles of fathers. More than ever, working parents need the tools and supports to balance the demands of work and caring for their family.

By improving access, quality and provider reimbursement rates, this budget proposal would go a long way towards creating a stable and comprehensive care and education system that improves prospects for working families, and provides our youngest learners with the opportunity to thrive and succeed in the 21st century.

Many people I know and talk to about home visiting programs seem to think of them as a “nice to have” service. But these programs provide much more than words of encouragement.

Evidence-based home visiting programs have been found to reap long-term, positive effects for the children and parents enrolled. More than 20 states have established state plans and mechanisms to draw down federal Medicaid dollars to fund home visiting programs. California should join them, and distinguish itself as a state that values evidence-based programs that improve the economy and the healt

More than $1 billion in cuts made to California's child care and early education system since the Great Recession have not yet been restored. Although some important steps were taken to rebuild the system last year, it is still miles away from being what families need.

Ann O'Leary reflects on Next Generation's accomplishments and discusses what's next for the Children & Families program.

Spring is a time of change and rebirth. For Next Generation, this spring is also a time of change.