Boost Family Affordability
In 2026, The Policy Project pursued a series of policies to make Utah an even better place to have and raise kids.
Child sexual abuse affects 1 in 7 Utah children. We have the tools to change that.
Utah law now provides $1.5 million in ongoing funding to help schools offer age-appropriate CSA prevention education to K-6 students — at no cost. The programming is approved, the providers are ready, and every Utah child deserves access to this education.
91%
of cases involve someone the child already knows
1 in 7
Utah children experience abuse before age 18
$1.5M
in annual state funding now available for schools
For School Leaders
Your school can provide this education—free and right now
Three pathways are available to every Utah LEA. No budget required to get started. Utah schools can choose who delivers K-6 CSA prevention instruction. All options are funded through USBE, either through the state contract with PCAU at no cost or through a USBE prevention grant.
PATHWAY 1
Free via Prevent Child Abuse Utah
Free classroom instruction delivered by Prevent Child Abuse Utah. No grant application required.
PATHWAY 2
Approved Prevention Educators
Partner with another USBE-approved provider. Funded through the USBE Choice grant.
PATHWAY 3
Your Own LEA Staff
Train internal staff using a train-the-trainer model. Funded through the USBE Choice grant.
We have information and resources for educators, parents, community members, survivors, and prevention providers.
Find Your Resources
Understand what prevention education is, how to talk with your child about safety, and how to advocate for this programming at your school.
Parents & Caregivers
Find resources for support and healing, understand how prevention education protects children, and help bring awareness to your community.
Community Members
Access training resources, learn how to respond to disclosures, understand mandatory reporting requirements, and work with families.
Educators & Counselors
Learn about USBE materials approval, the alternative provider grant, the TPP provider network grant, and tools to promote the LEA incentive program.
Prevention Providers
The Problem
Utah has been known as one of the best places to raise a family—but for many, that promise feels increasingly out of reach. Rising costs and limited options mean parents are facing impossible choices like delaying having kids, leaving careers, taking on second jobs, or working when they’d rather stay home with children.
43% of working parents would prefer one parent to be home (source).
74% of Utah parents with children under six say they need two incomes just to cover household expenses (source).
Utah’s birth rate has fallen from 2.65 births per family in 2007 to 1.8 in 2023 (source).
Many Utah families, especially single parents, spend more than 30% of their income on child care (source).
Infant care in particular is 78% more expensive than college tuition (source).
$25,288 is the average annual cost of care for two children in center-based care, and $19,500 is the average annual cost of care for two children in residential-based care (source).
75% of Utahns live in a “child care desert,” where there isn’t enough child care to serve the working population (source).
Utah loses $1.36 billion annually in economic opportunity due to parentʼs experiencing disruptions to childcare (source).
Stories from across the state.
What We Accomplished Together
Families need real choices. We took that case to the Utah State Capitol in the 2026. Here's where things landed:
HB190 Child Care
Business Tax Credit
Sponsors: Rep Jason Thompson & Sen Heidi Balderree
Objective: Offer tax incentives to encourage Utah employers to support their employees with child care costs
Funding Ask: $2.9M ongoing
Outcome: Passed & fully funded
Bill Language
Legislative One-pager
Research Brief
Policy Rollout Plan
Policy Rollout Snapshot
HB 290 Child Tax
Credit Amendments
Sponsors: Rep Tracy Miller
& Sen Lincoln Fillmore
Objective: Expand access to Utah’s Child Tax Credit
Funding Ask: $7.1M ongoing
Outcome: Passed & fully funded
HB329 State Employee
Maternity Leave Amendments
Sponsors: Rep Ariel Defay
& Sen Michael McKell
Outcome: Passed with amendments — expands leave from 6 to 9 weeks, includes coverage for adoption & foster care, protects pumping breast milk in public spaces
Funding Ask: No funding needed after amendments
Bill Language
Legislative One-pager
Maternity Leave Research Brief
Pumping Research Brief
SB214 Home-Based Child Care Solutions
Sponsors: Sen Luz Escamilla
& Rep Tiara Auxier
Objective: Create a grant pool to launch home-based providers, increase max # children for unlicensed providers from 8 to 10, require registration for providers caring for 4 to 10 children
Funding Ask: $2.5M one-time
Outcome: Did NOT pass
While high housing and other expenses contribute to Utah’s rising cost of living, supporting families through these targeted policy solutions are levers we can pull today to make a tangible difference for families.
The Projected Impact
117,300
families with more financial flexibility through improving tax credit access (HB290)
110,000
working parents supported by increased child care access (HB190)
21 more days
of maternity leave for state employees (HB329)
Families gain flexibility to raise children at home, cover essentials, save for the future, and strengthen financial stability.
Communities thrive as more parents can participate in the workforce or care for their children without impossible trade-offs.
Children can receive high-quality care during their critical early years, supporting healthy social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Mothers get more time with their newborns, building stronger bonds and healthier starts for both.
A better Utah for families.
Boost Family Affordability
—
Boost Family Affordability —
Thousands of families miss out on tax credits they’ve earned. Your gift helps them claim what’s theirs.
Tell us about rising costs, finding child care, and the trade-offs your family faces.
Join us to learn what's next for Utah families and how you can get involved.