Austin joins National League of Cities nine-month cohort targeting prenatal-to-three health and environmental risks
Austin selected for national technical-assistance program
The City of Austin has been selected to participate in a nine-month technical-assistance and peer-learning initiative focused on improving outcomes for children from pregnancy through age three. The program, known as the Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab, is designed to help cities convert early-childhood priorities into actionable local commitments tied to maternal and infant health, family stability, and the conditions in which young children grow and develop.
Austin is one of 16 cities participating in the 2026 cohort. Other selected cities include Cambridge (Massachusetts), College Park (Maryland), East Orange (New Jersey), Henderson (Nevada), Houston (Texas), LaBelle (Florida), Louisville (Kentucky), Madison (Wisconsin), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), New Haven (Connecticut), New Orleans (Louisiana), Park City (Utah), Toledo (Ohio), Tulsa (Oklahoma), and Vancouver (Washington).
Program focus: environment, economic security, and housing stability
The Impact Lab is structured around a set of interconnected policy areas commonly linked to maternal and infant outcomes: climate and environmental factors, family economic insecurity, and housing instability. Participating cities select a focus area and receive support through a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, including peer exchanges, implementation examples from other municipalities, and guidance intended to help local teams refine strategy and identify concrete steps they can take within city government.
Austin’s stated focus within the cohort is climate and environmental factors affecting very young children. City plans tied to the program include coordinating staff across departments and incorporating prenatal-to-three considerations into broader municipal planning efforts related to heat and climate readiness.
How the effort fits Austin’s existing early-childhood work
Austin’s participation builds on an ongoing local initiative aimed at improving equitable access to nature and outdoor learning for young children. That work has included integrating outdoor learning environments into early childhood programming and supporting cross-department coordination to expand access to natural spaces where children live, learn, and play.
City leaders have also framed early-childhood policy as a cross-cutting issue that interacts with land use, environmental health, and family supports. The Impact Lab’s structure is intended to accelerate that type of coordination by connecting local government staff with technical resources and peer cities working on similar challenges.
What the nine-month cohort is expected to produce
Across the program period, participating cities are expected to move from assessment and planning toward defined commitments that can be carried forward after the cohort ends. In practical terms, that work typically centers on identifying gaps, aligning existing city initiatives, and establishing next-step actions that can be implemented through municipal policies, planning documents, partnerships, or funding strategies.
- Peer-learning sessions with other participating cities
- Technical guidance and curated implementation resources
- Development of local commitments focused on prenatal-to-three outcomes
The program is structured to help cities translate early-childhood priorities into coordinated local action that addresses environmental conditions, economic stability, and housing security for families with infants and toddlers.