Bill Overview
Title: CLIMB Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to implement a program to promote early literacy among children whose caregivers are members of the Armed Forces as part of the pediatric primary care of such children.
Sponsors: Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Target Audience
Population: Children with caregivers in the Armed Forces
Estimated Size: 1200000
- The bill focuses on children with caregivers in the Armed Forces.
- According to data, there are approximately 1.6 million children with active-duty military parents worldwide.
- It targets early literacy programs in pediatric primary care contexts.
- This initiative is authorized by the Department of Defense, suggesting its scope is primarily for children associated with the U.S. military.
Reasoning
- The target population includes approximately 1.2 million children with active-duty military parents in the U.S.
- The budget of $65,000,000 for year 1 suggests a limited rollout, focusing perhaps on larger military bases initially to reach a significant number of children.
- The policy is likely to impact military families with children aged 0-5 years, a critical period for literacy development.
- There may be indirect beneficiaries if the policy reduces stress on military families, improving overall well-being.
- Not all families will be impacted equally. Remote bases may initially receive less attention compared to those with larger populations.
- The policy's impact will depend on its integration with existing pediatric services on bases.
- Approximately 10-20% of the targeted children could be directly and immediately affected in year 1, scaling up over time as the program expands.
Simulated Interviews
Pediatric Nurse (Fort Bragg, North Carolina)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems like a great initiative to support early childhood education on base.
- I'm hopeful it will ease some burdens on families who often move and don't have steady access to consistent educational resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Military Officer (San Diego, California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will provide much-needed support for my child's education, especially since balancing work and parenthood is tough.
- Programs like these can really help stabilize a child's learning when they're moving around a lot.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
School Teacher (Fort Hood, Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this program could ensure that military kids aren't left behind early in their education.
- There's a unique set of stresses that these children face, and this initiative addresses a key part of their development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Logistics Specialist (Offutt AFB, Nebraska)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's promising but I'm cautious; we often move and access to services varies.
- I hope it means we won't miss out on key developmental support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Civilian Employee on Base (Fort Knox, Kentucky)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a positive step for families on base, though it doesn't directly affect me.
- Supporting the troops by supporting their families is always the right call.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Stay-at-home parent (Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I really appreciate this. With my spouse away, having access to educational resources and support makes a world of difference.
- I hope this becomes a permanent thing and expands over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Service Member (Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's comforting to know that my child might benefit from educational support even when I'm not around.
- Issues often arise when services vary between postings, so consistency will be key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Base Educational Consultant (Eglin AFB, Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any addition to support early literacy is beneficial.
- However, it will depend on effective administration and resource deployment to truly succeed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Military Spouse (Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being overseas, accessibility is often a challenge, so this initiative is welcome.
- Promoting literacy from an early age is crucial given the constant relocations faced by military families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Family Support Center Employee (Fort Carson, Colorado)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Providing structured literacy programs can greatly benefit the children of military families.
- It's about providing stability and quality resources for every child, and this is a good step forward.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $65000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $80000000)
Year 2: $67000000 (Low: $52000000, High: $82000000)
Year 3: $69000000 (Low: $54000000, High: $85000000)
Year 5: $72000000 (Low: $58000000, High: $90000000)
Year 10: $80000000 (Low: $65000000, High: $100000000)
Year 100: $-1 (Low: $-1, High: $-1)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the program depends on the integration of literacy initiatives within existing pediatric care frameworks.
- Coordination with military health and educational services is critical.
- Long-term benefits are significant but accrue over extended periods, not immediately visible in short-term forecasts.