October 31, 2012



Get the Facts and Get Out the Vote!

With Election Day only a few days away, ZERO TO THREE has assembled a few resources to help you get the facts about the state of infants and toddlers in the U.S. and how to get out the vote on their behalf: 

• National Baby Facts, ZERO TO THREE’s latest publication, tells the story of how the youngest children in the U.S. are faring and gives the facts on the social supports that play a role in nurturing their development. Citations for the report are available here. Use these facts to help inform your voting decisions on November 6th. Once the election is over, share this report with policymakers to help them make educated funding decisions with infants and toddlers in mind.

• The advocacy challenge outlined in the November Advocacy Developmental Milestone Calendar is a simple one– VOTE! Exercise your constitutional right and take a stand for babies at the ballot this November. Check out the calendar for more details.

• Our handy Election Day Check-list provides links to useful online resources to help you prepare for the big day. Use this check-list to help you locate candidate questionnaires, your polling location, and what types of documentation you'll need in order to vote in your state.

Federal Policy Update

12 Million Reasons to VOTE!

As we head into the final week before the election, the events surrounding Hurricane Sandy cause us to focus on what is most precious to us—our families, our neighbors, and our communities. The various political campaigns, now at a fever pitch, may seem beside the point. Yet we must keep thinking about shaping the future we want for our children. The most potent way we have of affecting that path on a large scale is to exercise our right and responsibility in determining who will lead us at all levels of government. In short, it is vital that we all VOTE. There is power in that one simple act. If, by some chance, you need a reason to vote, we can give you 12 million of them. That’s how many infants and toddlers are depending on those of us eighteen and older to be an active participant in government and to therefore direct the nation they will someday inherit. Read more in the Baby Policy Blog.



State Policy Update

California Releases Report on the Condition of Children Birth to Five and Status of Early Childhood Services in Its State

California recently released a meta-analysis of existing early childhood services developed by the American Institutes for Research. This analysis looks at the status of children birth to five in the state of California and provides recommendations on how to improve the early learning system based on a review of 81 reports and studies. The analysis is the first stage of development of the California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan (CCELP) through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. The goal of the CCELP is to develop a long-term vision for early learning in California, provide recommendations on how to achieve the vision, address policies and programs impacting young children birth to five years old, and provide a roadmap for the future of California’s early learning system. Future steps include conducting stakeholder meetings throughout the state and developing a comprehensive early learning plan. Read the full state policy update for more information.



Publications & Resources

Latino Kids Data Explorer
National Council of La Raza (NCLR) launched its Latino Kids Data Explorer, a database with 27 indicators of child well-being that allows users to find state and national level data for Latino, White, Black, and Other children. NCLR also released a data visualization and a fact sheet focused on Latino children ages 0-8.  

Child Povery and Its Lasting Consequence
Child Poverty and Its Lasting Consequence, a new report from the Urban Institute, examines the magnitude of child poverty, family characteristics related to childhood poverty persistence, and childhood poverty’s lasting consequences.

New Resources from NCCP
National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) recently released two publications: Young Children at Risk: National and State Prevalence of Risk Factors highlights important findings about the prevalence of children experiencing risk factors in the U.S. Building a Competitive Future Right from the Start: How Paid Leave Strengthens 21st Century Families provides a brief history of paid family leave policy in the U.S. and abroad; synthesizes cutting-edge knowledge about paid leave and its impact on family and civic life; and concludes with a set of recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and early childhood stakeholders.