ZERO TO THREE Releases Findings from 2009 National Parent Survey

ZERO TO THREE commissioned Hart Research Associates to conduct a national public opinion poll of 1,615 parents of children age birth to three years in June 2009. The survey was designed to explore issues and challenges that parents of young children confront today, where gaps in knowledge of early development exist, identify what sources of information and support these parents turn to, and what factors influence their approach to parenting. Based on United States Census data, the sample is representative of parents of children ages birth to three years old, as it pertains to basic demographic characteristics such as race, ethnicity, age, and educational attainment. Many of the survey findings have implications for policies and programs for infants, toddlers and families.

Federal Policy Update

Congress will return from the Easter/Passover Recess on April 12 with a full plate of unfinished business now that the landmark health care reform legislation has been signed into law. First up is likely to be the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Resolution -- the blueprint for spending and revenues for the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2010 -- including broad guidelines under which Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and Part C will be funded in the annual appropriations process. Congress also may move in earnest on child nutrition and the Elementary-Secondary Education Act before turning its attention to appropriations bills.

A number of provisions in health care reform will benefit the lives of infants, toddlers and their families. In the first year of the bill, preexisting condition exclusions for children are eliminated. The measure also includes $1.5 billion over 5 years for a new Home Visitation program. Click here for a more extensive analysis.

As noted previously, one casualty of the last-minute changes in the reconciliation bill that finalized health care reform was the Early Learning Challenge Fund (ELCF), deleted from the final package in an effort to meet budget requirements. President Obama has reiterated his support for finding a way to enact the ELCF through another legislative vehicle.

Take advantage of the Congressional Recess to visit with your Members of Congress, share news of your good work, and let them know that, particularly in these economic hard times, it is critical to support early investments in our youngest children and their families. Be sure to thank those who supported passage of health care reform on behalf of the children who will benefit. Also impress upon them the importance of finishing Congress' work on enactment of the Early Learning Challenge Fund -- to promote systems building and support for our children, from birth through their school careers—and of expanding funding for Head Start/Early Head Start and child care.

The budget remains the main focus of Congressional attention right now. The Senate Budget Committee has completed work on its version of the measure, but leaders will not take the plan to the Senate floor without direction from the House. House leaders are under pressure to act on a budget resolution that will provide for appropriations for domestic programs for the next fiscal year. As the appropriations process gets underway, the early childhood community is particularly interested in maintaining the funding increases in Head Start/Early Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant created by ARRA.

Apart from the budget, an oversight hearing is scheduled this week in the House Education and Labor Committee to discuss enrollment and eligibility processes in some Head Start programs.

State Policy Update
North Carolina Moves toward an Integrated Data System for Young Children

North Carolina’s Early Childhood Data System Work Group has made significant progress toward designing an integrated data system for young children. As part of a federally funded grant, the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has worked in collaboration with a number of state partners. The goal of the grant was to align, link, and integrate the accountability initiatives of the partners, including enhancing the individual and collective data capacities of the various birth-to-five programs. Over the past two years, the Early Childhood Data System Work Group compiled information about data fields, software, data collection processes, and any federal requirements impacting the existing agency data systems. They have joined with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to apply for a federal Statewide Longitudinal Data System grant to gather and track data from birth through public school and into the workforce. If funded, the grant contains $1.6 million to support the early childhood data system component.

Read the full state policy update now!

Publications & Resources

Part C Services in Forty-one States
The National Association of State Directors of Special Education’s Project Forum recently released, Workforce Preparation to Serve Children Who Receive Part C Services. The analysis addresses state responses to a survey on 12 specified early intervention professional roles for Part C services. Forty-one states responded to the survey and indicated state requirements for each position, areas where they have shortages, and how they are making certain that qualified professionals are filling positions, as well as other state-identified tactics to address issues in this area.

Coming Soon! SparkAction—A New Web Site for Advocates
Connect for Kids, the Youth Policy Action Center, the National Youth Development Information Center, and Child Advocacy 360 have joined forces to form a new web site called SparkAction, which will be launched soon. The goal of SparkAction is to serve as a one-stop gateway for people wanting to engage in advocacy on behalf of children. Leaders from the early childhood community, including ZERO TO THREE’s Matthew Melmed, were videotaped for a piece about early care and learning to be featured on the SparkAction web site. Check out the video on YouTube.

Report on the Economic Benefits of Early Childhood Investments in New York
Strengthening New York Businesses through Investments in Early Care and Education: How Investments in Early Learning Increase Sales from Local Businesses, Create Jobs and Grow the Economy is a new report from America’s Edge that makes a strong case for early care and education investment. The report shows that for every $1 invested in early care and education in New York, $1.86 is generated in additional spending within the state. It highlights both the immediate short-term economic gains as well as the long-term benefits for economic security resulting from early childhood investment.