September 17, 2012



Supporting Young Latino Children and English Language Learners

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15), the ZERO TO THREE Policy Network would like to highlight resources that strengthen programs that serve young Latino children and their families. The National Council of La Raza released a series of policy briefs that focus on best practices in early childhood education programs that serve young Latino children and English Language Learners (ELLs). Check out the publications from the Preparing Young Latino Children for School Success series below:

• Preparing Young Latino Children for School Success: Best Practices in Professional Development
• Preparing Young Latino Children for School Success: Best Practices in Student Assessments
• Preparing Young Latino Children for School Success: Best Practices in Language Instruction
• Preparing Young Latino Children for School Success: Best Practices in Family Engagement

Federal Policy Update

The Human Face of the Sequester

Last Friday, the Obama Administration have the first detailed view of the impact of the sequester, or automatic funding cut, that must occur next January unless Congress acts to avert it. The report projects an 8.2 percent cut for domestic discretionary programs, including many that help support the development of vulnerable infants and toddlers. Defense programs would receive a 9.4 percent cut. No longer the focus primarily of Washington insiders, these far-ranging funding reductions will reverberate beyond the Washington beltway to the human services provided at the state and local levels. With the campaign for federal elective offices in full swing, children and family advocates need to send a clear message: It is dangerous to reduce the deficit by cutting programs that support children’s development and help them reach their potential. Solutions to our budget crisis must be balanced and responsible. To learn more, please read our Baby Policy Blog.

(In case you missed it, click here to read last week's blog entries about the national poverty numbers and the National Grandparents Day celebration at the White House.)



State Policy Update

Michigan Makes Reducing Infant Mortality a Priority

The state of Michigan is taking steps to combat infant mortality and reduce disparities among racial and ethnic groups. For every 1,000 live births in Michigan, seven infants die before reaching their first birthday, a rate that is higher than the national average. The rate for African American babies is double—14 out of 1,000 die before they turn one. In response, Governor Rick Snyder has identified reducing infant mortality as a public health priority. The Department of Community Health released an Infant Mortality Reduction Plan last month that outlines strategies and goals for 2012-2015, including implementing a regional perinatal system, supporting better health status for women and girls, promoting safe infant sleep practices, and weaving the social determinants of health into all targeted strategies to promote reduction of racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality. The plan was developed collaboratively with community, health care, academic, public health, and other maternal and child health stakeholders across the state. The state’s progress in reducing infant mortality will be publicly monitored on the Michigan Dashboard, an online data reporting tool used to provide a quick assessment of the state’s performance in key areas. Read the full state policy update now. Read the full state policy update now.



Publications & Resources

NTI Program Available Online
The complete National Training Institute (NTI) program with registration information is now available on the NTI website. NTI is ZERO TO THREE’s annual multi-disciplinary training event for experienced early childhood professionals. This year’s NTI will take place November 29 - December 1, 2012, in Los Angeles, CA. Visit www.zttnticonference.org for more information and to download the complete program now.

New Census Report On Poverty
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released a new report, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance in the United States: 2011. The report provides the startling statistic: one-fourth of U.S. children under the age of 6 now live in poverty. The report also notes that 46 million Americans live below the poverty line. Click here to read the full Census report now.

Promoting Young Children’s Learning in QRIS Standards
Practices for Promoting Young Children’s Learning in QRIS Standards, a new brief from the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), examines the strength of supports for children’s early learning in 23 states’ Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) standards.