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Download the May Advocacy Developmental Milestone Calendar!
During the month of May, it’s time to focus on the emotional health of infants and toddlers in honor of Mental Health Month. Your challenge this month is to invite three people who work with young children to meet you for coffee on May 7th to talk about early childhood mental health and how you can help policymakers recognize and support this important aspect of development. Download this month's calendar now!
Federal Policy Update
Having just returned from the Spring recess, Congress will resume work on reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions of the FY 2010 Budget Resolution. Once agreed upon, the final Budget Resolution will set the aggregate limits on funding levels for discretionary spending and, if necessary, directions for changes in mandatory programs and tax laws to achieve budget targets. It will then be up to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees to set specific funding levels for individual programs, including those affecting infants, toddlers, and their families (such as Head Start, Early Head Start, the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Parts B and C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and certain child welfare funding). Meanwhile, the President's more detailed budget request is anticipated in early May and is expected to serve as guidance to Congress on the details underlying the overall budget blueprint.
State Policy Update
Connecticut Uses Accountability Framework to Improve Child and Family Outcomes
Since 2005, the Connecticut Early Childhood Cabinet has worked to ensure school success for young children by using the Results Based Accountability (RBA) framework. RBA focuses on making policy decisions grounded by data on how state funds are being used to produce desired outcomes for children and families. The Early Childhood Cabinet was selected by the Appropriations Committee of the state General Assembly as one of two pilot projects for the use of RBA in the budget process and has utilized RBA for four years.
The Early Childhood Cabinet is using the RBA framework to determine how well the state's early childhood system is meeting its goal of "all children ready by five and fine by nine." Specifically, it is collecting data to learn more about how well the early childhood system and its programs are delivering services, and whether Connecticut's young children and their families are better off as a result of those services.
Read the full state policy update now!
Publications & Resources
Download ZERO TO THREE's ARRA Interactive Tool - Recently Updated!
ZERO TO THREE's Navigating the Opportunities for Families with Young Children in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is an interactive tool intended to help decision makers and advocates navigate the ways in which ARRA funds may be used to positively impact the healthy development of our youngest children. The tool is organized around the needs of the whole child - Good Health, Strong Families, and Positive Early Learning Experiences and is simple to navigate. For each featured program, just click on the links within the tool to explore the programs and funding opportunities of interest. The interactive tool is updated regularly to include new information and guidance as it is released.
Research on the Biology of Stress
The Center on the Developing Child summarizes key research on the biology of stress in a new brief, The Impact of Early Adversity on Children's Development. The brief is the second in a series based on scientific presentations at the National Symposium on Early Childhood Science and Policy, and presents research to show the impact that severe adversity has on developing brain architecture and the body's stress response system. The research also shows the positive and long lasting impact of stable, responsive environments in the earliest years. These encouraging environments are proven to have long-term benefits on learning, behavior, and health.
Report on State-based Home Visiting Programs
In State-based Home Visiting: Strengthening Programs Through State Leadership, the National Center for Children in Poverty examines the results of a survey and roundtable discussion devised to boost understanding of state-based home visiting programs. Key findings were compiled for 46 states that submitted survey responses, of which 40 states reported having one or more state-based home visiting program. The report also offers recommendations for both state and national leadership in assisting the development and quality of home visiting services.
Register for the 13th Annual Birth To Three Institute
ZERO TO THREE's 13th annual Birth To Three Institute will be held June 22-25, 2009 in Washington, DC. Some highlights at the upcoming institute will be intensive and interactive 3-hour sessions focusing on professional development, home visiting and curriculum. In addition, considerations for Early Head Start expansion will be presented. Early bird registration is now open at http://capwiz.com/zerotothree/utr/0/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ehsnrc.org.
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