Policymaking is not an easy job, and policymakers need concise, practical information to use when crafting policies to address pressing social issues. Just like our work with very young children, policymaking requires a multi-faceted approach which brings together evidence from science, research and practice. ZERO TO THREE combines these elements in Early Experiences Matter: A Guide to Improved Policies for Infants and Toddlers, a comprehensive set of tools for use by policymakers and advocates.

The Policy Guide includes:

• Twelve concise issue briefs which support ZERO TO THREE's policy agenda
• Infant-toddler data to inform the policymaking process
• A compilation of the evidence for investing in the infant-toddler policy agenda
• A strategic look at ways to get started, with sample policy options and state examples
• In-depth issue papers and policymaking tools

Download The Early Experiences Matter Policy Guide now at http://main.zerotothree.org/policyguide!

Baby Matters: A Gateway to State Policies and Initiatives

As you work to advance a state policy agenda for very young children and their families, it's important to know about other infant and toddler initiatives in your state and across the country. That's why ZERO TO THREE has created Baby Matters: A Gateway to State Policies and Initiatives, an easy-to-use, searchable database containing information on state policies and initiatives that impact infants, toddlers and their families. The policies and initiatives are searchable by state, keyword, and by the elements of the Infant & Toddler Policy Framework - Good Health, Strong Families, Positive Early Learning Experiences, and Systems Building. Each entry contains key information on the policy or initiative, as well links to additional related resources. Begin searching now!

Federal Policy Update

Education Hearings Begin: Last week, Education Secretary Arne Duncan testified before the House Education and Labor Committee about the Obama Administration's education agenda, the budget proposal for FY2011, and plans for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (known as No Child Left Behind during its last reauthorization). During his remarks, Secretary Duncan highlighted the Administration's "cradle-to-career" strategy for improving education, including the proposed Early Learning Challenge Fund, the Promise Neighborhoods initiative, and tax credits and student loan provisions to expand access to higher education opportunities. On March 9th, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will have a hearing on ESEA reauthorization as well.

Child Nutrition Reauthorization: The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on March 2nd to discuss efforts to strengthen federal child nutrition programs, end child hunger, and combat childhood obesity. A subsequent hearing on child nutrition was held on March 4th by Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chair, and Congressional Baby Caucus co-chair, Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). To learn more about how these vital programs affect infants, toddlers, and their families, please see ZERO TO THREE's recommendations for reauthorization.

Extension of Safety Net Programs: Last week, the Senate passed H.R. 4691, a $10 billion short-term extension of safety net programs critical for struggling families, including an extension of COBRA health insurance subsidies for the jobless as well as expanded unemployment insurance. The programs, which lapsed on February 28, will now expire on March 31 and April 5, respectively.

State Policy Update
Oregon Passes Legislation to Expand Early Head Start

On February 25th, Oregon policymakers took an important step toward supporting comprehensive services for infants, toddlers, and their families. Through a bipartisan vote, the state legislature passed a $1 million appropriation to expand Early Head Start services for at-risk infants and toddlers. The funds, allocated to the state Department of Education, will be dispersed through a one-time distribution to existing federally-funded Early Head Start programs based on their current number of enrolled children. The funds are intended to supplement, not supplant, existing Early Head Start resources. The state Senate and House Education Committees will then review the Early Head Start program and develop recommendations for consideration during the next legislative session.

Click here to read the full state policy update!

Publications & Resources

Improving Early Learning for Latinos
Responding to the Needs of Young Latino Children: State Efforts to Build Comprehensive Early Learning Systems, from the National Council of La Raza, focuses on how states are building comprehensive early learning standards that address the needs of Latino and English language learner children and families. The findings show that states still need to do a lot of work in order to develop early learning programs that are sensitive to the early learning needs of Latino children.

Building an Early Childhood Professional Development System
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recently published Building an Early Childhood Professional Development System. The brief is based on the NAEYC state policy blueprint and provides states with tools they can use to build a statewide system of professional development for personnel who work with young children.

New State Child Welfare Policy Database
Child Trends has launched a State Child Welfare Policy Database which provides information on child welfare laws, procedures, and agency guidance for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The database can be navigated by state or by topic and is intended to help elected officials, administrators, advocates, practitioners, and researchers stay up-to-date on the policies that protect vulnerable children.