TAKE ACTION TODAY:
Urge Your Members of Congress to Pass the Economic Recovery Package!

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives unveiled its economic recovery package, which includes unprecedented investments to help families with very young children in these harsh economic times. The House is expected to vote on the economic recovery package on Wednesday, January 28th. Call your members of Congress TODAY to ask them to pass the economic recovery package and make a smart investment in our nation's future. Click here to find the phone numbers for your members' offices, as well as talking points to help you with your message.

The House economic recovery package contains the following provisions that would impact infants, toddlers, and their families:

• $2.1 billion for Head Start to provide comprehensive services to an additional 110,000 children; $1.1 billion of these funds have been designated for Early Head Start.
• $2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant to provide child care services to an additional 300,000 children.
• $600 million in formula grants for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to help states serve children with disabilities age 2 and younger.

The Senate has also recently released an outline of their economy recovery package, including a $4.6 billion overall investment in early childhood programs. They are expected to vote on the package later this week, and we will issue another action alert asking you to contact your Senators at that time.

Stay tuned! Together, we can ensure that the economic recovery package moves through the House and the Senate and is signed into law by President Obama!

The Baby Monitor Has a New Look and a New Energy!

The new year has brought many changes to the infant-toddler policy world - there are new faces in the White House, federal agencies, Congress, state capitols, and local governments across the country - and The Baby Monitor has had a facelift as well!

In addition to having a new look, this year The Baby Monitor is getting active. We will continue to keep Policy Network members informed about key federal and state policy issues that impact infants, toddlers, and their families, as well as new publications and resources to help you in your work. But we will also challenge you to more regularly take action on behalf of young children, through both action alerts and our new Advocacy Developmental Milestone Calendar, and to get to know other advocates through our Facebook page.

We look forward to working with you in 2009 - it's time to be BIGGER voices for little kids!

State Policy Update

Minnesota Legislature Convenes Early Childhood Summit
On January 28, 2009, the Minnesota House and Senate will convene the state's first Early Childhood Summit, which will focus on improving early care and education for children birth to age five. The summit was proposed by Representative Nora Slawik (DFL-55B), chair of the Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division, with strong support from Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Speakers at the summit will make the case for increased investment in quality early childhood education by highlighting the role that early care and education plays in strengthening the economy and creating a skilled workforce. Despite a difficult budget year, organizers will challenge legislators to move forward to create a high-quality, affordable and accessible system for young children throughout Minnesota. Click here to read the full state policy update and learn more!

Federal Policy Update

After several days of inauguration activities, including the swearing-in of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, the House and Senate quickly returned to its legislative business. Senate confirmation of newly appointed cabinet-level officers continues with several appointees recently confirmed, including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Meanwhile, much of the attention on Capitol Hill continues to be focused on the economy. Please see our action alert to learn more and take action TODAY! Both chambers hope to send a final bill to the president before the Presidents Day recess in mid-February. In other news, the House passed a bill reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) on January 14th by a vote of 289 - 139. The Senate is expected to pass its version of SCHIP reauthorization shortly.

Publications & Resources

Findings on Addressing Emotional and Behavioral Problems Early
The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child has released a new working paper, Mental Health Problems in Early Childhood Can Impair Learning and Behavior for Life. The paper examines new scientific data concerning the critical importance of addressing emerging emotional and behavioral problems in the early years and offers policy implications for these findings.

The Influence of Culture on Early Child Development
The cultural beliefs, values, and behaviors within a family all have an impact on early child development. The Changing Face of the United States: The Influence of Culture on Early Child Development is a new ZERO TO THREE report made possible through generous funding by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Bernard van Leer Foundation. The report reviews and summarizes the latest research dealing with the impact of culture on early childhood services.

Urban Institute Health Policy Analysis
A new report from the Urban Institute, Setting Income Thresholds in Medicaid/SCHIP: Which Children Should Be Eligible, indicates that employer-sponsored insurance premiums are less affordable for families at 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) today than they were for families at 200% of the FPL in 1996 when SCHIP was passed. Findings suggest the need to adjust eligibility thresholds because of increases in health care costs. In addition, evidence indicates that requiring a single national eligibility threshold disadvantages families residing in higher cost states and areas.