Children's Advocate
Email Bulletin -- Winter 2011-2012
Now available in English, Spanish, and selected
articles in Chinese at www.4children.org
Perspective:
Too Small to Fail. Parents and their child at the
SF Occupy Rally hold a sign, "Too Small to Fail."
Policy
Smart
** Includes additional resources
- Blueprint for Great Schools
- Legislators Focus on Boys of Color
- National Parent Helpline
Right
Now: Early Intervention Benefits Children with Special
Needs. "I remember when my son, Ta'Shawn, was
two, he jumped away every time my very affectionate
relatives hugged him," says Hope Tucker, a single
mom in Richmond.
** Includes additional resources
Profiles
in Action: Parents Win Child Care Funding. When
Fresno mom Keishea Pitts first received her state child
care subsidy, "it changed my life," she recalls.
As
We Grow And Learn: Parents Share Ways to Limit Childrens
Screen Time. From the moment my children get home
from school, I am greeted with begging and pleading
for electronic stimulation.
Wonder
Why: Children and Electronic Media. Research shows
that heavy use of electronic media can have significant
effects on childrens behavior, health, and how
well they do in school. ** Includes additional resources
Science
Talk: Talk With Your Child About Her Questions.
Give her a toy with different sounds and features. Make
it fun by saying, "Ready, set, go!"
Math
Talk: Your Child was Born to Count!. Read simple
board books with your child. Point to and count the
objects on each page.
We encourage you to download and share our articles,
and to forward this email to others.
Opportunities for Action
Advocates urge Congressional Super Committee to preserve
children's programs
Action: Contact Congress about the need to maintain
funding for programs for children and families in any
Congressional proposal to reduce the federal deficit.
Background: A "Super Committee" of
12 members of Congress is developing a proposal to reduce
the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next ten
years. The Super Committee aims to release its proposal
on November 23. Congress will then have until December
23 to vote on the proposal, which cannot be amended.
If Congress does not pass the proposal, $1.2 trillion
in automatic across-the-board cuts would take effect
in 2013.
MomsRising and other children's advocates are
calling on the Super Committee to reject any cuts to
programs for children and families. You can contact
a Senator on the Committee through a MomsRising hotline
by calling 888-892-2110.
The Children's Defense Fund is also calling
on Congress to close corporate tax loopholes and ask
the richest corporations and individuals to pay their
fair share as part of the Super Committee proposal.
You can contact Congress through CDF's
website
Budget and Policy Workshops
Dec. 8: Looking Ahead: Everything You Wanted
To Know About the Budget and What's in Store for 2012
will offer an introduction to the state budget process
and what is ahead for next year's budget. Sacramento.
Contact the California Budget Project, 916-444-0500,
CBPbudgetbriefing2011.eventbrite.com
2012 Child Care and Development State Budget Policy
Workshops offer an overview of political issues
and the California state budget. Jan 20: Sacramento,
Jan 24: Oakland, Jan 26: Los Angeles,
Jan 27: San Diego. Sponsored by On the Capitol
Doorstep, the Child Development Policy Institute, and
the Children's Defense Fund California. Contact OTCD,
530-297-5420, https://www.cdpi.net/cs/cdpi/view/rs/172