Email Bulletin

 

 

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 Children’s 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 children’s 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're seeking new contributors!

We're looking for experienced, bilingual (English/Spanish) freelancers around the state to write articles on a range of topics:

  • Policy issues and trends
  • Recent grassroots activism victories
  • Raising kids.

Send your query letter with clips or writing samples to aacjessine@4children.org

 


 

Send us your photos!

We're looking for high-quality, free photos of children with their families and also in early care and education programs.

For more info, see photo guidelines

 

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