Policy & Financing Issues

In its fifth story of the year, the Alliance turned to our partners at CAHS to help highlight the KidsCount Databook, which had just been released. While overall, the state score improved, the recession has still hit state children hard.

The CT Post reported that despite being one of the best states for kids, Connecticut and its children were hit hard by the economic downturn., based on the KidsCount Databook. The CT Post interviewed Jude Carroll of CAHS and Barbara Edinberg of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC). BCAC is a member of the Alliance.

The New Haven Register, through a news service, published a story on the CAHS KidsCount Databook release. The report is officially released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, with CAHS as Connecticut's primary contact.

On August 17 (and a few days following), some of the state's Patch.com websites picked up on the release of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KidsCount Databook, of which CT Association for Human Services is the state contact.

The 2011 KidsCount Databook places Connecticut sixth in the nation in terms of child health and well-being, but there is no doubt the recession is hitting state families hard. Below you will find how Connecticut fared on the major indicators used to determine state standings. The link to the report itself is attached as a link.

Announcements were posted to West Hartford and Farmington Patch.com websites on Sen. Beth Bye being named one of two legislators of the year by the CT Early Childhood Alliance. The announcement was posted June 17. Posted is the West Hartford Patch article.

Hartford Courant I-Towns (for Bloomfield, Burlington and West Hartford) ran the submission by the CT Early Childhood Alliance announcing Sen. Beth Bye as one of the Alliance's legislators of the year. The article and photo posted on June 17.

On June 15, the Alliance's fourth CT Public News Service story of 2011 ran regarding the passage of S.B. 1103 and the impact the bill could have on the upcoming Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Fund competition. Alliance Executive Director Maggie Adair was interviewed for the story.

On June 15, the Torrington Register Citizen published an Alliance-submitted release announcing Rep. Michelle Cook as the 2011 (House) Legislator of the Year. Click the link above to see the whole article, complete with photo.

On June 10, Associated Press reporter Stephanie Reitz printed a story on the education legislation that passed and failed this legislative session. She included the kindergarten age bill (and redshirting), neither of which passed and S.B. 1103, which will being a planning process toward a coordinated early childhood system. She interviewed Paul Wessel, based off the release sent to the AP and others on June 8, applauding the passage of the bill.