In an extremely difficult budget season, it's more important than ever to get your voice heard! This Thursday, advocates will gather at the State Capitol in Hartford for the CT Early Childhood Alliance's annual Advocacy Day. Arrival time is 9:30 a.m., and the program will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Please RSVP if you haven't already. If you're planning to attend and haven't set up your meeting with your legislators, please do so as soon as possible. We ask that you wear RED in solidarity. See you Thursday!

Care4Kids Waiting List

There are now 3,000 families on the Care4Kids waiting list. Are you one of them? Or do you know someone who is? We're collecting stories. Please contact Jessica Ciparelli at the CT Early Childhood Alliance and share some background detail - how long have you been on the list and what impact has the closure had on your life. We would like to compile a list of individuals who would be willing to speak to reporters or to otherwise get the word out on how this closure impacts your life and that of your family's life. Jessica can be reached by email at [email protected]  

Early Childhood Cabinet Meeting

The next Early Childhood Cabinet will meet Thursday, April 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Lyceum, 227 Lawrence Street, Hartford.  There is free parking to the right of the building and on-street parking. The agenda can be found HERE. 

Bridging Research and Practice: A Presentation at Wesleyan

An early childhood forum, "Bridging Research and Practice," will take place on Tuesday, April 18, 7-9 p.m., at the Daniel Family Commons on the Wesleyan Campus, 45 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT. The event is sponsored by Allbriton Center for the Study of Public Life. The event is free and open to the public. Ellen Galinsky, creator of "Mind in the Making" and Roberta Golinkoff, author of "Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children," will present and discuss.  

"Resilience" Screening Coming to Colchester

UCFS, Healthcare, Collaborative for Colchester's Children, and Colchester Youth and Social Services will host a free screening of "Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope" on Thursday, April 20, at the Bacon Academy Auditorium, from 6 p.m. to to 8 p.m. (pizza served at 5:45 p.m.) This powerful documentary reveals the most important public health research findings of a generation. Toxic stress endured in childhood is now understood to be among the leading causes of everything from cancer and heart disease to substance abuse and depression. A panel discussion will follow the screening. Please RSVP to Colchester Youth Services at 860-537-7255 or [email protected]. To view a preview of the documentary, click HERE. 

Supporting Young Children in Immigrant Families - What Stakeholders Need to Know

CLASP is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, April 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., to discuss recent executive orders and their implications for young children in immigrant families. Harsh immigration enforcement policies, like those recently introduced, compromise the safety,  health, and long-term development of children. Currently at risk are more than five million children in the U.S. living with at least one unauthorized parent, nearly 80% of whom are U.S. citizens and more than one-third of whom are under the age of five. The webinar will provide an overview of current early childhood policies and eligibility rules as well as recent immigration enforcement policy changes that directly impact children living in mixed-status immigrant families. Speakers will share strategies and new resources to help child care and early education providers support children and families at risk of immigration enforcement, including how to keep their programs safe from enforcement actions and help families cope and prepare for possible deportation. Click HERE to register. 

How Do You Keep a Child From Being Afraid of the Dentist? 

Cambridge Pediatric Dental Associates has teamed up with Boston Magazine to offer four tips to helping a child conquer their fear of the dentist. Much of it is the fear of the unknown, so find a pediatric dentist your child can become familiar with as they grow. For more tips, click HERE.  

Support for the Alliance comes from of our members and our funders: The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, Connecticut Health Foundation, Children's Fund of Connecticut, Connecticut Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, The Fund for Greater Hartford, and The Eder Family Foundation