Care4Kids Forum Wrap-Up

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Legislative Office Building (or who watched the broadcast on CT-N) for a very comprehensive look at the economic impact child care and the Care4Kids program has on the state of Connecticut. Thank you to the very knowledgeable speakers and our collaborative partners, including the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, who co-hosted the event with the Alliance. The forum drew a number of legislators from both sides of the aisle and brought up a number of questions and thoughtful responses. If you couldn't attend or watch the forum live on CT-N, it's available On-Demand. The media also covered the forum, including CT Newsjunkie and WTNH Channel 8. Around the same time of the forum, Stateline released a very comprehensive look at child care subsidies across the country and The Middletown Press did a follow-up. We will continue to keep you aware of the issues surrounding Care4Kids, action steps to take, hearings at the Capitol as the session starts, and more. Watch for our weekly updates for more information. (Photo credit: CRT.)

Child Care Aware of America Releases Cost of Care Report

For the 10th year now, Child Care Aware of America's annual report reveals a trend in the lack of access to quality, affordable child care. The latest report finds that child care is too expensive for today’s families, costing more than one year of college tuition, housing, transportation, or food. This leaves families unable to afford child care in 49 out of 50 states across the country.

On Tuesday, December 13, at 3 p.m., Child Care Aware will hold a webinar to further discuss the newly-released report. To register, click HERE. 

What Do President-Elect Trump's Nominee Choices Mean for Early Education?

New America takes a closer look at the two nominees President-Elect Trump has put forth for the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos, and Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price. 

MIECHV Follow-Up Call Scheduled for 12/13

The Ounce of Prevention Fund will host a call on Tuesday, December 13, at 4 p.m. EST, to follow up on the MIECHV reauthorization advocacy session that was held at the National Home Visiting Summit last month in DC and to preview planned work to support and activate advocates to successfully influence MIECHV reauthorization in 2017. To register, click HERE. 

NIEER Set to Release New Head Start Research on 12/14

National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) is set to release a major new report, State(s) of Head Start, on Wednesday, December 14. The report will describe and analyze in detail Head Start enrollment, funding, observable classroom quality and duration, staff qualifications and pay and the full range of services to children and families, state-by-state for the 2014-2015 program year, along with longitudinal data beginning with the 2006-2007 program year. The full report will be released at 12:01 a.m. on December 14.  www.nieer.org 

Congress Passes Mental Health Reform

Last week, Congress passed broad mental health reform legislation, including new grants to promote infant and early childhood mental health! Rolled into the larger 21st Century Cures Act, the legislation was passed along bipartisan lines. Spearheaded by ZERO TO THREE and advocates across the country, the inclusion of the infant and early childhood mental health grants signals that Congress has now recognized the need to begin comprehensive mental health reform where the foundations of strong mental health are laid – with young children, starting from birth. Connecticut's own Senator Chris Murphy was a champion for this legislation. Please contactSenator Murphy's office to thank him for making this legislation a reality. President Obama is expected to sign  this bill into law soon. 

Think Babies

ZERO TO THREE is proud to announce its new campaign, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "Think Babies." Think Babies will bring national attention to what babies and families need to thrive - and the implications for the country. Be part of the team that’s fighting for our future. Go to www.thinkbabies.org and use the thought generator to tell Congress why they need to #ThinkBabies. More opportunities will be available in the coming year. 

Heckman: Public Preschool Programs Should Start at Birth

Nobel Prize economist James Heckman is known for his stance on high-quality public preschool for 3-and 4-year olds. New research lowers the age even more. Heckman says the return on investment (ROI) is even higher for high-quality programs that care for low-income children from infancy to age 5. To read the full article in the Washington Post, click HERE. 

ECCS to Host Domestic Violence 101 and Impact on Young Children

Early Childhood Colloborative of Southington and Tyshaunda Wiley, MPH., will host a presentation, "Domestic Violence 101 and its Impact on Young Children," on Wednesday, December 14, at Hatton Elementary School's Media Center,  50 Spring Lake Road, Southington. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. The presentation is free and child care is available. To register, click HERE. For more information, click HERE. 

PK-3 Leadership Program 

The Pk3 Leadership Program, developed in cooperation with the Naeg School of Education, UConn and the CT Office of Early Childhood, is now accepting applicants for the three upcoming modules in 2017 and 2018. Module  One focuses on Curriculum and Instruction, Module Two on Assessment and Evaluation and Module Three on Leadership. This program is good for elementary and pre-k school principals, early learning directors and program managers, including child care center directors;  school superintendents; assistant superintendents; and central office directors. For more information, click HERE. 

Does Your Child Need a Pediatric Dentist? 

A pediatric dentist is a pediatrician of dentistry. Children should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his or her first birthday. For more information, 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, The Fund for Greater Hartford, and The Eder Family Foundation