THANK YOU For Attending DAY OF ACTION!

March 6 was a very busy day for us up at the Capitol and we thank each and every one of you who came to the press conference, submitted testimony or waited patiently all day and evening to testify in person. The hearing lasted well into the night (finished around 10 p.m.), but offered some thoughtful testimony. If you'd like to watch the hearing on CT-N, the link is HERE. (Hearing starts around 20 minute mark - the link should take you to that point.) A full gallery of photos is available on our Facebook page. To see the album, click HERE. Visit our Facebook page to see the album, Facebook live feed of the press conference and wrap-up video. Search "CT Early Childhood Alliance" on Facebook, and if you haven't already, give us a "LIKE!"

While media coverage was tough (there was a tolls press conference and public hearing that most of the press attended the same day), we did get a couple stories placed. The New Britain Herald and Channel 8 both ran pieces.

2018 Child Care Availability Survey

The 2018 Child Care Capacity, Availability, and Enrollment Survey for 2018 is now available. The survey offers a "snapshot" of child care availability in Connecticut and the number of children served. Licensed and license-exempt child care programs are surveyed to verify if they are currently operating, the ages of the children served and their capacity, vacancy, and enrollment numbers. To read this year's survey, click HERE.

Bill Update

We anticipate the Education Committee will vote this Friday on the early education bills (the bills from the March 6 public hearing). The bills put forward address Care4Kids eligibility and payments to child care providers, teacher wages, staff qualifications, and student loan forgiveness for early childhood educators. The bills can be found HERE, through the public hearing document. If you are a constituent of a member of the Education Committee, we encourage you to call them and voice your support for these bills.

CT Voices Reviews Governor's Budget Impact on Children and Families

CT Voices for Children reviewed the Governor Lamont's budget proposal and has issued a report. They noted that while the proposed budget avoids additional major cuts to essential programs and services, the revenue proposals fall most heavily on our lowest income taxpayers. In turn, this budget asks very little of higher-income taxpayers and actually gives more of a state tax cut, if the gift tax is eliminated and estate taxes are reduced. The good news is a slight increase in what CT Voices calls "The Children's Budget." (Funding for programs that directly benefit children.)

Webinar Breaks Down President's Budget Proposal

President Trump released his budget proposal on Monday, with massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and cuts to healthcare, education, housing and food assistance, and more. Join the Coalition on Human Needs out of Washington, DC, for a webinar on what the proposals mean on Thursday, March 14, 2 p.m. Click HERE to register. 

Register Childhood Conversations/Together We Will Conference, March 29-30

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Join us for the annual conference, held this year on Friday, March 29, and Saturday, March 30, in Windsor (Hartford-Windsor Airport Marriott). This year's theme is learning to support and develop children's social-emotional skills to reduce challenging behaviors, strengthen families and communities.  You can register for one or both days of the conference. For more information, click HERE!

ALSO - Friday evening, March 29, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Office of Early Childhood, CT Head Start Association, UConn Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, All Our Kin, and RESC Alliance, will sponsor a video premiere of "Foundations for Coaching in Early Childhood: Partnering with Parents and Professionals" at 4:30 p.m. at the conference. Light refreshments and beverages will be available. Registration is free and separate from the conference registration. Click HERE to register and click HERE to see the flier.