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
