December 2010 ACTION News from
the NYS Infancy Leadership Circles

A project of NYZTT

Dear Friends,

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving celebration and a special holiday season. Please continue to let us know about upcoming events related to young children in your communities that you want us to publicize.

Our current U.S. Senators were reelected a couple of weeks ago, but we have many new statewide and local representatives in Albany and in Congress.

Now is a good time to introduce yourself to these new elected officials and explain why the first two years of life are a key time to prepare for New York’s future. Ask them how they will support programs and services for young children at risk for not being ready for school. Invite them to see your programs and meet the staff, and the parents and children.

In addition, some important national programs are being voted on in the U.S. Congress during the next week: child care subsidies in the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, and the Early Learning Challenge Fund.

Go to National Women’s Law Center today to get more information on the programs at stake.

Go to Zero to Three to find the e-mail and phone numbers of your elected U.S. officials.

View two powerful videos
• "It’s Our Business: Why New York State Business Leaders Support Early Childhood Education," produced by Winning Beginning NY, the Committee on Economic Development, United Way of New York State, and America’s Edge at: Winning Beginning NY
• "Congress, Fund Child Care and Head Start," produced by the Early Care and Learning Consortium at: www.youtube.com

Here is a sample script for your call suggested by the National Women’s Law Center.

• My name is (name) and I am calling from (city, state) and I am (your role).
• Don’t drop 300,000 children from child care and Head Start. Make sure that continued funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start is NOT REDUCED in the appropriations bill and that the Early Learning Challenge Fund is included. We are counting on you here in (state).
• Thank you.

Sincerely,
Carole and Jackie
coshinsky@nyztt.org
jjjones6@verizon.net

EVENTS

Monday, November 29, 2010, 9:00 am to 4:30 PM (Registration 8:30 am) FREE:

New York, NY: Early Childhood Mental Health and Trauma: What You Need to Know and What You Can Do, Hotel Pennsylvania,

Presented by: New York Center for Child Development with keynote speakers: Dr. Gilbert M. Foley and Dr. Rebecca Shahmoon-Shanok, this free one-day conference seeks to enhance the early childhood mental health knowledge base and skill set of workers across early childhood serving systems in the city and state who work with young children and are in a key position to help promote and enhance their social-emotional development. A grant from the Regional Technical Assistance Teams for Families Together
in New York State made this opportunity available.
Note new location: HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA, Skytop Ballroom, 18th Floor, 401 Seventh Avenue (at 33rd St.), New York, N.Y. 10001-2062
Register online and obtain brochure at: www.nyccd.org/conference. For questions or hard copy brochures call Alejandro Perez at (212) 752-7575 extension 327.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010, 1-3 PM:

Webinar on Value of PITC 2-Week Training for Supervisors of Early Childhood Caregivers and How to Sign Up/Find Trainers

PITC is the Program for Infant and Toddler Care. It is used to improve the quality of child care for babies and toddlers and is sponsored in New York State by the Office of Children & Family Services. This webinar will describe the two-week course for educators, trainers, and supervisors of early childhood caregivers that has become the international standard for teaching best practices based on research in child development. Viewers will learn about the PITC philosophy, who is being trained in New York, and how to find a PITC-certified trainer locally.

Thursday, December 2, 2010, 8:30 am-4 PM, Chappaqua, NY:

Strong Roots Last a Lifetime: conference about Parent Education, $50

Sponsored by the New York State Parent Education Partnership, this conference includes discussion about the “Art and Science of Parenting Education;” break-out sessions with supervisors and front-line workers; a choice between four intensive workshop institutes on core competencies, including: communication skills, child development, group facilitation, and parenting styles; and an opportunity to network with other parenting education providers and learn about the proposed system of parenting educator certification.
Location: Crabtree’s Kittle House, 11 Kittle Rd., Chappaqua, NY. Cost: $50.
To register, go to: www.parentingeducationpartnership.org

Thursday, December 2, 2010, New York, NY:

NYZTT Annual Interview with a 0-3 Pioneer: Nick Cunningham, Pediatrician and Advocate, 6-8 PM

This annual evening honors the memory of, Dr. Hedi Levenback, a true pioneer in the world of infant, toddler, and family health and welfare. This year NYZTT welcome’s Dr. Nicholas (Nick) Cunningham, raconteur, pediatrician, former NYZTT board member, and tireless advocate for practice that supports parents and infants in the critical period when "they fall in love with each other." His fascinating personal and professional history will be explored, with special attention paid to how his wisdom and experience can frame the successes and challenges early childhood professionals face today.
Location: Ackerman Institute for the Family, 149 East 78 St., (North east of Lexington Avenue), New York 10024.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 5:30-7:30 PM, New York, NY:

NYCAEYC Networking Event, Open to Non-members

For members (FREE) and potential members ($20), this networking event is sponsored by the NYC Association for the Education of Young Children. Meet representatives of the Governing Board, network with other professionals, learn about benefits of membership and how to get involved with NYCAEYC and become a leader. Light appetizers and cash bar available.
Location: Heartland Brewery, Union Square at 17th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010, Webinar:

What the Child Care and Early Learning Community Needs to Know About the New Health Care Law, 3-4 PM Eastern Time

This webinar, presented by the National Women’s Law Center, will features Helen Blank and Judy Waxman describing the details of the new health care law as it relates to the early childhood community.

Wednesday, December 8– Thursday, December 9, 2010, New York, NY:

America’s Fit for Life and Family Wellness Conference, Hotel Pennsylvania

Sponsored by Today’s Child Communications, this conference brings together experts from across the country who will provide information and resources that can support each participant’s ability to transform and improve the quality of their life and overall well-being. Audience includes educators, health and human service and child care providers, parents/caregivers, and community leaders.
Location: Hotel Pennsylvania, New York, NY.

Thursday, December 9, 2010, 12-1 PM Eastern Time: Webinar:

Making the Case for Vaccine Safety: A New Model for Communicating with Parents About Autism

Alison Singer, Founder and President of the Autism Science Foundation (ASF) will discuss the science of autism and the latest research. She will focus on barriers to communication, the top parental concerns regarding vaccines, and how to address these concerns using the CASE method.
For further information, contact: Sue Brooks at 518 486-6453 or e-mail coned@albany.edu

Tuesday, December 14, 2010, Elmsford, NY:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Two Sessions: 9:30 am-12:30 PM; 1:30-4:30 PM; Free

The Learning Disabilities Association of New York State is sponsoring this discussion of the definition, causes, contributing factors, diagnosis, prevention, impact, and strategies for working with individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Offered in two sessions, the presenter will be Diane Woodward, MSW, Coordinator of Transition Services, Wildwood Programs. Continuing Education Credits may be applied to this program. Preregistration required.
Location: Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc., (WestCOP), 2269 Saw Mill River Road, Building #3, Elmsford, NY 10523.
To register, e-mail name, day time phone number, agency name, agency address, alternate mailing address if preferred, e-mail address, and preferred time slot to sperryman@ldanys.org or fax
to 518 608-8992. Driving directions also available.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010, Albany, NY:

Deadline for Call for Presentations: Annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference, April 11–13, 2011.

Prevent Child Abuse New York’s (PCANY) annual conference is entitled: Strengthening Families: Connecting Prevention and Intervention, and is planned for April 11-13, 2011 at the Marriott Hotel in Albany, NY. PCANY is seeking proposals that aim to expand participants’ skills and practice to strengthen families, promote optimal child development, and improve outcomes for children and families. Workshop proposals should focus on developing the knowledge and expertise needed by practitioners in today’s complex environment. Special attention will be given to bridging the gap between prevention and intervention services and practices that align with the priorities of state systems (e.g. child welfare and other child- and family-serving state systems).

SAVE THE DATES

Thursday, April 28, 2011, Rye, NY:

Annual Infancy Policy Forum and meeting of the Infancy Leadership Circles at the NYS AEYC conference

Friday, May 13, 2011, New York, NY:

New York Zero-To-Three Network Annual Conference: Practical Applications of Attachment Research: Interventions for Infants, Toddlers and Their Families.

ADVOCACY

Thursday, December 9, 2010, 7 PM:

Budget Hearing Westchester County, White Plains

Westchester Children’s Association (WCA) and the Child Care Council of Westchester are spearheading a campaign to tell the Westchester County Executive Astorino and County legislators that we support smart budget choices for children and families.
We can e-mail them or be heard at budget hearings around the county.

The next hearing is Thurs., Dec. 9 at the County Office Building, 148 Martine Ave., White Plains, at 7 PM. Each speaker has two minutes. Speakers can register to speak beginning at 6 PM and are generally called in order of sign up. Folks with children along may get called first.

Please check the WCA’s website, www.wca4kids.com, for up-to-the minute budget changes and advocacy efforts.

Messages from the WCA include:
• Keep the parent share of child care cost constant, to support our youngest residents and keep their parents working.
• Restore Invest-in-Kids Funding which provides dozens of programs – such as tutoring, mentoring, arts, leadership, job readiness – for thousands of young people throughout the County.
• Maintain our Neighborhood Health Centers, which provide medical care for thousands of uninsured children and families in communities from Cortlandt to Mt. Vernon.
• Continue funding for Early Step Forward, an innovative program that helps young children, parents and child care staff understand and cope with difficult emotions and behaviors.

New Puerto Rico Birth Certificates Mandated

Effective Oct. 30, 2010, Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 will no longer be valid. Individuals must apply for new birth certificates online or by mail. This new law should not immediately affect ability to enroll in public programs such as public health insurance or food stamps, but individuals should apply for a new birth certificate as soon as possible. It will cost $5 to be issued a new birth certificate.

Visit www.cdfny.org for complete instructions, in English and Spanish, on how to apply and to print a mail-in application or go online to: www.pr.gov
To apply by mail: Go to www.prfaa.com/birth certificates and click on "Mail-in application" at the very bottom of the page.