June 2010 ACTION News from
the NYS Infancy Leadership Circles

A project of NYZTT

Dear Friends,

In the month of June we say good bye to two retiring colleagues who have been leading the charge for better policies for children in significant ways: Karen Schimke, President and CEO of Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA), brought all children’s groups together under the New York Children’s Action Network Coalition banner and also cochairs NY’s Early Childhood Advisory Council and the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board; Carol Saginaw, Executive Director of the Early Care and Learning Council (formerly NYS Child Care Coordinating Council), created the Infant Toddler Regional Resource Centers across the regions of NYS and spearheaded both the QUALITYstarsNY rating system currently being piloted across the state and the Early Childhood Data Forum.
Both are among the conveners of the Winning Beginning Coalition, have their pulse on state politics, and both inspired many of us as mentors and role models in building the infancy movement in New York State. We wish them the very best.

SCAA has announced that Kate Breslin will be the new President. She is currently Director of Policy for the Community Health Care Association of New York State and we look forward to working with her on improving policies for infants and toddlers.

The State Budget is being voted on in pieces. So far, home visiting programs have seen restoration of funds. For more details on progress, go to Winning Beginning New York: www.winningbeginningny.org.

On the national level, ZERO TO THREE reminds us that our Senators need to hear from you that you support measures to save jobs and help the economy recover. Infant and toddler advocates need to join with others in their communities and states to send the message to continue unemployment benefits and health care for the unemployed, fund youth jobs, and prevent severe cuts in state medical and other services and hundreds of thousands of jobs that provide those services, including an emergency fund for poor families with children. For more details go to: ZERO TO THREE Policy Network: capwiz.com/zerotothree/callalert/index.tt?alertid=15117546

Sincerely,

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

EVENTS

June 18, 2010:

Deadline to Apply for PITC Training Institute

This is the FINAL WEEK to apply for PITC TRAINING INSTITUTE! The Program for Infant and Toddler Care (PITC) is coming to New York for a special session funded by the Office of Child and Family Services. All interested trainers should apply
to learn this approach to delivering high-quality child care services. To apply for this Train the Trainer opportunity, contact Kristin McGivern at kmcgivern@earlycareandlearning.org or 518-690-4217.

Monday, June 21, 2010, 11 AM – 12 PM:

Webinar: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program: Initial HHS Guidance and Nurse-Family Partnership Tool Kit for States

Learn more about the new and innovative federal Evidence-Based Home Visitation Grant Program.
The NSO will hold webinars to answer your questions and provide guidance. Register for the next scheduled Webinar Then dial: 866-244-4616
View information about and previous webinars at: www.nursefamilypartnership.org/public-policy/Federal-HV-Funding-Guidance

Tuesday, June 22, 2010:

Webinar: Successful Early Childhood Home Visitation State Systems, 2 – 3:15 PM

Needs RSVP by Aug. 6
ZERO TO THREE sponsors this webinar highlighting four states’ (Colorado, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington) innovative components of home visitation systems and discusses state planning efforts for the federal home visiting funds designated by the recently-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Aim is to help states replicate high-quality programs while both maintaining model fidelity and meeting the needs of the most at-risk infants and toddlers with a strong infrastructure. Also rolls out a new state self-assessment tool from ZERO TO THREE.
Questions contact Ki Lagomarsino at klagomarsino@zerotothree.org.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010:

New York, NY: Celebrate Fatherhood with U.S. HHS, Free Workshops 8:45 AM – 1 PM at 26 Federal Plaza; RSVP by June 23, 2010

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Region II is sponsoring a CELEBRATING FATHERHOOD morning of workshops and exhibits for fathers, mothers, human service providers, community and faith-based organizations and government agencies, at the 6th floor conference room of Federal Plaza.
Topics include: President Obama’s new Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative and workshops on: Parenting Skills for New Dads; Dads: Take Your Child to School; Skills for Managing Conflict; When Parents Live Apart: Communication Matters; Test Your CSEQ (Child Support Enforcement Quotient).
FREE program, but Registration required by Wednesday, June 23!
To register, call Joan Noerling at 212 264-2890 x104 or E-mail joan.noerling@acf.hhs.gov
Questions?  Contact Barbara Andrews at 212 264-2890 x101; barbara.andrews@acf.hhs.gov
OR Audrey Neuhaus at 212 264-2890 x120; audrey.neuhaus@acf.hhs.gov

Thursday, July 8, 2010: NYC:

CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue: 4th Annual Infant Toddler Conference, 8:30 AM – 5 PM, $50

This year’s theme is: “Weaving a Tapestry: Connecting Communities of Practice for Infants, Toddlers and Families.”
Annual conference is sponsored by the NYC Child Care Resource and Referral Consortium, the NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute at CUNY, and the CUNY Graduate Center. Keynote speaker is Dr. Virginia Casper, developmental psychologist and teacher educator specializing in early intervention and research on children and families.
Location: 365 Fifth Avenue at 35 St., New York, NY.
For general information, contact jtravers@centerforchildrensinitiatives.org

Thurs., September 23, New York, NY: 9:30 AM – 1 PM

Information Session: Accessing Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Needs RSVP by August 6, 2010

Sponsored by the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene, this information session will show:
How to access government services, help coordinate services for families, get help from DOHMH child benefit Advisors for health insurance services and other benefits, get and/or renew physically handicapped children’s program services, and obtain services for youth transitioning to adult services.
Location: 161 William Street, 6th FL Training Room, New York, NY 10038
Limited space. Register by e-mail or fax to reserve a seat by August 6 to: Contact: Esther Curenton, LCSW: ecurent1@health.nyc.gov or FAX: 212 227-7576 Questions: call: 212 788-5584 or 212 676-2950.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

New Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Administration on Children and Families (ACF) have put forth the first Funding Opportunity Announcement as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 for the new Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. An estimated $90 million is expected to be awarded this summer and will fund evidence-based home visiting programs for children and families in at risk communities. The application deadline is July 09, 2010 at 8pm ET.
Go to: www.health.state.mn.us/

RESOURCES

ZERO TO THREE announces SparkAction.org

This brief from Children’s Health Watch shows the impact of hardship on very young children, particularly babies whose families experience a combination of food, housing, and energy problems, are likely to have health problems that persist into adulthood. Family strengthening and coordination of current services are recommended to improve these children’s early child hood and prevent long-term consequences. Go to: www.childrenshealthwatch.org

Federal Home Visitation Initiative Toolkit for States

Kit contains:
• Nurse-Family Partnership and the States Needs Assessment Guidance for States
• Guidance for States: Coordinating Requests for Proposals in Conjunction with Nurse-Family Partnership Program Components and Technical Assistance
• Outline of supports that exist within the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office (NFP NSO) for planning and execution of a state’s RFP
• Describes optimal circumstances for collaboration between the State or other Sponsoring Entity and NFP NSO
• Offer examples of successful time lines for stages of the ideal home visitation RFP process inclusive of NFP

See: www.nursefamilypartnership.org

Developmental Screening in Early Childhood Systems

Report of a March 2009 meeting of American Academy of Pediatrics on the medical home and the implementation of developmental screening in early childhood settings. Includes presentations from 3 states that approach developmental screening initiatives
in very different ways: Rhode island, North Carolina, and New Mexico. Report explores barriers states face and offers strategizes for next steps in the implementation of these initiatives.
See: www.healthychildcare.org/PDF/DSECSreport.pdf

Glossary of Policy & Advocacy Terms: A Guide to the ABCs and Acronyms of the Infant-Toddler Policy Process

A new tool from ZERO TO THREE to help advocates better understand infant-toddler programs and policies, commonly used federal and state legislative terms, and useful advocacy terms and techniques. Allows you to quickly and easily find descriptions and definitions so that you can be an effective communicator and advocate for babies.
Go to: main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/Glossary_of_Terms_11_08.pdf?docID=6721

Children’s Mental Health: What Every Policymaker Should Know

This brief from the National Center for Children in Poverty presents a variety of mental health statistics which reflect the need for improved mental health service delivery in the U.S. Research shows that one in five children birth to age 18 has a diagnosable mental disorder. Youth in low-income households, child welfare and juvenile justice systems and those in military families are at increased risk for mental health problems. Includes 10 policy strategies to improve services and highlights the need to focus on young children.
Go to: www.nccp.org/publications/pub_929.html

Framing Child and Family Mental Health

The FrameWorks Institute has created a web page featuring resources developed from a multi-year study of public perceptions about child and family mental health. The research is intended to inform effective framing strategy related to mental health
by gaining a better grasp of the gap between frames used by the media, expert knowledge and public understanding.
Go to: www.frameworksinstitute.org/cmh.html

Keys to High-Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers

This new brief from the National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative (NITCCI) describes common elements found in the Core Knowledge and Competencies of 36 States. Includes information on age ranges; core knowledge categories
Go to: nitcci.nccic.acf.hhs.gov/resources/keys_to_hqccit.htm

Promoting Young Children’s Health in State Policy: Taking Stock of State Policies

This new brief from the National Center on Children in Poverty highlights information on state policy choices that affect the health and well-being of children birth to age 5, including access to health care and continuity of care; maternal health care; and preventive screening and assessment. Offers seven recommendations for states to make sure that low-income young children receive health care that promotes positive health, developmental, and educational outcomes. NCCP also updated its State Profiles of Young Child Well-Being this spring.
Go to: nccp.org/publications/pub_941.html

Tools for Head Start program review and new funding

A podcast about the Head Start review process and a report on “What’s ahead for Head Start?” are available at the New America Foundation web site: earlyed.newamerica.net/blogposts and www.newamerica.net/blog

Child Development, May-June Issue: Study finds Low-quality Care in first few years of life can have small but long-lasting impact

Read the article in the Washington Post and discussion about the report’s findings.
Discussion is at: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/