February-March 2011 ACTION News from
NYS Infancy Leadership Circles
A project of NYZTT to Raise Voices for Babies

Dear Friends,

Grant Made for Infancy Leadership Circles

We are pleased to announce that the Council on Children and Families of New York State is supporting our Infancy Circle building efforts with a grant of $20,000 through May 2011. This money will be used to bring together and develop infancy leaders in four localities in New York State who want to work toward improving and coordinating services for infants and toddlers in their communities. Each group will explore local issues, select goals and priorities, and create a work plan. Groups will also be encouraged to participate in statewide coalitions and activities around infant and toddler needs.

We have identified four regions for these funds: Albany County, Buffalo County, Niagara County, and Westchester County. Meetings have already begun in Westchester and Niagara; and are planned for Buffalo shortly. Ongoing discussions are taking place in Albany. We hope to report to you each month on the ideas these groups generate.

A steering committee with representation from New York Zero‐to‐Three Network, Winning Beginning NY, Early Care and Learning Council, and Council on Children and Families meets monthly to provide guidance for our activities.

Come to Annual Infant‐Toddler Forum

We also invite all of you as well as these formal groups to join us at the annual Infant‐Toddler Forum, this year on Thursday afternoon, April 28, at the Rye Town Hilton in Westchester County for topical discussions and a chance to share ideas and meet as regions and Infancy Circle groups. This annual event is cosponsored by Early Care and Learning Council, New York Zero‐to‐Three Network, and Council on Children and Families at the site of the New York Association for the Education of Young Children (NYAEYC) annual conference. Additional forum sponsors this year are New York State Office of Mental Health and New York State‐based Head Start Training Office. This year’s focus will be on socio‐emotional health in infancy. More details will follow in the coming month.

Raise Your Advocacy Voices Against Drastic Program Cuts

As you are probably aware, our counties, cities, state, and federal governments have proposed drastic cutting of needed funds to early care and education programs. In addition, ARRA monies from the federal government are not being renewed. These cuts, if enacted, will affect child care subsidies to working parents, home visiting programs, Early Head Start and Head Start programs, the NYS Quality Stars rollout, and Early Intervention services. See below under advocacy for specific issues and how our state coalitions, including Winning Beginning NY, are responding.

We welcome your thoughts and comments as we move forward in these challenging times. Please also share any upcoming local activities that you want us to publicize.

Sincerely,

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

EVENTS

Friday, February 25, 2011

Webinar: A Better Budget for all: Saving Our Economy and Helping Those in Need. 2-3:15 PM

Sponsored by the Coalition on Human Needs, hear about U.S. House proposals to make massive, unprecedented cuts in this year’s federal budget including Head Start and other early childhood programs, alternatives, and how we can effectively respond. Speakers include Deborah Weinstein, executive director of the Coalition on Human Needs, Donald Mathis, President and CEO of the Community Action Partnership, www.communityactionpartnership.com and a national public opinion research expert.
To register, go to: chn.peachnewmedia.com

Wednesday, March 2, 2011, Albany, NY:

Self-Sufficiency Day Breakfast Meeting, Empire State Plaza, Concourse Level, Meeting Room 1, 8:30 am-10:30

Sponsored by the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy and the Self-Sufficiency Standard Steering Committee, the event will explain what the self-sufficiency standard is and how to help families become self-sufficient. Register at: www.nyscommunityaction.org For further information, contact Denise Harlow, CEO of New York State Community Action Association, or Susan Antos, Empire Justice Center

Wednesday, March 2, 2011, Albany, NY:

Capital Region Advocacy Day sponsored by Winning Beginning, NY (see Advocacy below)

Thursday, March 3, 2011, Webinar:

Community Health Assessment: Finding the Information You Need. 9-10 am.

Featured speaker is Mike Medvesky, retired Director of the Public Health Information Group, New York State Dept. of Health. This event is sponsored by the Center for Public Health at the University of Albany.

Thursday, March 3, 2011, New York, NY:

NYZTT Clinical Roundtable: Brainstorming with the Experts: Discussing Challenging Infant and Toddler Cases.
Ackerman Institute for the Family, 149 East 78th St., 6-8 PM. $20

Led by three NYZTT board members: Jane Hockman, Priscilla Lincoln and Harriet McGurk, attendees are encouraged to submit challenging cases from their everyday work. RSVP to info@nyztt.org.

<h4″>Thursday, March 10, 2011, White Plains, NY:

State Budget Briefing and Lunch with Kate Breslin, President/CEO, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy.
Westchester Children’s Association, 470 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 304. 12 noon-3 PM. FREE

This briefing will focus on the impact of the NY State budget on children, youth and families. Complimentary sandwiches and drink included. Registration is required for this event: phone 914-946-7676 x300 or go to:
wca.ejoinme.org

    Three analyses of the Governor’s 2011-2012 Executive Budget would be helpful to prepare for this briefing:

  • NYS Office of Children and Family Services: Link to PDF file
  • Citizen’s Committee for Children of New York: Link to PDF file
  • Children’s Defense Fund-NY: Link to Summary

Thursday, March 10, 2011, New York, NY:

East Harlem 0-5 Network Meeting, ABC/Echo Park, 1841 Park Ave, at 126 St., 3rd Floor, 9-11 am

Quarterly cross systems meeting of organizations, providers, government agency staff and advocates in East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. For further information, contact Gail Gordon

Thursday, March 10, 2011, New York, NY:

Safety Networking Using Federal Resources for local agencies. Columbia University Medical Center, Hammer Health Sciences Center, 701 West 168 St., 4th floor. 8:30 am-2 PM: Register by Mar 3

For health care, social services and community-based organizations to learn about the array of available federal programs and to network with organizations doing similar work. Resources and presentations will be in both English and Spanish.

Registration is required due to limited space. E-mail: Melissa with name, title, agency, phone number, mailing address to receive confirmation notice and details of event.

Saturday, March 12, 2011, New York, NY:

4th Annual Business Empowerment Conference: Recognizing Women Entrepreneurs in Child Care, 8:30 am-4:30 PM

Providers will learn how to effectively market and run their child care business. For location and registration, contact: cpearson or call: 212-929-7604 ext. 3037.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011, New York, NY:

Latino Health care Conference, City University of NY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, 8:30 am-5 PM.

This free one-day conference will be entirely in Spanish and will include presenters from YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities, Premier Health Care, The Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies at CUNY and other experts
in the field. For parents and providers. For a brochure, call Mara Henriquez at 212-273-6542 or view online PDF brochure.
To register, go to: www.yai.org

Monday, March 14, 2011, Brooklyn, NY:

Press conference and talk out for paid sick days featuring Laura Flanders, star of movie: True Grit. (see Advocacy – NYC below)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011, New York, NY:

De Vuelta a lo Básico (Back to Basics); 7th annual Latino Health care Conference-in Spanish, City University of NY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, 8:30 am-5 PM. FREE

This free one-day conference will be entirely in Spanish and will include presenters from YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities, Premier Health Care, The Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies at CUNY and other experts
in the field. For parents and providers. For a brochure, call Mara Henriquez at 212-273-6542 or view online PDF brochure.
To register, go to: www.yai.org

Wednesday, March 16, 2011, Albany, NY:

<h5″>New York City Advocacy Day in Albany sponsored by Winning Beginning NY (see Advocacy – NYC below)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011, Albany, NY:

Westchester and Long Island Advocacy Day in Albany sponsored by Winning Beginning NY (see Advocacy – NYS below)

Thursday, March 24, 2011, New Rochelle, NY:

Annual Awards Dinner of Westchester Chapter of National Association of Social Workers honoring Kathy Halas, Executive Director, Child Care Council of Westchester. 6-9 PM

Kathy is a co-convener of Westchester’s 0-6 ISP group and active advocate for early care and education in Westchester. She will receive the Public Citizen Award of the Year at the dinner. Prices $50 before March 21, $55 thereafter; students: $25.
To register call 1-800-724-6279 x4 or go online for the PDF to register.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011, Albany, NY:

Rochester, Syracuse Advocacy Day in Albany sponsored by Winning Beginning NY (see Advocacy – NYS below)

SAVE THE DATES

Thursday-Friday, April 7-8, 2011, New York, NY:

Young Child Expo & Conference, Hotel Pennsylvania, 33rd & 7th Ave.

Presents information on typically developing and special needs children for parents and professionals. Annually sponsored by Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education and Los Ninos Services.
For more information, go to: www.youngchildexpo.com

Monday-Wednesday, April 11-13, Albany, NY:

<h5″>Strengthening Families: Connecting Prevention & Prevention, 16th Annual New York State Child Abuse Prevention Conference. Marriott Hotel.

For more information call: 518-445-1273

Saturday, April 16, New York, NY:

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Basic Science to Intervention: An Autism Symposium for the Community.

Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue at 69th Street, 1st Floor North Building. 8 am-5 PM. For more information see: www.hunter.cuny.edu/autismsymposium

Thursday, April 28, 2011, Rye, New York:

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

For more information, e-mail eefinger

Friday, May 13, New York, NY:

Annual New York Zero-to-Three Network Conference: Beyond Research: Real World Interventions for At Risk Young Children and Families.

130 East 59th Street, 8:30 am-3 PM. For more information, contact info@nyztt.org.

Monday-Tuesday, May 23-24, 2011, Uniondale, NY:

Annual Parent-Child Home Program Conference

Featuring Ellen Galinsky on Mind in the Making: Engaging Families in Promoting the Seven Essential Skills Every Child Needs & Tovah P. Klein on Playing as a Way to Set the Stage for Healthy Child Development as well as workshops.
Long Island Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 101 James Doolittle Blvd. For early bird registration prices and topics, go to: www.parent-child.org

Thursday, July 21, New York, NY:

5th Annual Citywide Infant Toddler Conference.

CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave. at 35 St., 8:30 am-3 PM. For more information, go to: www.babystepsnyc.org.

AWARDS

NYZTT Emily Fenichel Award for Excellence Nominations Due February 28

Nominate a colleague, teacher, supervisor who you admire for excellent practice, who inspires you, for a NYZTT Emily Fenichel Award for Leadership. Nominations are being accepted through February 28.
To submit your nomination application.

Westchester NASW Whitney M. Young Stipend for Social Action $500 stipend/scholarship. Application deadline is March 28, 2011

To receive this award, recipients must be a Westchester County resident; OR, enrolled in a Westchester social work program and must have made a significant social contribution to the Westchester community.

For complete details, go to the PDF
The award will be presented during the Thirty-third Annual Whitney M. Young, Jr., Memorial Symposium, April 2011.

ADVOCACY

U.S. Congress

House Resolution (HR) 1 passed the House on February 19 with a vote of 235 to 189 to fund federal programs until the end of FY2011. This bill would make deep cuts in the Child Care and Development Block Grant ($39 billion) that provides child care subsidies and $1 billion from the Head Start program. Together, these cuts would mean 368,000 children would no longer be served and their parents would not be able to afford quality child care. If the U.S. Senate does not reach agreement with the House by March 4, the government could shut down temporarily. Here is what you can do to keep affordable quality child care for working parents:

    Call and fax our U.S. Senators.

 

  • Ask to speak to the early childhood staff person and tell them who you are and why these federal budget cuts are unacceptable. Also urge them to sign the Murray/Franken/Casey Dear Colleague letter about protecting funding for Head Start and child care. To sign-on, Senators’ offices can directly contact Moire Duggan.
  • Hon. Charles Schumer: 202-224-6542; fax is 202-228-3027.
  • Hon. Kristen Gillibrand: 202-224-4451; fax is 202-228-0282.

 

    Prepare for your message by going to the following web sites:

New York State

The NY state budget has been submitted to the legislature and it contains severe cuts to early care and education programs in New York State as well as home visiting programs and the Early Intervention Program.

    Now is the time to speak up:

  • Visit your local legislators in their district offices this week. Take a family with you or bring their story.
  • Prepare for your visit with the Winning Beginning NY Legislative Agenda — and bring a copy for your assemblyman and state senator. Go to the PDF:
    www.winningbeginningny.org
  • View the Advocacy Tools for Elected Officials at www.winningbeginningny.org
  • Read about the “Who Cares? I do” online campaign launched on February 14 by the Human Services Council to protect human services programs in the state and New York City from more deep cuts and sign on at: www.whocares-ido.org/
  • Share hardship stories from around the state: phone: 212-584-3329 or E-mail: WhoCares.IDo
  • Write letters to the editor or op eds for your local newspaper using Winning Beginning NY templates
  • Join local advocates for Wednesday Winning Beginning NY March Advocacy Days in Albany.
    • March 2: Capital Region
    • March 16: New York City
    • March 23 Long Island, Westchester?
    • March 30: Rochester, Syracuse
  • For further assistance, contact Jessica Klos at 518/690-4217 x32 or e-mail: Jessica
  • Let us know how your visit went: e-mail
  • Contact information for the Governor
    • Phone: 518-474-8390
    • Fax: 518-474-1513
    • Mail: The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224

New York City

The Mayor has released a plan to cut 16,000 child care subsidies that does not need to go through the City Council. Most of the affected families do not receive TANF assistance. These cuts would bring the total of child care cuts to 30,000 since the economic downturn. At the same time, NYC added $2 billion to its tax revenues. Some 23 organizations in New York City have come together to create the Emergency Coalition for Early Care and Learning. The Center for Children’s Initiatives is coordinating.

    Here is how to help:

  • Contact Betty Holcomb and tell her you want to join the fight. Planned activities include: press conference, hearings, emergency coalition, press outreach, sign-on letter, op-eds.
  • Watch for statement and City Council hearings initiated by Councilwoman Annabel Palma who is chair of the General Welfare Committee and represents the Parkchester, Soundview, Castle Hill, Classon Point, and Harding Park sections of the Bronx.
  • To be on the child care advocacy list for New York City, contact Ms. Palma’s aide, Emily Hoffman
  • Support the New York Citywide campaign on Paid Sick Days. Participate in a March 14 press conference and speak out in Park Slope, Brooklyn timed with the release of a national report on the need for paid leave featuring Laura Flanders, star of movie True Grit. City Councilwoman Gail Brewer is coordinating with the National Partnership for Women and Families. For more information contact Betty Holcomb and visit www.abetterbalance.org for updated information on this campaign.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

The Ackerman Institute Center for the Developing Child and Family: Spanish speaking social worker or other early childhood specialist

Work half-time as part of an Early Head Start coaching grant at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center. Interested applicants should contact Martha Edwards, PhD, Director, Ackerman Center for the Developing Child and Family, 212 879-4900, ext.133.

RESOURCES

<h4″>Cost-Effective Investments in Children at Risk.

Report from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli

New report on Maternal Depression

by Olivia Golden from the Urban Institute portrays dangers to infants and toddlers and avenues for identifying depressed mothers and getting help and support. See: www.urban.org.

Thirteen Ways of Looking at Poverty

fact sheet presents overview of recent cross-cutting research on poverty from the Urban Institute. Includes effects on immigrants, health care, children, infants with depressed mothers, employment, assets, and neighborhoods.
Go to: www.urban.org.

Visit Susan Ochshorn’s Blog on the Early Care and Education Policy Matters:

for current statistics on children in poverty and some hopeful program successes and a video. Susan also blogs for the huffingtonpost.com. Susan is a member of our NYC Infancy Leadership Circle.

<h4″>ZERO TO THREE

Advocacy Tools from ZERO TO THREE

National Women’s Law Center

Center on Law and Social Policy (CLASP) child care and early education alerts

Advocacy Tools for Elected Officials

Prevent Child Abuse New York

Analyses of the Governor’s 2011-2012 Executive Budget: