In this Issue

• A Participant's Experience with T.E.A.C.H.
• Spotlight on: Professional Development Registries
• Vote Phyllis Kalifeh for NAEYC Governing Board
• Forum Corner
• Early Learning Coalition Briefs
• Legislative Updates
• Economic Stimulus for Child Care Equals Jobs
• State and National News
• Calendar of Events

Read a summary of the findings.

• Three in four voters (76 percent) say newly-elected officials in Congress, as well as new state and local leaders, should increase funding for afterschool programs. Fewer than one in five voters disagree that this funding should be increased.
• Eighty-three percent agree there should be some type of organized activity or safe place for children/teens to go after school every day that provides opportunities to learn. Sixty-six percent strongly agree.
• Strong support for afterschool programs crosses all party, ideological and demographic lines. Ninety-four percent of Democrats, 83 percent of Independents and 71 percent of Republicans agree that there's a need for some type of organized activity or safe place for children/teens. Voter majorities of all races and ages, from all regions, parents as well as non-parents, agree.
• Men are more supportive of afterschool programs now than in recent years. Sixty-three percent strongly agree there should be some type of organized activity or safe place for children and teens to go after school every day that provides opportunities for them to learn, compared to 53 percent in 2006.
• Given the dangers young people face after school, almost nine in ten voters (89 percent) say afterschool programs are important.
• Three in four voters (76 percent) agree that afterschool programs are an absolute necessity for their community, and 58 percent strongly agree.
• Voters think that afterschool programs play an important role in keeping youth in school, helping them graduate and preparing them for the workforce. Seventy-six percent of voters agree that afterschool programs are important to preparing youth to enter the workforce of the future and that afterschool programs are important for helping youth stay in school and addressing the dropout crisis in America.

Survey conducted by Lake Research Partners with bipartisan analysis by Lake Research Partners and The Tarrance Group. The survey reached 1,200 likely registered voters, 1,000 via landline phones and 200 via cell phones. Its margin of error is +/- 2.8%.

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The report, Parents' Perceptions of Child Care in the United States, presents findings from a survey of 1,004 parents with children under age 6 on their perceptions about provider training, inspections of programs, requirements for licensing, background checks and other child care issues. Parents were also asked about their attitudes toward public funding to increase the quality and affordability of child care. The poll was conducted by Zogby International in November.

The survey revealed that parents logically assumed there is governmental oversight that ensures child care is safe and of high-quality. Parents believed that background checks and trainings on child development, CPR, child guidance and discipline, and recognition of child abuse were required for all child care providers. Parents also believed that state governments licensed and inspected all child care programs. In reality, most state licensing requirements do not support the safety and quality standards that parents expect. About half of the states inspect child care settings only once a year or less frequently, and many states allow federal funds to be used for care that is not required to be licensed.

"It's understandable that parents would assume that state licensing means something," said Linda Smith, Executive Director of NACCRRA. "Unfortunately, what we've found is that states do so little monitoring that the standards are hollow - barely worth the paper they are printed on."

Report findings also revealed that parents are willing to invest in quality child care. Almost two-thirds of parents were willing to pay an extra $10 per year in taxes, and more than half were willing to pay an extra $50 per year to improve quality. Affordability of child care was also an important concern for families. Seventy percent were willing to pay an extra $10 per year in taxes to make child care more affordable, while 60 percent were willing to pay an additional $50. Most parents agreed that funding early childhood programs should not be the sole responsibility of parents. Three-quarters of those surveyed favored providing public funding to make child care more affordable.

"With the current economic crisis, quality child care settings are even more important to the healthy development of children," Smith stated. "In too many cases involving families earning low incomes, child care is the only place that children may receive a nutritious meal. Food is often one of the places parents sacrifice as their family budget becomes tighter."

Over 11 million children under age 5 spend some time each week in the care of someone other than their parent. Almost half of the parents surveyed (49 percent) said their youngest child was regularly cared for by someone else. One-fourth (23 percent) reported alternating work schedules to accommodate child care needs, and one-third (33 percent) used multiple child care arrangements, including child care centers, full and part-day preschools, family child care homes, and homes of relatives, friends or neighbors.

"Research has found that the first five years of life are a critical time for a child's growth and development," said Smith. "Lack of quality and oversight in some of these arrangements - especially as it relates to untrained child care providers - means children may not ever be safe, let alone learning."

To promote high-quality, affordable child care for families, NACCRRA recommends that states: require complete background checks for all paid providers prior to working with children; require inspections prior to issuing a license and regular unannounced inspections throughout the year; require 40 hours of pre-service training and 24 hours of annual training and support local child care resource and referral agencies in their efforts to advance safe, affordable, high-quality care and early learning opportunities.

For a full copy of the report, which includes NACCRRA recommendations, please visit www.naccrra.org. For detailed information about data and regulations in individual states, visit the following NACCRRA pages:

• State Fact Sheets has the most recent child care data by state
  http://www.naccrra.org/randd/state_by_state_facts.php
• We Can Do Better state sheets list state child care center standards and oversight.
  http://www.naccrra.org/policy/recent_reports/scorecard.php
• Leaving Children to Chance state sheets list state standards and oversight for family child care homes.
  http://www.naccrra.org/policy/recent_reports/fcc_report.php

New Brief on the Science of Early Childhood Development
The Science of Early Childhood Development is the first in a series of summaries of presentations given at the National Symposium on Early Childhood Science and Policy, which was held in June 2008. This brief looks at the basic concepts of early childhood development, established over decades of research.

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The theme of WOYC is "Bring Communities Together for Children - Children Bring Communities Together." First established in 1971, WOYC recognizes that the early childhood years lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life.

It's time to start planning your WOYC 2009 events. Visit www.naeyc.org/about/woyc/ for information about planning and ideas for WOYC events. Some ideas from previous years include neighborhood parades, family fun fairs, art displays, and collaborations with local organizations and businesses.

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For the sixth consecutive year, Prevent Child Abuse Florida in partnership with the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and the Florida Department of Children and Families will launch the Winds of Change public awareness campaign. The Winds of Change campaign coordinates community-based activities and the development and distribution of printed resource materials and broadcast of public service announcements to promote the prevention of child abuse and neglect through a better understanding of child development, improved parenting and community action.

A major component of the campaign includes local events that highlight prevention efforts and show that providing safe, stable and nurturing environments for children are a priority in local communities. The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida office receives inquiries from all over the state seeking events taking place in Florida in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. To help direct these inquiries, a section on their website dedicated to promoting local events allows them to easily share information with volunteers, community members and dignitaries. To submit an event, visit www.ounce.org/CAP_local_event.html to access a web-based event form. Once submitted, the event will be posted to the Ounce of Prevention Fund's website on their Prevent Child Abuse Florida's Child Abuse Prevention Month page.

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Throughout Florida, funding and staff for children's programs and services are at great risk of being lost to the 2009-10 slated budget cuts. Communities across the state are responding by gearing up to kick-off the 14th Annual Florida Children's Week celebration to raise awareness about important children's issues. This year's Children's Week activities will focus on the anticipated impact of severe budget cuts to vital programs for Florida's youth.

"Children's Week has become the largest statewide civic education event for children and families in Florida," says Children's Week coordinator Jason Zaborske. "With events happening in all 67 counties and thousands of families traveling to Tallahassee to participate in the Children's 'Capitol for a Day', it is the one time during the year that the Capitol is transformed into a living classroom where elected officials, youth leaders, advocates, communities and families can come together with one voice to advocate for Florida's children."

From now through April, more than 75 statewide partners and corporations including Comcast, Tobacco Free Florida, Nemours, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Department of Children & Families, Publix Super Markets Charities, Salter>Mitchell, United Way of Florida and other non-profit organizations are teaming up to host a multitude of events and activities designed to promote the health, safety and well-being of children and families across the Sunshine State. In addition, local organizations will emphasize the importance of maintaining current funding levels and securing new sources of funding for children and youth services.

During the next several weeks, communities will offer children's activities and events that include the following:

• Children in schools and child care centers throughout Florida are coloring and designing more than 100,000 paper cut-outs of their hands, which will be transported to Tallahassee via the "Caring Hands Caravan." Hundreds of volunteers from across the state will arrive at the Capitol on Sunday, March 29 at 1 p.m. to help with the traditional "Hanging of the Hands" in the Rotunda.
• The "Capital Steps for Kids" program presented by Nemours is giving away 10,000 pedometers to Children's Week local event coordinators to organize walks and promote healthy and active lifestyles through a Pedometer Challenge. Nemours will highlight the effort and announce how many steps were walked statewide during the Challenge at the Capitol on March 31.
• The "Children's Capitol for a Day" is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the State Capitol. The day includes free walking tours of the Capitol, hands-on educational activities for children, and legislators reading and distributing books to children. Free healthy boxed lunches will be provided by Crispers to all children and teachers who RSVP by March 16.
• Community advocates in all 67 counties are contacting local government leaders to sign resolutions and hold press conferences to proclaim April 5, 2009 as "Parents and Children's Day" throughout Florida. Recognized in state law, this day takes place on the first Sunday in April each year and encourages parents and children to spend quality time together and participate in fun, healthy and educational activities in their communities.

Additional information and a listing of local events in communities across Florida are available at www.childrensweek.org. All activities are free and open to the public.

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Need some economic wisdom you can bank on? A tip with guaranteed return? Investing in children is good business, short and long term.

While policymakers on both sides of the political aisle debate a potential economic stimulus package that throws lifelines to major industries and employs legions of citizens to build bridges, repair roads and develop alternative sources of energy, they also must invest in programs and services that put people to work safeguarding, educating and developing our children and youth. Investing in children provides short-term economic stimulus with lasting impact.

The Children's Trust, a children services council serving Miami-Dade County and one of eight such councils created by voter referendum in Florida, employs 100 people and this year manages a budget of $140 million. Ninety-two percent of those dollars are invested in direct services. Hundreds of organizations that have expanded programs for children and families as a result of Trust funding in the first five years of our existence now provide jobs to 6,000 full- and part-time workers annually.

Multiply that kind of potential impact in every municipality from coast to coast. Imagine the economic stimulus created by employing more people in after-school and summer programs, school health initiatives, serving children with disabilities, teaching pre-school children how to read and express themselves through the arts, mentoring adolescents and so much more.

Further, these programs aid working parents, allowing them to be more productive because they know their children are safe and receiving quality care and education.

That's the short-term impact.

Now consider the long-term return on investment when we have nurtured and raised a generation of more educated, creative, resourceful and innovative workers. A wealth of studies have examined the benefit-cost ratios of early childhood development programs and found their net benefits both positive and large; on average, a $1 investment in quality early care and education provides between $4 and $8 in reduced costs associated with such social outcomes as lower rates of grade retention, special education placement, adolescent pregnancy, drug use, and criminal activity - at the high end this is a 17-percent return on investment. And that's no Ponzi scheme!

From research conducted for the Partnership for America's Economic Success, the longer-term economic impacts - improved job growth and fiscal health at the state and federal levels - are also substantial. For example, Timothy Bartik of Upjohn Institute estimates investment in universal Pre-K for all children results in $2.78 in state earnings per $1 cost, $3.79 in national earnings per $1 cost and generates 3.3 million jobs nationally.

In mid-December, the Children's Leadership Council (CLC) launched its "Invest in Children, Strengthen America" campaign in Washington, D.C. The coalition of children advocates represents 35 leading national policy and advocacy organizations, with members in every state in the nation.

As one unified voice and with a singular mission, the campaign seeks to heighten public awareness and create the political will necessary to make greater federal investments in America's children and youth a reality.

The CLC is urging President-elect Obama and Congress to commit to specific economic recovery measures and long-term investments that can help keep more children and youth from falling into poverty. The group seeks funding for a range of children's programs that they argue are directly linked to getting the nation's unemployed workers back on the job. Their proposal includes $70 billion over five years for child care and early education.

The wisest investment "we the people" can make is to ensure that sufficient dollars are directed to early childhood programs and education.

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