社区黑料

Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

The ZERO TO THREE virtual 2020 conference emphasized social change as much as educational practices. One great example was Great Things Happen When You Think Babies! Campaign Stories From Three Think Babies States, featuring work being done in New Jersey, Georgia and Rhode Island and the progress made possible by working in coalitions. Here are our takeaways.

1. It takes data and storytelling. Each year, more than 102,000 babies are born in New Jersey. Diane Dellanno, policy analyst with (ACNJ) improves their prospects by conducting research and making sure it gets into the right hands. 鈥淲e embed equity in everything we do,鈥� she said. That means including family recipients directly impacted by policies and practices wherever possible in order to bring attention to disparities in their state.

Through the campaign, events, and other endeavors, the coalition leverages data points such as the fact that more than 90 percent of New Jerseyans believe 鈥渉igh-quality, affordable infant and toddler care is important for families in New Jersey.鈥�

ACNJ emphasizes three priorities:

Asked to cite a recent policy victory, Dellanno said the child care subsidy reimbursement rate went up, with the greatest increases going to infants and toddlers. 鈥淲e also increased reimbursement rates based on quality ratings,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd set aside funds to expand the availability of infant toddler child care space in centers.鈥�

2. Bring those babies into the room where it happens. That鈥檚 the advice of Mindy Binderman, executive director, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (). She said it both empowers the parents and makes the legislators sit up and listen. GEEARS focuses on:

• Brain development
• Effects of high-quality early learning
• Economic impact of early education
• The importance of a healthy start

The coalition鈥檚 convenes emerging state leaders across a range of sectors, equipping them with training and support to advance their priorities. Their gives employers the resources and data to foster family-friendly work environments. Supporting working parents is a way of boosting a company鈥檚 competitive edge during and after the pandemic.

3. Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask for what you really need. That鈥檚 how Leanne C. Barrett, senior policy analyst of (RIKC), approaches issues ranging from expanding home visiting programs to ensuring that doulas accompany more low-income pregnant women during childbirth. She said that providing information and strategies on what works is a way of engaging business leaders and policymakers alike. Active since 1994, her coalition provides independent, credible, comprehensive information on Rhode Island’s children in order to

• Enact strong state and federal revenue policies to maintain, expand and improve essential programs that are a lifeline for children and families
• Ensure child care can reopen and operate while meeting new, more rigorous health and safety standards
• Implement strategies to improve the wages of early educators working with children and families during the pandemic and beyond
• Improve Rhode Island鈥檚 paid family leave program
• Cover community-based doula services through Medicaid and private health insurance
• Sustain 搁滨碍颁鈥檚 network of voluntary, evidence-based family home visiting programs
• Expand access to the Rhode Island Pre-K and sustain state-funded Head Start programs
• Pass a new

搁滨碍颁鈥檚 campaign pushes for action on the most urgent issues, including 鈥渨orthy wages鈥� for child care workers and protections during the pandemic.