ZERO TO THREE:
http://www.zerotothree.org/
This week's assignment, I will be exploring the issues and trends on how economists, reuroscientists, and politicians seek out to be advocates for early childhood. ZERO TO THREE shared a newsletter with me this week titled, "The Baby Monitor: Be a Big Voice for Little Kids in the Debt Ceiling Debate!"
August 2, 2011 is the deadline for raising the debt ceiling debate. Advocates for very young children need to continue to pay attention to the debates because their outcome will determine the capacity for federal investments. The current debate continues to focus on changing the structure of budgeting, so advocates must focus on thow the effect of restructuring the size and role of the federal government would have on infants and toddlers.
To give you an understanding of the ongoing debate, ZERO TO THREE states: "The proposed spending capsw will shrink federal spending to about 18% of the GDP from its current level of 24%, which would result in hard hits to the broad range of services and programs that protect and support the healthy development of young children and their families." As advocates, we need to remind policymakers that they are proposing to cut not only government, but the supports for children and their families. In order to protect our children from the restructuring of budgeting, we need to "Be a Big Voice for Little Kids"!!!
If you want to know more about what's going on in your state, ZERO TO THREE has a public database called Baby Matters which contains information on state policies and initiatives impacting infants, toddlers, and their families that serve as a resource for professional, advocates, and policymakers.
References:
ZERO TO THREE. (2011). The Baby Monitor: Be a Big Voice for Little Kids in the Debt Ceiling Debate. Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/
Carol,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, we need to, "Be a Big Voice for Little Kids"!!! I am researching the Children's Defense Fund and found similar information. I feel thankful that their are organizations out their who are working to make a difference.
It sounds like you have a valuable opportunity to learn more about important advocacy issues and how to advocate for young children through the Zero to Three resources. Has your perspective of your role in the midst of these spending and investment issues shifted at all, or equipped you in the area of advocacy?
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