This month the Strong Start for Children Campaign delivered 30,000 letters cards and pictures by children from across the country to the White House thanking the President for his commitment to early learning. Generations United's Seniors4Kids is a part of the Strong Start for Children Campaign. This coalition focuses on expanding high-quality learning opportunities to achieve better educational health and social and economic outcomes for all. Children, parents, grandparents, teachers, and early childhood advocates joined the coalition in delivering letters supporting the President's commitment to early education.

Thank you to all the Seniors4Kids advocates that took part in this collaboration; your work truly makes a difference!  is still more work to be done! We need your support to continue efforts to expand high-quality early education across the country. Your state coalition can formally join the campaign.

In April, the Obama Administration put forth an early learning initiative to expand high-quality learning opportunities for children birth to age five. This plan will designate $75 billion towards early learning -- a badly needed step in the right direction! Now that the administration has announced the initiative, our job is to create support to move it forward.

Here are some ways you can get involved:

1.   Join Generations United's Seniors4Kids in signing on as a supporter of the Strong Start for Children Campaign. A letter with all signatures will be presented to the White House.

2.   Send a letter or e-mail thanking President Obama for his early childhood support. He needs to know that he has broad support for his early childhood initiatives.

3.   Start planning to take part in the Early Learning Day of Action (June 5). Join thousands of individuals and organizations across the country hosting events in support of President Obama's Early Learning Initiative. Your support can take a number of forms: encouraging lawmakers to visit child care centers and preschool programs, holding press conferences, staging rallies, and allying with others, such as the business community, education community, etc. If you can organize a local event, email the details to strongstartforchildren@gmail.com.

Have an opportunity you would like to share from your state? Email jlent@gu.org.

Colorado  

Attend a Town Mall Meeting and Voice Your Support to Protect Children, Families, and Older Adults!

Colorado Seniors4Kids is co-sponsoring  a town hall meeting to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring funding for programs that support children, families and older adults. Every Child Matters and Congresswoman Diana Degette will host the event, which will take place Thurs., May 30 from 10:00am to 11:00 am (CT) at the Tennyson Center for Children (2950 Tennyston St. Denver, CO).This is a public event, so invite your neighbors, colleagues, and fellow child-serving organizations to the discussion. Share your story and speak up for kids, seniors and families! Learn more.  

Colorado's 2013 legislative session finished this month, and many early childhood initiatives were passed, including those to better streamline services, expand availability, and improve the quality of infant and toddler care. Thanks to all those who helped advocate and made this such a strong session for kids! Learn more.   

 

Kentucky  

HB 366 Passes in Kentucky House of Representatives

The Kentucky House of Representatives has passed HB 366 that includes continued funding for the HANDS program. HANDS (Health Access Nurturing Development Services) is a voluntary program that aids new and expecting families facing multiple challenges. Trained professionals provide these families with ongoing information and support until their children are age two. Thank you to those who spread the word about this legislation, as it will continue to help more than 10,000 families every year.  

 

Thanks, too, to everyone who came out last Tuesday for the public hearing on the impact of pending cuts to child care assistance payments and supports for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. Your support is invaluable. To learn more about how to continue to raise your voice, visit Kentucky's Voice for EarlyChildhood or Kentucky Youth Advocates.  

 

Nebraska

Join in on the Nebraskaland Days' Early Childhood Grandparent Network launch!

Its official: the Nebraska Early Childhood Grandparent Network will launch on June 15 at

Nebraskaland days.  We invite you to join us and bring along your grandchildren and all the grandparents you know!

 

Visit our booth at North Platte's Eagle Pork breakfast where we will be announcing the network and inviting others to join the effort.  

 

Tickets to Nebraskaland Days are $10.00 and breakfast is served from 7:00am to11:00am. You and your grandchildren can join us at the parade! The Childhood Grandparent Network will have two antique cars in the parade and will be handing out stickers. Now all we need is you! Interested in walking or riding in the parade with us? Contact Diane Rolfsmeyer at nebraskagrandparents@gu.org.  We hope to see you there!

 

Pennsylvania

Take Action on Behalf of Early Childhood Education!     

Governor Corbett has proposed increases in the upcoming fiscal budget for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, Head Start programs, and other high-quality child care. This is a step in the right direction. Still, we have more to do. Begin by contacting your representatives and asking them to support Gov. Corbett's proposed increases, and to put more resources towards these early childhood programs. Also remind them that fewer than 17 percent of Pennsylvania three- and four-year-old children have access to high-quality, publicly funded preschools, and that more than 6,500 children are on waiting lists for Child Care Works, the state's subsidized child care assistance program.