[Tricountydirectorsgroup] Sharing the Capitol Connection: Weekly Update!

Wed Feb 29 12:51:37 CST 2012

-----Original Message-----
From: Lorraine Kinney-Kitchen <lmk23 at cornell.edu>
To: 'Tri County Directors Group (tricountydirectorsgroup at magixsolutions.net)' <tricountydirectorsgroup at magixsolutions.net>
Sent: Fri, Feb 24, 2012 11:21 am
Subject: [Tricountydirectorsgroup] Sharing the Capitol Connection: Weekly Update!

Below is the Capitol Connection weekly update. Is this something you would like to continue to receive? Attached is the Winning Beginning agenda and talking points for 2012. Here is the link to the WBNY site so you can become an e-advocate. Even if you cannot join us in a meeting, you can still speak your mind about child care issues. http://www.winningbeginningny.org/advocacy/legislativeAgenda.php
If you have any questions, I would be happy to provide or find out the answer.

Also, would like to know your thoughts….would you rather meet locally with elected officials to discuss child care issues or try to arrange mtgs in Albany? 
Thanks and have a great weekend
Lorraine 

~Is there someone you know who makes a difference in the lives of our children?  Nominate your favorite "Friend of Children" for one of our awards and show your appreciation~
http://www.mycccc.org/nomination%20form.htm

Lorraine Kinney-Kitchen, Director
Child Care Council 
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County
121 Second Street
Oriskany, N.Y.  13424
Phone: (315) 223-7850 X223
Fax: (315) 223-7855

Website: www.mycccc.org
Email: lkk at mycccc.org

~ Promoting quality care and education for society's most precious resource......our children ~

Interested in making a difference in the issues that affect our children? Join Parent Central Now!
http://highqualitychildcare.org/naccrra_ny/join.html

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From: Grace Reef [mailto:grace.reef at naccrra.org] 
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 9:56 AM
To: Lorraine Kinney-Kitchen
Subject: Capitol Connection: Weekly Update!

February 24, 2012 

Congress

Payroll Tax Cut Deal Reached

U.S. Senate 

U.S. House of Representatives

The Administration

President Obama Submits FY 2013 Budget to Congress

Take Action!  

Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor the Moore Background Check Bill!

Tweet on the Hill

NACCRRA Policy Resources You Can Use  

Social Networking Guide to Effective Advocacy

Background Check Talking Points 

Lunch and Learn: Twitter 2.0 (webinar)

Early Childhood Focus  

Miscellaneous  

Speak Up to Protect Children

2012 National Child Care Policy Symposium 

Don't Forget to Schedule Your Day on the Hill Appointments!

Making Government Work: A Conversation with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad

The Role of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) in School Preparedness 

PAHPA Reauthorization: Improving Our Nation’s Preparedness

Unemployment Insurance for Tomorrow's Economy

Strengthening Professional Development in Home Visiting Programs

Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC)

US Consumer Product Safety: Product Recalls 

Resource Sharing  

Congress  

Payroll Tax Cut Deal Reached

On February 17, Congress reached agreement on H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act. The House and Senate passed the bill and the President signed it into law on February 22. The measure retains the payroll tax rate for workers for 2012 at 4.2 percent (instead of going up to 6.2 percent at the end of February when the tax break was scheduled to expire). It is worth about $1,000 a year to families. The measure also extends unemployment compensation for the long-term unemployed for 2012. The maximum weeks that anyone can receive unemployment would be reduced to 73 from the current 99. Unemployment receipt would also be capped in states with unemployment rates below 9 percent at 63 weeks. TANF would be extended through September 30. In addition, the measure prohibits TANF benefits from being accessed at ATMs in strip clubs, liquor stores and casinos. Overall the bill comes at a cost of about $120 billion over five years. 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Hearings

President’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Proposal with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius 

House Ways and Means Committee

Full Committee Hearing

February 28, 2012 at 1 p.m., Eastern

1100 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 

House Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Camp, R-Mich.) will hold a hearing on the fiscal 2013 budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services. Witnesses Scheduled: Kathleen Sebelius - Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

U.S. Senate

Hearings

Tax Reform to Encourage Growth, Reduce the Deficit, and Promote Fairness

Senate Budget Committee

Full Committee Hearing

March 1, 2012 at 10 a.m., Eastern

608 Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 

The Senate Budget Committee will hear testimony from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey on the President's FY 2013 budget request. 

Can't make the hearing in person? View the live webcast.

President’s FY 2013 Budget and Revenue Proposals 

Senate Budget Committee 

February 16, 2012, 10am Eastern

To view a recording of this Hearing, Chairman Kent Conrad's opening remarks, and other related clips, click here.

The Administration

President Obama Submits FY 2013 Budget to Congress

On February 13, 2012, President Obama released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013 to Congress.  The proposal includes approximately $4 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade, which includes $1 trillion in savings from spending caps that were part of the debt limit law from last August. There are funding cuts, savings and consolidations affecting more than 200 federal programs.  Many more programs were frozen.  In a challenging economy and a tough budget environment, there is good news for early childhood. The President’s budget would increase funding for child care by $825 million for FY2013. The increase is comprised of $500 million in mandatory funds (under the jurisdiction of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee) and $325 million in discretionary funds for a new child care quality initiative. To read more about the President's FY 2013 and Child Care, check out last week's "Breaking News".

For a detailed breakdown of funding for child care related programs from FY 2007-FY2013, click here. 

To listen to NACCRRA’s webinar about the President’s budget, click here or to download the slides, click here.

Take Action!  

Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor the Moore Background Check Bill!

We need your help! We’re working to get cosponsors for H.R. 3829, the “Child Care Accountability and Responsibility Act of 2012.” Go to NACCRRA’s “Action Center” to send a letter via email to your Representative asking him/her to cosponsor H.R. 3829 . It just takes a minute and we are trying to get as many cosponsors on Rep. Moore's bill as possible to show support for background checks. Every cosponsor is important! Click below to take action!

Background Checks: Click here to send a letter to your Members of Congress urging them to cosponsor background check legislation introduced by Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI).  

Tweet on the Hill

This year @NACCRRA will be tweeting throughout Symposium and we hope you will join us! Day on the Hill (Thursday, March 8, 2012) is all about raising visibility about the importance of safe, affordable and quality #childcare- let’s use Twitter to raise visibility all over the country. If your organization is not on Twitter, view this recording of our Twitter 1.0 webinar training. If you’re ready to learn more about tweeting strategically or how to Tweet from your cell phone, check out Twitter 2.0. 

NACCRRA Policy Resources You Can Use 

Social Networking Guide to Effective Advocacy 

Read our one pagers on how to effectively tweet legislators on the following key child care issues:

Background Checks 
Reauthorize CCDBG

Background Check Talking Points 

Get tips on what to say to lawmakers and other key policy stakeholders about why a comprehensive background check for child care providers is extremely important!

Lunch and Learn: Twitter 2.0 (webinar) 

Learn all about "tweeting strategically."

Click here to watch and listen.

Early Childhood Focus  

Check out Early Childhood Focus, NACCRRA’s online database of newspaper articles from throughout the country, sortable by state and category (i.e., key topics). 

Featured Article: Florida early learning bills on move, despite spar over standards 

Miscellaneous

Speak Up to Protect Children

February 29, 2012, 12:00p.m., Eastern

Sponsored by Child Care Aware® Parent Network (CCAPN)

Presented by Dr. Maria McColgan

Prevention of child abuse is key, and as a parent, there are some steps you can take to protect your children. Raising children can be challenging, but when you are prepared to handle stress in a safe way you can protect your children from the long-term negative impact that can result from exposure to violence in childhood. Learn how to recognize warning signs, and what to do if you suspect your child has been abused by someone else. 

Register here.

2012 National Child Care Policy Symposium  

There's still time to register for NACCRRA’s 2012 Policy Symposium, “Child Care and Education: Unequal Opportunities,” on March 6-10 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.  NACCRRA’s Symposium features innovative sessions on the latest policy, research and practice developments in child care and CCR&R.  It also offers a forum for policy analysis and discussion, examination of the latest research, high quality training, peer networking, visits to Members of Congress and resources dissemination.  To register, click here.  

Don't Forget to Schedule Your Day on the Hill Appointments!

The National Child Care Policy Symposium is quickly approaching. Please remember to schedule meetings with your Members of Congress. Day on the Hill is March 8, 2012. Once your meetings are confirmed, submit the details on NACCRRA’s online event manager. If you missed the recent Day on the Hill Prep webinar, click here to view the recorded presentation.

For more information about scheduling your meetings, click here.

Making Government Work: 

A Conversation with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad

February 24, 2012, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Eastern

Sponsored by Urban Institute

On the eve of the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, the Urban Institute debuts Making Government Work -- illuminating, pundit-free exchanges with high-level state, local, and federal officials on the role and effectiveness of the public sector. The series’ first forum considers the challenges and opportunities states face securing their future by investing in children. Featured speakers include Governor Terry Branstad (IA), Ray Scheppach, professor of practice, Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, University of Virginia , and Olivia Golden, Institute fellow at the Urban Institute. 

Register to attend in person in Washington, D.C. 

Watch the webcast or recording here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/urban-institute-events. 

The Role of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) in School Preparedness 

Sponsored by Department of Education’s Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center

February 28, 2012 at 3 p.m., Eastern

This one-and-a-half-hour webinar will focus on the implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command Structure (ICS) as it pertains to K-12 schools and school districts. The webinar will present information about the key elements of NIMS, training for key personnel, ICS roles for schools, and examples of how districts and schools can implement NIMS/ICS. The webinar will be presented by Bob Spears, Director of Emergency Services with the Los Angeles (CA) Unified School District's Office of Emergency Services.

Register here.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Upcoming Youth Workshops 

Looking for help on how to incorporate Emergency Preparedness into your existing youth program? Join us at one of our upcoming regional Youth Preparedness Workshops:

February 28: Denver, CO 
March 22: Kansas City, MO 
April 18: Seattle, WA 
July 12: Boston, MA 

For more information, contact our Youth Director, Regina Moran at regina.moran at fema.dhs.gov

PAHPA Reauthorization: Improving Our Nation’s Preparedness

Congressional Seminar

March 1, 2012, 11 a.m.-1:00p.m., Eastern (lunch will be served)

Co-hosted by The Center for Biosecurity of UPMC and BIO Honorary Co-Host Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.

For more details, please download the event flyer. 

Space is limited. You must RSVP by February 24, 2012 to conference at upmc-biosecurity.org.

Unemployment Insurance for Tomorrow's Economy

March 6, 2012, 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Eastern

Sponsored by Urban Institute

This forum will discuss some of the key problems facing unemployment insurance and ideas for overhauling the system. Featured panelists are Hal Bergan, consultant and former administrator, Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Division, Matt Harvill, vice president for unemployment compensation, Kelly Services Inc., Pamela Loprest, director, Income and Benefits Policy Center, Urban Institute, Rick McHugh, senior staff attorney, National Employment Law Project, Wayne Vroman, senior fellow, Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population, Urban Institute. 

Register to attend in person in Washington, D.C. 

Watch the webcast or recording here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/urban-institute-events.

Strengthening Professional Development in Home Visiting Programs

Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 3:00p.m. - 4:15 p.m., Eastern

Sponsored by The Pew Center on the States

What strategies and resources have you used to build a professional development system in your state for home visiting professionals?  The goal of this webinar is to explore strategies for building comprehensive, statewide professional development systems for the home visiting workforce.  Panelists will discuss statewide professional development systems in Illinois and Virginia and how these systems play a critical role in supporting home visiting programs’ desired outcomes for families and children.  The webinar will also include remarks on professional development systems from Mary Wakefield, Administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

Register here.

Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC)

As many of you know, the Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC) initiative was launched by First Lady Michelle Obama with the aim of creating a healthier future for children in early care and education programs. LMCC participants can complete an online interactive checklist quiz to assess what quality improvements can be made related to these goals. Several states have created additional incentives connected to LMCC, including linking the initiative to QRIS and professional development. We’ve also received many success stories through the website and encourage you to share descriptions of success in your communities with us through the success story page. 

The states with the highest percentage of providers participating and the highest percentage of providers completing the program will be recognized at the Weight of the Nation Conference in Washington, DC, this May.

We’re proud to have more than 2,000 providers involved in LMCC, but we believe we can get more providers–and more children–involved in this exciting initiative. For more information, click here.

Please share the State Challenge information and flyers with early childhood stakeholders you know. Together, we can get one step closer to ensuring the health of all children in child care.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission  

Recalls 

For Immediate Release 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has released several voluntary recalls over the past month of the following consumer products. As always, consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Slalom Glider

Units: About 900

Manufacturer: Landscape Structures Inc., of Delano, Minn.

Hazard: The Slalom Glider is a playground slide that lacks a transition platform on the top and sides of the chute. Children can fall when moving from the ladder to the slide and when descending the chute.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and the firm have received 16 reports of injuries to children under 8-years old, including one bruised arm, 14 fractures to arms and legs, one fractured collar bone and one bruised spleen.

For more information on this recall, including pictures and what steps to take if you've purchased this item, please visit:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12109.html 

Name of Product: Tumblekins Toys

Units: About 31,000

Distributor: International Playthings LLC, of Parsippany, N.J. 

Manufacturer: Lishui Treetoys Trading Co. Ltd., of China

Hazard: The toys can break into small pieces with sharp points, posing choking and lacerations hazards to children.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a toy breaking into small pieces. No injuries have been reported. 

For more information on this recall, including pictures and what steps to take if you've purchased this item, please visit:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12111.html 

Resource Sharing 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care

The Office of Child Care has a new web site. Check out the new web site today!

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency

2012 Supplemental Grant Guidance Released for Children in Disasters: 

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/2012/fy12_hsgp_children.pdf 

American Academy of Pediatrics 

Early Childhood Adversity, Toxic Stress, and the Role of the Pediatrician:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/12/21/peds.2011-2662.full.pdf+html 

Children's Optimal Health

Are there neighborhoods where very young children are identified

with developmental vulnerabilities? 

http://childrensoptimalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/UWay-Map-Report-10-13-11-Small1.pdf 

Brookings Institute 

Income and Education as Predictors of Children's School Readiness:

http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2011/1215_school_readiness_isaacs.aspx 

Early Outcomes for Programs and Families in Children's Futures:

http://www.ppv.org/ppv/initiative.asp?section_id=27&initiative_id=18 

Home Visitor Competency Standards: 

http://www.cdacouncil.org/announcements-and-events/211-2012-home-visitor-cda-credential-revisions 

Links Between Young Children's Behavior and Achievement: The Role of Social Class and Classroom Composition:

http://abs.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/12/13/0002764211409196.abstract 

National Association for the Education of Young Children

State Early Care and Education Public Policy Developments: Fiscal Year 2012

http://www.naeyc.org/policy/statetrends/state-early-care-education-policy-developments-FY12 

National Center on Children in Poverty (NCCP)

Coaching and Quality Assistance in Quality Rating Improvement Systems:

http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_1047.html 

National Women's Law Center and CLASP

A Count for Quality: Child Care Center Directors on Rating and Improvement Systems: 

http://www.nwlc.org/resource/count-quality-child-care-center-directors-rating-and-improvement-systems 

New America Foundation 

Podcast: Abecedarian Study Tracks Impact from Infancy to Age 30

Federal Education Budget Project Releases Summary and Analysis of President Obama's Fiscal Year 2013 Education Budget Request: http://edmoney.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/Summary%20and%20Analysis%202013%20FINAL.pdf

The Widening Academic Achievement Gap between the Rich and the Poor: New Evidence and Possible Explanations:

http://cepa.stanford.edu/content/widening-academic-achievement-gap-between-rich-and-poor-new-evidence-and-possible-explanations  

NACCRRA tries to provide reports that keep CCR&Rs abreast of the latest information.  If you know of a report that should be shared, please email Jasmine Smith in NACCRRA’s Policy Department at Jasmine.Smith at naccrra.org.

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