Docs For Tots - Doctors Advocating for Young Children

Docs For Tots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, advocacy organization formed to encourage doctors to fulfill their important role as active advocates for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers on the national, state and local level. We are committed to making it as simple as possible for doctors to become involved in advocacy.

Mission

The mission of Docs For Tots is to develop, support, and grow a network of doctors prepared to respond to the requests of child advocacy organizations and others who seek doctor involvement in promoting policies and practices that will improve the health and development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Vision

We envision a country where no young child lives in poverty, suffers from disparities in health and development outcomes due to race, ethnicity or socio-economic status, where all young children have access to quality early care and education, and children's doctors are actively engaged in bringing about these changes.

At the very core of this vision is social justice in health and development for young children and children’s doctors engaged beyond clinical practice walls.

Docs For Tots pursues its vision by:

building its nationwide network of doctor advocates,
brokering relationships between doctors and child advocacy organizations,
providing training and technical support for advocacy, and
developing and implementing special projects.

A set of Guiding Principles serves as the foundation for our vision and mission.

Through regular resource updates, news, and special announcements, we will keep you informed about Docs for Tots' child advocacy efforts.

Docs For Tots is a proud founding member of the Children's Leadership Council.

Early Childhood Medical Home Resource Center

News

*NEW Early Childhood Mental Health Powerpoint and Webinar. Click here for the powerpoint slides and here for the webinar.

*NEW Docs For Tots is featured in a new book "Visionaries in Our Midest: Ordinary People Who are Changing Our World" by Allison Silberburg. The book is a compilation of essays, each focusing on an individual or individuals who saw an unmet social need in their community and did something about it.

*NEW DFT Presents at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Conference in Washington, DC Oct 17-20. (10/15/09)

Docs For Tots featured in Contemporary Pediatrics. Click Here to Read "Advocating for early childhood help"(6/30/09)

Docs For Tots IN THE NEWS working to create a truly comprehensive early childhood Medical Home(2/15/09).

Click here: New York Times Article (2/15/09)

Click here: Medical Home

Docs For Tots attends Congressional Briefing "The Positive Impact of Early Childhood Education & Care on Children's Health." Among the speakers, DFT Founder and Board Member, Dr. George Askew.(2/12/09) Read More on Investing in Early Care and Education is a Powerful Public Health Initiative.

Docs For Tots celebrates the new administration by Calling All Docs to Take Action! Click here to send President Obama and your state legislators a quick message (1/20/09).

Docs For Tots presents (12/5/08-12/7/08) at Zero To Three National Training Institute.

Docs For Tots promotes screening and awareness for Maternal Depression. Visit Postpartum Support International for more information OR visit DFT's resources for screening and awareness.

Docs For Tots presents at Child Care, Inc Forum, "Advancing the Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Their Families" (9/23/08)

Docs For Tots presents at Second Annual Telluride Summit on Early Childhood Investment (9/21-9/23-08)

Docs For Tots partners with Every Child Matters for Step Up For Kids Day 2008 (9/16/08)

Docs For Tots attends Race Matters Orientation. (7/17/08)

Docs For Tots presents at PAES Conference in Washington, D.C. (7/9-7/10-08)

Docs For Tots partners with Voices For America's Children to explore best practices in collaborations between the health and broader early childhood communities in the building of systems that support young children and families. Contact DFT to learn more. (5/14/08)

Docs For Tots attends the National Smart Start Conference in North Carolina. (5/7/08)

Docs For Tots affirms importance of play for healthy development. Learn more by reading the AAP's article on play and Playing for Keeps' family guide. (5/1/08)

Celebrate Children's Mental Health Week with Docs For Tots, May 4-10th (5/1/08)

Is your child advocacy organization interested in having doctor participation in its work?
New Resource: Docs For Tots Highlights

Get involved in Advocacy Opportunties in your own state!

"When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments: tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become."

-Louis Pasteur