Welcome to our doctors who have recently joined Docs For Tots and to all of our network doctors Happy New Year!  Please use the following information to further your work in child advocacy.

Docs For Tots News and Opportunities

DFT Washington

Washington state doctors- We have new opportunities for you!  We are excited to announce the start of Docs For Tots Washington state (DFT WA).  Under the guidance of DFT WA Director, Dr. Jill Sells, and in cooperation with several state organizations and foundations, we are thrilled to get involved in ensuring that all of Washington state children have enhanced early learning opportunities.  To learn more click here.

• Advocacy Opportunity- On February 9th, 2006, Dr. Jill Sells and other WA network doctors will attend an event called "Have a Heart for Kids Day," sponsored by the Children's Alliance in Washington state.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Dr. Sells.

DFT New York

DFT New York is working on a variety of issues that impact the health and development of infants and toddlers.  In New York, 31 doctors met with 49 legislators to spread the word about the importance of early education and funding for pre-kindergarten.  For information on the next event or to become involved in other advocacy opportunities in New York please contact Dr. Dina Lieser.

California Advocacy Opportunities

As a Packard grantee, DFT will be working in collaboration with other Packard grantees including First 5, Preschool California, Children Now, the NAACP, and the California Children & Families Commission, on the common goal of ensuring all children have access to pre-kindergarten.  Doctors have a unique interest in this issue because it affects their patients by requiring immunizations, linking families to health services, conducting vision, hearing and developmental screenings and providing nutritious meals.  Contact Bethany Giles, Project Coordinator for DFT, for more information.

• Preschool California is forming "Rapid Response Teams."  Doctors, who choose to participate, will receive e-mails containing opportunities to sign their name to letters-to-the-editor for newspapers statewide.  Preschool California will research letter-to-the-editor opportunities in newspapers and draft responses, doctors will have the opportunity to edit and personalize them.  If you are interested please e-mail Bethany Giles.

Audio Conference on Pre-K

An Audio Conference on Pre-K will be offered March 17, 2006.  DFT will be hosting an audio conference featuring network doctor Ruchi Gupta, MD of Children's Memorial Hospital.  She will be joining a New York child advocate to speak about the health and development impact of preschool education on young children.  For details and dial-in information please contact Rachel Zukrow, Project Coordinator.

Message from ZERO TO THREE

The ZERO TO THREE Policy Network is a way for professionals and researchers working with infants and toddlers to use their knowledge to positively impact public policies affecting our youngest children and their families.  If you are interested in helping policymakers develop public policies that ensure good health, strong families and positive early learning experiences for all babies and toddlers, sign up to stay informed, connected and active.

Student Docs For Tots

George Washington School of Medicine Student Docs For Tots is planning a seminar series at the George Washington School of Medicine.  The series will focus on the 2005 federal budget cuts and the effects the cuts have on children's programs.  Following the lecture series the students will have a briefing on how to speak to legislative staff.  The activities will culminate in an advocacy day on Capital Hill.  For more information on these events please contact Rachel Zukrow.

Docs For Tots 

A Nationwide Network of Doctors Advocating for Young Children!