1. Docs For Tots turns one!
2. New advocacy resources on the DFT web site
3. DFT-NACCRRA project highlighting importance of quality child care
4. Free voter registration packets for network doctors
5. Have you moved?  Please send us your current contact information.
6. Recent child poverty reports
7. Passage of Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004
8. Report finds that early childhood programs prevent teen pregnancy
9. Congressional Recess

1.  Docs For Tots is excited to celebrate its first birthday.  It has been a big first year.  The DFT network of doctors is now up to over 180 doctors in 42 states.  We are receiving requests from advocacy groups and linking network doctors to these opportunities as well as partnering with other organizations to develop projects involving network doctors.  For some examples of ways doctors can be active child advocates, please visit the Docs In Action Profiles on the web site, http://www.docsfortots.org/Action.htm.

2.  Please visit the Docs For Tots web site to view our latest Talking Points in the What Docs Should Know About… series on topics including paid family and medical leave, public health insurance for children, teen pregnancy and an updated fact sheet on poverty (http://www.docsfortots.org/Links.htm).  In addition, we posted a PowerPoint presentation entitled, All Children are Special and Some Children have Special Needs.  Please let us know if there are topics you would like to see covered on the web site, dft@docsfortots.org.

3.  Docs For Tots is working with network doctors and NACCRRA (The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, www.naccrra.org) to highlight the importance of quality child care through a project creating Op-Ed pieces.  We have drafted a template for an Op-Ed piece on the importance of quality child care and we are collaborating with our network doctors to personalize the Op-Ed and submit it to their local papers. If you are interested in participating in this project or have any question, please contact Kate Irish at 202-898-9043, kirish@docsfortots.org.

4.  Docs For Tots is partnering with the Every Child Matters Education Fund (www.everychildmatters.org) to increase voter registration by offering network doctors free voter registration packets to use in their practices, clinics, etc.  Voter registration packets will include a poster, state voter registration forms, stickers for kids and bumper stickers.  If you are interested in receiving a voter registration packet, please contact Kate Irish at kirish@docsfortots.org.

5.  If you have moved or have new contact information, please forward this information to Docs For Tots so that we can efficiently contact you with advocacy opportunities and projects.  Please send new information, particularly new e-mail addresses to dft@docsfortots.org.

6.  A recent Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report revealed that when compared to 16 other industrialized nations the U.S. ranks the highest in child poverty, with the lowest social expenditures as a percentage of the gross domestic product.  The study defined poverty as children living in households where income is less than 50% of the household median income of the country, correlating to 20-25% of America’s children living in poverty. The EPI report is available at http://www.epinet.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_snapshots_06232004.  Other reports on low-income children are available from the National Center for Children in Poverty:

• Low-income Children in the US provides statistics about the demographics of low-income children. Over a third of U.S. children live in low-income families, with younger children more likely to be in these families.  The report can be found at http://www.nccp.org/pub_cpf04.html
• State Policy Choices: Supports for Low-Income Working Families examines three ways policy makers can support low-income working families; refundable earned income tax credits, child care assistance, and public health insurance.  The report can be found at http://www.nccp.org/pub_swf04.htm

7.  On Wednesday, June 30, 2004, President Bush signed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 into law. The Act expands the availability of nutritious meals and snacks to more children in school and child care and improves the quality of food in schools. For Highlights of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 visit the Food Research and Action Center: http://www.frac.org/html/federal_food_programs/cnreauthor/cnrc_highlights.htm

8.  The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Child Trends released a research brief, Science Says: Early Childhood Programs, highlighting three early childhood and elementary school programs that were found to be associated with reduced risk of adolescent pregnancy.  The report can be found at http://www.teenpregnancy.org/works/pdf/ScienceSaysEarlyChildhood.pdf . 

9.  Congress will be in recess from July 26 – September 7th.  This is a great opportunity to call, write, email, or visit your elected officials at their district office.   You can find contact information for your Senators at http://www.senate.gov and for your Representatives at http://www.house.gov.  For contact information for your local legislators, visit http://capwiz.com/cdf/home/.