Tots Talk is an e-Newsletter of Docs For Tots, a nationwide network of doctors advocating for young children. This update, distributed to more than 1,500 advocates nationwide, provides the latest in news and information including requests for doctor advocacy and examples of efforts to change the social policies affecting children’s health and development.

In This Issue:

• DFT Announcements- DFT Florida Initiative
• Feature Section: Be A Voice For Babies: The ZERO TO THREE  Policy Network
• DFT State Affiliate updates- DFT New York, DFT Washington State, DFT Oregon
• Advocacy Opportunity- Texas
• Advocate Profile- Dr. Marie Denise Green of New York

DFT Organization Update 

DFT Florida Initiative: 
Docs For Tots announces Docs For Tots Florida.  With the leadership of Dr. Wil Blechman and DFT, Florida will initially focus on promoting Early Childhood Mental Health policy and best practices.  For more exciting information please view the Docs For Tots website.

• The Florida Pediatric Society published an article on DFT in their most recent newsletter
• Learn more about the recent Association for Infant Mental Health conference

Be A Voice For Babies: ZTT Policy Network

ZERO TO THREE Policy Network:   Docs For Tots Announces Collaboration with the ZTT Policy Network.  In order to find news ways to encourage doctors to fulfill their role as active advocates for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers on the national, state and local level, DFT is collaborating with the ZERO TO THREE (ZTT) Policy Network. We are committed to making it as simple as possible for doctors to become involved in or to increase their advocacy activity around the promotion of policies which support infants and toddlers.  This ZTT Policy Network offers a vast array of learning tools and opportunities to support your professional growth in advocacy for infants and toddlers.  The Policy Network is an impressive and effective way to link with other early childhood professionals and legislative officials to strengthen policies that support our infants and toddlers, as well as to get connected to advocacy and education opportunities.  So whether you’re new to the advocacy arena and want to gain an understanding of the issues and participate, or if you are a veteran advocate, we encourage you to: BE A VOICE FOR BABIES by Joining the Policy Network Now.   

Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: A Priority for Supporting Infants and Toddlers: There is a compelling evidence base which supports investing in our youngest children by fostering their early care and education, their health, and the families and communities that nurture them through a coordinated, comprehensive system which will account for all children.  A movement recognizing the need for these types of Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems is growing nationwide.  It is a perfect moment for you as a children's doctor to collaborate with state and advocacy organizations in your community who support systems and national discussions.  As a children’s doctor you bring both a respected and welcomed voice to advocate for young children, as well as the vast experience you have to tap in to by sharing clinical stories about children and families who you have cared for.   

Dina Lieser, Director of Docs For Tots New York state said, "Not only have I found that I can strengthen the advocacy efforts of my early childhood colleagues through collaboration, but I have also seen that too often the voice and knowledge of the children's doctor has been missing from basic discussions of system building for our youngest children.  It is amazing how meaningful that added perspective has been for thinking through effective policy for babies and children.  Every time I bring a new doctor to discussions about policies and practices, they are greeted with open arms by the advocacy community."  

In each newsletter we will be featuring a resource to strengthen your understanding of early childhood systems.  This month we encourage you to read Birth to Five and Beyond: A Growing Movement in Early Education.    

Please contact dft@docsfortots.org if you would like to become better connected in your state as a part of this growing movement.   

DFT State Affiliate Updates 

Docs For Tots New York 

The legislative session has ended; thank you for your hard work this year on early care and education issues.  We have made great strides and will continue to work through the summer to educate both the Governor’s Office and the Legislature on the importance of investing in early care and education, with an emphasis on investing in the early childhood workforce, including loan forgiveness for early childhood professionals.  We encourage you to visit the DFT NY website, www.DocsForTots.org/DFTNY.asp for news, events, and opportunities to advocate in your community.  Thanks again for your all you do for New York’s youngest children.
- Dr. Dina Lieser, Director, Docs For Tots New York  

Pediatricians Ask Senate for Vote on Loan Forgiveness Bill for Early Childhood Professionals:  In a sign-on letter addressed to New York senators, more than 100 doctors from across the state resoundingly proclaimed loan forgiveness for early childhood professionals will support children’s healthy development.  The letter has been delivered to each senator’s mailbox and shared with media outlets and advocacy organizations.  Thank you to all those who signed-on. The effect of this strong voice from children’s doctors is powerful; please know how much we appreciate your support and involvement in this important activity.     Advocacy Opportunity:  NY Docs interested in shaping policy by participating in collaborative efforts with NY CAN and Winning Beginning NY may contact Kelly Bowes for more information.

Docs For Tots Washington State 

Dear Washington State Doctors,    

At Docs for Tots, we are always looking for ways to make the work of advocacy easier for our network of doctors—from keeping you connected with local issues to providing you with opportunities to get involved.  We are pleased to announce a new resource specifically designed with the Washington doctor in mind – “Doctors Advocating for Early Learning in Washington State: Tips and Tools for Effective Action”.  Using real life examples from this year, we think we’ve assembled something useful, and are very excited to share it with you.  Watch the website--this toolkit will be available to download soon.  Hard copies of this beautiful 80 page document will be available for Washington network doctors. If you would like to receive one, please email us at DFTWA@docsfortots.org. As always, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to let us know how you use the toolkit in practice.    This summer, stay tuned for updates to our website and more advocacy opportunities, including the Reach Out and Read initiative detailed below.  We promise to help you make a difference on behalf of young children in Washington state.  Keep up the great work!  

-Dr. Jill Sells, Director, Docs For Tots Washington State    

Dr. Sells and Docs For Tots Washington State are partnering with Reach Out and Read’s National Center to increase the presence of Reach Out and Read programs in Washington State. Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national non-profit organization that promotes early literacy by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud in pediatric exam rooms across the nation. Doctors and nurses know that growing up healthy means growing up with books. The ROR program provides the tools to help promote children's developmental skills and later school success.  ROR is planning to create a Reach Out and Read Washington statewide coalition as part of a Washington State Reach Out and Read Expansion Project. These coalitions (now present in 22 states and 8 regions), provide funding, support and technical assistance to encourage the creation of more programs, and to help ensure the quality of those already in place. Currently there are 58 programs serving over 32,000 children in Washington, but more than 140,000 at risk children qualify for the program! If you would like more information about starting a program in your practice, or would like to become involved in the Reach Out and Read Washington State Expansion Project, email DFTWA@docsfortots.org.  

Docs For Tots invites you to help build public support for the new children’s health coverage bill (SSB 5093) by helping families in your care tell their stories. The Children’s Alliance is collecting stories of families that, under this new law, will be able to get public health insurance for their children for the first time. Families that will benefit from the proposed expanded coverage include those with children between 250% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and immigrant children in families between 100% and 250% of the FPL.  If you know a family in this situation who would be willing to share their story, please contact Kelly or Patti at DFTWA@docsfortots.org or 202.296.2131.  With your help, we can support this worthy piece of legislation and ensure that the voices of Washington families are heard.   

Docs For Tots Oregon

We have launched the Docs For Tots Oregon website!  Visit www.DocsForTots.org/dftoregon/DocsForTotsOregon.asp to stay connected to local opportunities to advocate for children and to access our many advocacy resources on a wide range of topics.  The website also provides information related to the Kellogg Maternal, Infant and Toddler Mental Health Advocacy Project and its activities.  We encourage you to share this resource with your colleagues!    

Six years ago, the report Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development issued a strong call to action for a new national dialogue focused on society’s shared responsibility for children and the wisdom of strategic social investment.  This spring, the Northwest Early Childhood Institute and the Oregon Commission on Children and Families brought together prominent experts from multiple disciplines to focus on local and national momentum around this goal.   View powerpoint and video resources at http://www.hearingandspeech.org/NWECI/pastpresentations.asp. The Neurons to Neighborhoods conference was a great success!

Advocacy Opportunities and State Advocacy Organization Profiles  

Texas

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