1. Expanding our work:  new DFT grants!
2. DFT New York update
3. Student Docs For Tots – DC is sponsoring a food drive
4. Better Baby Care update 
5. DFT Staff Changes

1. Docs For Tots has received grant renewals from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the A.L. Mailman Family Foundation.  In addition, DFT has received a new grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to support local California communities in promoting preschool for all.  Dr. Jennifer Sluder, an active network doc and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at USC Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles, will lead the Community-Focused California Preschool Support Project.  Please contact Tracey Rush if you are interested in getting involved with CA pre-k efforts.

2. DFT New York is working to promote early childhood development in New York State. Dr. Lieser recently delivered Grand Rounds at New York Hospital Queens regarding Pre-Kindergarten and Early Care/Education for the pediatrician. She was also able to distribute pre-k-specific information to attendees at Dr. T. Berry Brazleton’s Talk for the Community in NY, and Dr. Brazleton’s CME program for professionals.  Join DFT New York the week of December 12 in meeting with your legislative officials to spread the word about the importance of early education and funding for pre-kindergarten. We will facilitate your meetings, provide talking points and materials to leave behind.  Any Docs wishing to give talks at local community centers regarding the value of early education, or to get involved with other DFT New York efforts, please contact Dina Lieser at dlieser@docsfortots.org.

3. Student Docs For Tots (SDFT) is sponsoring a food drive at the George Washington School of Medicine from November 14th-November 23rd. All proceeds will be donated to the DC Central Kitchen, which implements multi-faceted programming to use food as nutritional sustenance, as fuel for minds, and as a training tool for the unemployed. Together, these three uses of food present a powerful front against the dangerous cycles of poverty, and against the stereotypes surrounding hunger in America.  For additional information, contact Sara So at sso@docsfortots.org. 

4. On November 8th, Docs For Tots hosted “An Update on Infant/Toddler Policy” conference call featuring Joan Lombardi, PhD, Director of The Children’s Project and Founder of the Better Baby Care Campaign and Dr. Susan Aronson, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Our speakers expounded on infant and toddler policy issues related to health and safety and the use of Child Care Health Consultants. Please visit http://www.docsfortots.org/resources/talkingPoints/default.asp  to download the PowerPoint presentation used for the talk.  For additional resources related to this topic, please contact Tracey Rush at trush@docsfortots.org.

6.  We are sad to say goodbye to Sara So who has been an integral member of the DFT staff for over a year.  Sara will be pursuing her Master's in Public Policy degree at the George Washington University on a full-time basis.  We also like to introduce three new additions to the staff: our Office Assistant, Nicole Guffey, and two new Project Coordinators, Rachel Zukrow and Bethany Giles.  We are excited to welcome energetic new staff members to expand our team.