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In response to feedback received from the network survey conducted in April, Docs For Tots is sending half of this edition of Tots' Talk! by mail. Also, responses from the survey have prompted a revamp of the newsletter to include educational and informational articles on specific organizations requesting doctor involvement in advocacy efforts. Enjoy!
Docs For Tots Organization Update
Docs For Tots State Affiliate Updates
Advocacy Opportunities and State Advocacy Organization Profiles
Obesity: A Social Issue Affecting Young Children's Health
Docs In Action- Examples of Advocacy
DFT Organization Update
Network Survey Results
DFT received an excellent response from the survey of network doctors sent in April. Through survey results the organization was able to further determine the network's needs. Additions have been made to newsletter content and a mailed version of the newsletter will be sent annually. DFT staff is also in the process of updating all resources and materials on the Web site. Results from the survey found a 21% increase in advocacy for network doctors since joining DFT, and over half of respondents have a better understanding of their role as advocates beyond clinical practice walls. Seventy-five percent of respondents who viewed the Talking Points and Power Point Presentations found them helpful and felt more informed about their potential role as advocates for young children. However, results also show many doctors have not had the opportunity to view DFT resources available on the Web. We invite all network doctors, organizations and interested parties to visit www.DocsForTots.org/resources and take advantage of the information and resources available. Thank you for your participation.
DFT New York
- Docs For Tots New York collaborated with several NY advocacy organizations to create an early education and child care policy brief, "The Best in The Nation: A Plan for Early Care and Education," to set the agenda for the next governor and legislative session. DFT encourages you to send this brief, which can be found on the DFT Web site, to your elected officials, which you can find on .
- NYC Doctors- Opportunities for your 3 and 4-year old patients to enroll in Pre-Kindergarten. It is available free of charge! Download applications on the DFT Web site under programs.
- Doctors in NY are collaborating with Early Childhood Education Long Island (ECELI) to develop materials on early childhood issues. DFT would like to hear from children?s doctors on what types of resources should be developed to help the families they serve.
For further information on New York projects listed or to join the efforts described, please contact Dr. Dina Lieser, DFT NY Director.
DFT Washington State
- A two-page Docs For Tots information sheet on Early Learning and School Readiness is now available for viewing and downloading at www.DocsForTots.org/resources.
- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Early Learning Initiative is moving forward with substantial investments in two Washington communities as part of a 10-year comprehensive investment in Early Learning. White Center, near Seattle, has already been funded, and Yakima has been invited to apply to be the second community. See www.gatesfoundation.com/PacificNorthwest/EarlyLearning.
- Thrive By Five Washington, a new public-private partnership, has begun with an initial $9 million investment in early learning in WA state. Governor Gregoire and Bill Gates Sr. are co-chairs of the board. Visit www.thrivebyfivewa.org for the latest information and great resources. The Born Learning Washington Campaign would like to partner with physicians for local campaign efforts. Please consider getting involved and watch for specific requests. You can learn more at www.earlyeducationcoalition.org/bornlearningwashington.php.
- The Department of Early Learning is a brand new state agency officially launched on July 1. Designed to bring together child care and early learning programs, the new department will work closely with Thrive By Five to meet the needs of children and families across Washington. See www.del.wa.gov.
- The Early Learning Council (ELC) is making policy and funding recommendations to the Governor as part of Washington Learns. Doctors are invited to attend upcoming monthly meetings scheduled for September 19 and October 17, usually in the Renton/SeaTac area. Meetings are open to the public, and you can attend part or all of the meetings. If you would like to connect with Dr. Sells at a meeting, please contact her, or you can find logistics, agendas, meeting materials, and more information at www.washingtonlearns.wa.gov.
- A Yakima gathering of doctors is planned for October. Dr. Sells is presenting "Health and Early Learning: A Vital Partnership for Washington State's Future" at the Joint Conference on Health in Yakima on October 18th. DFT WA State is working with our health and early learning partners to bring together doctors in Yakima (possibly over breakfast on October 18th). All doctors in the area or in attendance are invited to join us! You will receive details on Early Learning activities across the state and in Yakima, as well as ways DFT can help connect you. Contact Dr. Sells if you will be in Yakima, and further details will be posted online at www.docsfortots.org/program/projects/DFTWA.asp.
To learn more about any of the activities above, or to get involved, please contact DFT WA Director, Dr. Jill Sells.
California Preschool Support Project
First 5 Ventura County is enhancing school readiness through its Neighborhoods for Learning (NfL) Initiative. Eleven NfLs throughout the county develop specific programs to meet the unique needs of each region. The aim of the initiative is to increase the number of available preschool spaces for under-served children, including children with special needs and disabilities. It also provides health care and literacy programs for young children and encourages parent education and increased parental involvement. Doctors can get involved by:
- Facilitating and supporting presentations and Q&A sessions at local parent meetings and education classes
- Offering support in writing a piece or series of articles for an NfL newsletter
Important topics to address include, but are not limited to, the importance of quality Pre-K, development and behavior in young children, nutrition, dental hygiene, prenatal health, and infant care. If you are interested in getting involved or in learning more, please contact Bethany Colavincenzo, DFT Project Coordinator.
Michigan's Children
Michigan's Children is a statewide, independent voice for children and their families. The organization works with lawmakers, business leaders and communities on issues of early childhood, early learning, child welfare, health and racial disparities. Additionally, Michigan's Children provides community leaders, parents, and youth information and trainings to advocate on their own.
Through direct lobbying and partnerships with community advocates around the state, Michigan's Children achieved many goals for the 2006 legislative session, including participation in the development of a newly released report, Equity: Moving Toward Better Outcomes for All of Michigan's Children. Michigan's Children is leading advocacy efforts in the state to forward the report's recommendations to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the state's protective services, foster care and juvenile justice systems. The organization was also instrumental in securing over $10 million additional dollars for critical early childhood programs and preventing cuts to initiatives targeted towards preventing infant mortality and keeping young adults healthy.Doctors and others can make a difference through local and state level policy advocacy. If you would like to get involved in Michigan's Children contact Rachel Zukrow, DFT Project Coordinator.
Washington Children's Alliance
The Children's Alliance has been a voice for children, youth and families in Washington State for over 20 years. The Alliance works to change laws and influence budget priorities so that all children have what they need to thrive, including health care, nutritious food and the opportunity to live in a safe and secure environment.
The Children's Alliance unites organizations and individuals interested in the well-being of children to deliver strong, clear messages to policy makers about the needs of children in Washington. Current campaigns include securing health coverage for every child, expanding the availability of school meal programs, getting junk food out of the public schools, ensuring that all children have the early learning experiences they need to succeed, and improving the State's response to abused and neglected children.
The Children's Alliance sends out periodic alerts to Action Network members asking them to send letters to public officials and take other steps at critical times. Once a year, the Children's Alliance organizes Have a Heart for Kids Day in the state capitol, bringing together advocates from across the state to participate in trainings, meet with legislators and support positive changes in the law for kids. To find out how you can get involved and to join the Children's Action Network, contact Dr. Jill Sells.
Early Childhood Obesity: What You Can Do to Help
Obesity is reaching record levels across the nation, and unfortunately, young children have not escaped the epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that 10.3% of children 2-5 and 16% of children 6-19 are obese. Moreover, the distribution of obesity among children is unequal among different races/ethnicities as well as regions of the country. Research shows that Hispanic and black children are more affected by obesity than non-Hispanic white children. Children living in the South are at a higher risk for obesity than children living in all other regions of the United States.
So what can physicians do to combat this epidemic of childhood obesity? Visit our Web site to find the full article on Early Childhood Obesity: What You Can Do to Help.
Parents' Action for Children
Parents' Action for Children is a national nonprofit organization that engages America?s parents as change agents in the battle against childhood obesity. Reaching today's busy parents is challenging, given the constant barrage of commercial marketing and the conflicting mix of news items about the latest scientific findings. Parents' Action's goal is to help parents cut through the clutter, and to equip parents with the knowledge they need to prevent and deal with childhood obesity. If you are a children's doctor who is working to raise awareness about childhood obesity, Parents' Action for Children invites you to:
- Use Parents' Action for Children's "Food and Fitness Matter" DVD/Video as a tool to engage parents in this issue, produced with the help of a network doctor from Children's National Medical Center. This 24-minute film, hosted by actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld) in English and actor/comedian George Lopez (The George Lopez Show) in Spanish, was designed specifically to jump-start discussions with parents on the issue of childhood obesity prevention. For more information, visit www.parentsactionstore.org.
An article by Dr. Rola Magid appeared in the June issue of Ventura County Parent & Living. The full article, entitled "Pre-K: Just What the Doctor Ordered" is available in the California Preschool Support Project section of the Docs For Tots Web site. If you are interested in collaborating on an article for a future issue of the magazine, please contact Bethany Colavincenzo.
In August, California network docs were invited to sign on to a letter urging major legislators to increase funding for pre-kindergarten in the state with an emphasis on the lowest-performing school districts. DFT ultimately received 24 signatures of support, and the letter was forwarded to Governor Schwarzenegger and members of the Senate and Assembly. Thank you to all of the doctors who participated in this important event!
Be sure to check your e-mail and the DFT Web site for future advocacy opportunities in your area and please contact Tilly Gambill, DFT Network Expansion & Communications Coordinator to update your e-mail or other information.
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Advocacy Opportunities
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Campaign for
Children's Health Care
Campaign for Children's Health Care (CCHC), a national public education campaign, draws attention to the fact that 9 million children in the U.S. are uninsured. The Campaign is dedicated to making high-quality, comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage for all of America's children a top national priotiry. As a partner in the campaign, DFT would like to encourage all of our network, friends, organizations and partners to sign the petition which will be delivered to the President and Congress next spring when Congress considers the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
Residents
As part of the Zero To Three Policy Network project, designed to improve the policies and practices that impact infants and toddlers Docs For Tots has funding to support a resident externship with a local child advocacy organization. The goal of the externship is to develop a project that will enhance the well being of children ages zero to three and provide the resident with advocacy experience. This opportunity is open to residents nationwide and can be developed in your local area. If you or a resident you know might be interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please contact Rachel Zukrow, DFT Project Coordinator. |
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| Announcements |
Physician Advocacy Fellowship
The Institute of Medicine as a Profession at Columbia University offers doctors the opportunity to apply for the Physician Advocacy Fellowhip, designed to help physicians develop or enhance their advocacy skills by implementing a project in partnership with advocacy organizations. IMAP is currently accepting applications for 2007 Fellows. The program encourages applications from practicing physicians at all stages of their careers, and relocation is not necessary. For further information click here.
The National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ)
NICHQ is hosting a National Congress on "Accelerating Improvement in Childhood Obesity" on Wednesday, September 20 from 9:00am to 5:30pm at Georgetown University Conference Center, Washington, DC. For more information please go to visit their Web site at www.nichq.org. |
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