The early years of a child’s life represent a critical period of opportunity and vulnerability in the physical, social, and emotional development of a child.  Docs For Tots, sponsored by the Mailman Foundation, will supply doctors with information about the health and development policies that affect the early years of childhood.  Using science-based materials developed by Doc For Tots and their first-hand experience, doctors will advocate for policies that positively impact the well-being of  infants and toddlers.

What's Happening?

February 2008:  Current Federal Activity (ZERO TO THREE)

Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition, in partnership with Docs For Tots, launches "Through the Eyes of a Health Professional", a public awareness campaign offering public education and advocacy tools for you to utilize in your local community.

Highlights for Babies in the Head Start for School Readiness Act: Information on the legislation’s key infant-toddler issues.

ZERO TO THREE's State and Community Policy Round Up: Progress on Infant-Toddler Issues Across the United States, December 2007.

Docs For Tots New Resource: Quality Ratings System Brief

ZERO TO THREE’s Policy Center has launched an exciting new campaign to inform Presidential candidates about ways they can help support families meet the unique needs of infants and toddlers.  Babies Can’t Wait! A Presidential Agenda to Support Families with Vulnerable Infants and Toddlers.

Current Federal Activity: Learn more about how you can track the development of federal legislation, the budget, and regulations.  (ZERO TO THREE Policy Center)

QRS Audio Conference
Read the transcript from our recent audio conference “Advocating for Quality Rating Systems: A State and National Perspective” hosted by Docs For Tots on December 8th.  The call featured Anne W. Mitchell, M.S., President of Early Childhood Policy Research and Kimberly F. Townley, Ph.D., Acting Director, Division of Early Childhood Development, Frankfort, Kentucky.  The call focused on the components of Quality Rating Systems, how a system was developed and implemented and how doctors can be involved with this important effort.

Docs For Tots Network Doctors and Staff attend the 21st Annual National Training Institue presented by Zero To Three
NTI is considered the premiere training event for professionals who focus on early care, health, and education. This years conference celebrated the theme, "Sharing a Vision for Babies and Families." The conference hosted 1,800 attendees and had presentations covering varying topics on cutting edge issues for babies and families, including a plenary session by Docs For Tots entitled "Building Bridges: Increasing the Presence of Children’s Doctors in Early Childhood Advocacy."  For more information on this conference and future National Training Institutes, please visit http://www.zerotothree.org/nti/.             

SDFT Alumni Featured in the Baby Monitor
Former medical students and co-liaisons of Student Docs For Tots at George Washington University Medical school Laleisha Peterson and Bahar Hashemi were featured in November 27th, 2006 Baby Monitor e-newsletter.  The article entitled “Loud and Clear: Advocates Raising Their Voices for Babies & Toddlers” highlighted Laleisha and Bahar’s work in founding Student Docs For Tots.  To read the article click here.

Dr. Dina Lieser presented at DVAEYC Conference
In March our New York Project Director provided a presentation at the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) Annual Conference.  The presentation focused on the various roles doctors can play in early childhood settings and provided technical advice on how to increase doctors’ involvement in their work. The DVAEYC conference drew nearly 3,000 attendees from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware who work with young children in a variety of settings.