Docs For Tots is excited to help support and enhance
doctor participation in Pre-K Now efforts to establish
pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds in New York State! Coordinated
by the Center for Early Care and Education (a joint
venture of Child Care, Inc and the Schuyler Center
for Analysis and Advocacy). Winning Beginning
NY (www.winningbeginningny.org) is a statewide
campaign working to inform policy-makers and the
public about the many benefits of early learning
to children, families and society. The campaign
aims to build a broad-based constituency to make
investment in quality early care and education
a top public priority in New York State.
Docs For Tots will mobilize doctors to help create
a high-quality, Pre-K for all system in New York.
This will include, but not necessarily be limited
to, the promotion of: inclusion of Pre-K in the school
funding formula, significantly increasing funds to
the Executive Budget Universal Pre-K funding, and
increasing the number of qualified Pre-K teachers.
Activities
The project activities include:
- Increasing the number and distribution of children's
doctors involved in Pre-K activities in New York
state through targeted recruitment of children's
doctors to the Docs For Tots network who are expressly
interested in collaborating with the Pre-K Now
effort;
- Actively engaging network doctors statewide in
specific Pre-K promotion activities;
- Providing technical support to assist the doctors
in their efforts, including development of four
specific training and technical assistance materials
aimed at increasing their knowledge of Pre-K issues;
- Sponsoring an audio conference for Pre-K Now
affiliates and network doctors highlighting the
benefits of Pre-K for all;
- Increasing the number of children's doctors involved
in Pre-K actvities in key legislative districts
through targeted recruitment.
Through these coordinated efforts, Docs For Tots
will help Pre-K Now in its goal of universal access
to pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds.
Docs For Tots has received funding from Pre-K Now
which collaborates with state advocates and policymakers
to lead a movement for high quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten
for all three and four year olds. The following funders
contribute to making this important work possible:
The Pew Charitable Trusts, the David and Lucile Packard
Foundation, and the Schumann Fund for New Jersey.
About Pre-K Now
Pre-K Now (www.preknow.org) aims to collaborate
with advocates and policymakers to lead a movement
for high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for
all three- and four-year-olds. The goal of Pre-K
Now is to advance high-quality pre-kindergarten programs
for all children. Pre-K Now pursues this goal by:
- providing financial and technical assistance
to advocates and other leaders in targeted states
to create and fund new public pre-kindergarten
programs or to improve the quality of and access
to existing programs
- strengthening the capacity and skills of early
childhood advocates and state leaders to secure
policy changes and funding
- waging a targeted campaign to educate and mobilize
key sectors of the public and policymakers at the
state and national level about the severity of
the American school readiness problem and the potential
that high-quality pre-kindergarten for all has
for addressing the problem and boosting K-12 student
achievement for all children.
About the Schuyler Center
The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA)
is a statewide, nonprofit policy analysis and advocacy
organization working to shape policies that improve
the economic security and health status of low and
moderate income New Yorkers, and help all children
become capable adults. Located in Albany, New York,
SCAA works with many partners including civic, business,
religious, human service and government agencies
to identify problems confronting the poor and design
compassionate and cost effective solutions.
To carry out its work SCAA: analyzes social and
economic problems; evaluates existing programs and
services; reviews fiscal policies; develops policies;
advises public officials on options; and helps citizens
become informed advocates. (www.scaany.org)
About Child Care, Inc.
Child Care, Inc. (CCI) is a non-profit early educaiton
and child care resource and referral agency and a
part of a national network of referral agencies.
CCI strives to make high quality child care and early
education oppportunities a reality for every child
in New York City. Each year, CCI's referral service
helps thousands of families make informed decisions
about child care.
CCI promotes quality child care by offering training
to all types of child care programs, including infant
and preschool services, family child care, and school
age care, as well as Head Start and universal pre-k
programs.
CCI provides technical and financial assistance
to start-up and expand child care programs. Grants
and loans are also available for family care providers.
(www.childcareinc.org)
