Forum & Webcast: Taking Action to Prevent Abuse and Prepare for School Success

June 5 Forum and Webcast - Taking Action for Children: Early Interventions to Prevent Abuse and Prepare for School Success

Join Chapin Hall and the Urban Institute for a Thursday's Child public policy forum to discuss school-success initiatives that support newborns, toddlers, and their parents. Panelists will analyze the complexities of enacting effective school-readiness policies and programs. The conversation will address what's behind the latest interest in such initiatives, the social and political environments needed for successful early learning centers and home visitation efforts, and the lessons states can draw from Illinois' recent experience.
Register to attend the Chicago event in person.
Register to attend the live audio webcast.

Designing Quality Rating Systems Inclusive of Infants and Toddlers

This publication from the National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative offers suggestions for the intentional inclusion of quality indicators for infants and toddlers within state and tribal child care Quality Rating Systems. To read more about this publication, CLICK HERE.

Trends in Infancy/Early Childhood and Middle Childhood Well-Being 1994 to 2006

A special report from the Foundation for Child Development looks at how children ages 0-10 are faring in the U.S. There is good news: mortality rates for children ages 1 to 4 are down, lead poisoning rates have dropped and preschool vaccinations are up. Authors credit advocates, parents and government policy. To read the report, CLICK HERE.

More states give tax credits to working poor

This tax season, even more low- and moderate-income taxpayers can look forward to a check from their states along with their federal refunds, thanks to new state laws that aim to put cash in the hands of the working poor.

Washington state, New Mexico, North Carolina and Louisiana this year joined 20 other states in offering so-called Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) programs — an initiative patterned after a successful federal tax credit program for the poor launched in the mid-1970s that gives federal taxes back to low-income taxpayers. In addition, several states with existing programs increased the amount of the benefits. To read the rest of the article, CLICK HERE. {source: www.stateline.org}

National Community Tax Coalition Regional Learning Summit

Creating Change: Building a Future, Leading a Movement (Memphis, TN; May 19-20, 2008).

During this summit, NCTC will:

• Address regional needs related to free tax preparation, asset building, and the state of low-income workers.
• Conduct training to build policy and leadership skills.
• Provide tools and resources that you can utilize in your work.
• Connect programs doing the same great work.

When: Monday and Tuesday, May 19th and 20th, 2008
Location: Memphis, TN Geographic target: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Southern Missouri
Registration fees:$125–NCTC Affiliates$175–General

For more information and to register, visit www.tax-coalition.org.

Infant/Toddler Early Learning Guidelines

The National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative at ZERO TO THREE has released a document with an overview of existing Infant/Toddler Early Learning Guidelines. In response to the 2002 Good Start, Grow Smart initiative, States have developed guidelines for 3-5 year olds that align with K-12 standards. Some states used this momentum to establish early learning guidelines for infants and toddlers. This document is intended as a resource for States and Territories as they develop and revise their ELGs for infants and toddlers.

{source: TheBabyMonitor of ZERO to THREE}

Bridging the Gap: Refundable Tax Credits in Metropolitan and Rural America

Brookings has posted an analysis of the latest trends in federal EITC receipt between tax years 2000 and 2005. This paper analyzes the changing geographic distribution of EITC recipients across large cities and suburbs, smaller metropolitan areas, and rural communities throughout the country. It also presents information on the overlap between filers that claimed both the EITC and the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit in tax year 2005. You can view the report by going to: http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2008/0414_eitc_kneebone.aspx or by visiting Brooking's EITC homepage: http://www.brookings.edu/metro/EITC/EITC-Homepage.aspx

United Way Financial Stability PartnershipTM: 2008 Leadership Summit

Registration is now open for the United Way Financial Stability PartnershipTM: 2008 Leadership Summit - June 4-6, 2008, in Chicago, IL.

At the 2008 Financial Stability Leadership Summit, United Way of America will convene United Way leaders and strategic community partners to dig deeper into the economic issues impacting families nationwide and work together to develop action plans to help them remain financially stable and continue on the road to financial independence.

Who Will Be There?
United Way Leadership, Mayors and other Elected Officials, Corporate Partners, National Foundations, and other Nonprofit and Public Sector LeadersFor more information, or to register for the Summit, please visit http://www.unitedway.org/fspsummit

Early Childhood Program Evaluations: A Decision-Maker's Guide

This new guide from Harvard University's National Forum on Early Childhood Program Evaluation focuses on evidence-based evaluations of early childhood programs (but is relevant to other programs and ages). It looks at five key questions that address both the substance and the utility of accurate and reliable evaluation research. CLICK HERE to read the guide.

DonorsResource.org Launches Virtual Warehouse for Donors and Nonprofits

DonorsResource.org, an online hub that connects donors and nonprofit organizations, today announced the launch of the DonorsResource.org Virtual Warehouse, a website feature that enables donors and nonprofits to give and receive goods online. Website:
http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=8128