February 2011 RESULTS Domestic Conference Call: Head Start and Child Care Critical for Kids and Jobs
Our February Domestic Conference Call focused on the challenges facing the RESULTS activist network as we directly lobby our members of Congress, write letters and call Congressional offices in support of Head Start, Early Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Mike Gentile, staff member at the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee shared his insights on the appropriations process as well as specific updates on the House’s deep proposed cuts to early childhood development programs. Under the proposed House funding levels for the remainder of 2011, 200,000 children lose Head Start services, 50,000 Head Start teachers will lose their jobs, 15,000 classrooms will close, and 150,000 children lose child care services.
TAKE ACTION: Take the February Action. Write letters to your members of Congress in support of Head Start, Early Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Urge them to sustain the funding levels in FY 2011 and FY 2012 necessary to protect existing services for children and families. You can also use our new Early Childhood Laser Talk (the conference call included a demonstration of a call to a Congressional staff member based on the laser talk) to help draft your letters or in your face-to-face meetings with legislators. We’ve been in several lobby visits to discuss Head Start and child care with key Senate offices, and the message is clear: these Senate aides need to hear from people back home who support this. Please make sure someone in your group calls each senator and talks directly to the aide who handles these issues. And keep trying to keep requesting those face-to-face meetings with your members of Congress. They need to hear from constituents about the importance of early childhood programs and what they mean for jobs in your community. Both the House and Senate will be on recess the week of February 21.
As discussed on the call, mark your calendars for the March 31 nationwide release of the documentary TO CATCH A DOLLAR: MUHAMMAD YUNUS BANKS ON AMERICA (2009). RESULTS is a national partner in the release of this film – see our blog post for more details. And, registration will open shortly for the 2011 International Conference, June 19-21 in Washington, DC. Register early—for the first time, we have an Early Bird Discount.
Listen to the February 2011 RESULTS Domestic Conference Call: Head Start and Child Care Critical for Kids and Jobs for all the details!