matzo manorial: For Our Babies | INSANITY OF MOTHERHOOD motherhood midlife ...

About a year ago, I started the process of becoming an Infant/Toddler Trainer.? The program offered by PITC, Program for Infant/Toddler Care, is designed to educate infant/toddler caregivers ways of helping infants learn the lessons that every infant comes into the world eager to learn.? The mission statement below is from the PITC website.

The Program for Infant /Toddler Care?seeks to ensure that America?s infants get a safe, healthy, emotionally secure and intellectually rich start in life. Its three-pronged mission is to

1) increase the availability and quality of child care for all children under age three;

2) disseminate information that increases the practice of responsive, respectful and relationship based infant toddler care; and

3) influence national, regional and local policies and practices so that the needs and interests of individual infants, toddlers, and their families are the foundation for all curriculum development and program activity.

I am on the mailing list for all PITC events.? J. Ronald Lally, director of the work for PITC, recently sent an informational email about a campaign he is initiating.? Mr. Lally is a national expert of early childhood development and the founding member of? Zero to Three?- National Center of Infants, Toddlers and Families. He is also the Co-Director for Center for Child Family Studies, West ED. The campaign he created? is?called, For Our?Babies.? It is an exciting initiative to improve the lives on children ages birth ? age three.? Mr. Lally is calling for all of us to become involved in his mission.? Below is taken from the For Our Babies website, clearly stating what the movement is.

For Our Babies?is a national movement promoting healthy development in U.S. children from conception to age 3. We advocate for the types of environments, experiences, and relationships that infants and toddlers need in order to thrive.

To capitalize on the opportunity that rapid human brain development provides, and to realize the benefits that healthy children provide to all of us, For Our Babies advocates for the following

Supported Pregnancies

Prenatal health care coverage for all families, regardless of income, including home-based support and counseling during pregnancy.

WHY IT MATTERS Prenatal healthcare reduces future healthcare costs and identifies problems when they are more easily addressed.
AS IT STANDS In the US, 38 percent of children under the age of 3 have access to health insurance.
Affordable intervention services for at-risk pregnancies.

WHY IT MATTERS For every dollar spent employers can expect a savings of $3.33 for postnatal care and $4.63 in long-term morbidity costs.
AS IT STANDS The US ranks 23rd in infant mortality rates, largely due to inadequate and limited access to affordable prenatal intervention services.

Paid Leave & Well Baby Care

Paid leave for parents for the first nine months of their child?s life.

Why It Matters Early strong attachments to parents help with healthy brain development during first three years of a child?s life. Employee turnover is also estimated to cost between 70 and 150% of the employee?s wages- paid family leave can therefore save firms considerable amounts of money.
As It Stands New parents in the US may access leave through the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. FMLA leave consists of 12 weeks of unpaid leave that can taken continuously or intermittently and on a full-time basis or reduced schedule leave, depending on employer?s approval.
Affordable developmental screenings to identify physical and behavioral needs, with referral to affordable help when needed.

Why It Matters Early identification of special needs means the possibility of early intervention. Because of significant brain development that occurs in the first three years of life, the earlier the intervention the better with significant cost savings.
As It Stands In the US, nine million children are without healthcare coverage and many more are under-insured. Only 38 percent of US children under the age of 3 have access to health insurance.

Screening & Follow-Up Services

Affordable visits to the homes of all newborns for the first two years that include guidance by professionals trained in parenting and healthy development, along with counseling on early emotional, social, intellectual, linguistic, and perceptual/motor development.

Why It Matters Quality voluntary home visiting programs help ensure?that more children stay out of social welfare, mental health and juvenile justice systems saving money. Lactation consultation can help with breast-feeding success which improves short- and long-term health of women and their infants, and lowers total healthcare costs.
As It Stands Homevisiting programs in the US are not consistent or well-coordinated. Of the 119 programs identified in the US by a Pew Foundation study, 34 states had more than one program administered across their health and education and human service agencies and four states did not administer any home visiting programs at all.
Affordable services for children with identified special needs.

Why It Matters Early intervention services have a moderate and positive effect on the developmental progress of many disabled children, especially those younger than 3 years of age.
As It Stands Many families struggle to find affordable, high-quality, consistent, developmentally appropriate child care for their children that addresses their child?s unique and special needs. Even when services are available, families may not be equipped to navigate them or effectively advocate for their children.
Free intervention services for families in crisis.

Why It Matters When families are in crisis they can not wait for services. Brain research confirms constant stress alters the formation of neural pathways, so that coping and thinking mechanisms don?t develop as they should. This has grave impact on a child?s ability to cope later in life.
As It Stands Within the broad framework of free intervention services, there is wide variation across the nation in the kind of interventions, duration of services, size of caseloads, and components of service that characterize these programs.

WHY IT MATTERS	Prenatal healthcare reduces future healthcare costs and identifies problems when they are more easily addressed.
AS IT STANDS	In the US, 38 percent of children under the age of 3 have access to health insurance.

WHY IT MATTERS	For every dollar spent employers can expect a savings of $3.33 for postnatal care and $4.63 in long-term morbidity costs.
AS IT STANDS	The US ranks 23rd in infant mortality rates, largely due to inadequate and limited access to affordable prenatal intervention services.

Why It Matters	Early strong attachments to parents help with healthy brain development during first three years of a child?s life. Employee turnover is also estimated to cost between 70 and 150% of the employee?s wages- paid family leave can therefore save firms considerable amounts of money.
As It Stands	New parents in the US may access leave through the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. FMLA leave consists of 12 weeks of unpaid leave that can taken continuously or intermittently and on a full-time basis or reduced schedule leave, depending on employer?s approval.

Why It Matters	Early identification of special needs means the possibility of early intervention. Because of significant brain development that occurs in the first three years of life, the earlier the intervention the better with significant cost savings.
As It Stands	In the US, nine million children are without healthcare coverage and many more are under-insured. Only 38 percent of US children under the age of 3 have access to health insurance.

Why It Matters	Quality voluntary home visiting programs help ensure?that more children stay out of social welfare, mental health and juvenile justice systems saving money. Lactation consultation can help with breast-feeding success which improves short- and long-term health of women and their infants, and lowers total healthcare costs.
As It Stands	Homevisiting programs in the US are not consistent or well-coordinated. Of the 119 programs identified in the US by a Pew Foundation study, 34 states had more than one program administered across their health and education and human service agencies and four states did not administer any home visiting programs at all.

Why It Matters	Early intervention services have a moderate and positive effect on the developmental progress of many disabled children, especially those younger than 3 years of age.
As It Stands	Many families struggle to find affordable, high-quality, consistent, developmentally appropriate child care for their children that addresses their child?s unique and special needs. Even when services are available, families may not be equipped to navigate them or effectively advocate for their children.

Why It Matters	When families are in crisis they can not wait for services. Brain research confirms constant stress alters the formation of neural pathways, so that coping and thinking mechanisms don?t develop as they should. This has grave impact on a child?s ability to cope later in life.
As It Stands	Within the broad framework of free intervention services, there is wide variation across the nation in the kind of interventions, duration of services, size of caseloads, and components of service that characterize these programs.

Quality Infant/Toddler Care

Child care regulations that ensure that care is provided in safe, engaging, and intimate settings.

Why It Matters Infants and toddlers are not able to defend their right to safe and engaging child care. Therefore adults must protect them from potentially dangerous and harmful experiences. All of society benefits when regulations are in place to ensure?that care is provide in safe, engaging and intimate settings.
As It Stands In the US, research shows that approximately?7 million infants and toddlers are in childcare, 8% of the care is considered good quality, 40% poor quality, and 12% is considered damaging to children?s development and educational success. 30-40% of children enter kindergarten unprepared to benefit from the educational program.
Training, compensation, and professional stature for infant and toddler teachers at the same level as K-12 teachers.

Why It Matters Instability erodes the quality of?care experienced by children. Relationships with caregivers that can grow and strengthen over time are essential to healthy social and cognitive development. The only way to attract and retain a well-qualified professional workforce is to pay and train people accordingly.
As It Stands In the US, the annual turnover rate for infant toddler caregivers is an alarming 30% annually and 75% every four years. In the US, infant care teachers are among the poorest paid earning approximately $9/hr, less than the average dog walker.
Childcare subsidies for all families.

Why It Matters Investing in early childhood education provides the answer to global competitiveness, better health and education outcomes and less crime and poverty.
As It Stands Parents in the US pay 80% of child care costs whereas?Europeans pay 30%. According to national report (NACCRA 2008), the average price of full-time center-based care for an infant was $14,591 a year.

Why It Matters	Infants and toddlers are not able to defend their right to safe and engaging child care. Therefore adults must protect them from potentially dangerous and harmful experiences. All of society benefits when regulations are in place to ensure?that care is provide in safe, engaging and intimate settings.
As It Stands	In the US, research shows that approximately?7 million infants and toddlers are in childcare, 8% of the care is considered good quality, 40% poor quality, and 12% is considered damaging to children?s development and educational success. 30-40% of children enter kindergarten unprepared to benefit from the educational program.

Why It Matters	Instability erodes the quality of?care experienced by children. Relationships with caregivers that can grow and strengthen over time are essential to healthy social and cognitive development. The only way to attract and retain a well-qualified professional workforce is to pay and train people accordingly.
As It Stands	In the US, the annual turnover rate for infant toddler caregivers is an alarming 30% annually and 75% every four years. In the US, infant care teachers are among the poorest paid earning approximately $9/hr, less than the average dog walker.

Why It Matters	Investing in early childhood education provides the answer to global competitiveness, better health and education outcomes and less crime and poverty.
As It Stands	Parents in the US pay 80% of child care costs whereas?Europeans pay 30%. According to national report (NACCRA 2008), the average price of full-time center-based care for an infant was $14,591 a year.

Caring for?infants and?toddlers, has?always been a passion of mine.? I am very excited to promote?For Our Babies, on my blog.? If you share?my passion or ?have an interest in making a difference in the lives of?infants and toddlers, I?urge you to sign Mr. Lally?s, For Our Babies pledge.

The goal is to get?one million signatures by the end of 2012.? I am confident it can be done.? With your signature, the goal will be a step closer.

Thank you for your support.? Talk to you soon, friends.