Have a Heart for Kids Day rally, 2015

Early Learning

Press Release: Thousands lose income assistance today

Today the Department of Social and Health Services stops the payment of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to more than 5,000 families raising approximately 10,000 children across the state.

“Today is a sad day for the state of Washington,” says Children’s Alliance Deputy Director Jon Gould. “The recession has already pushed 40,000 of Washington’s children into poverty. Now, one of the public structures that helps families survive hard times is being dismantled when it is needed most.”

We're in the News: Seattle Times Op-Ed

Children's Alliance Executive Director Paola Maranan authored an Op-Ed published in the Seattle Times on Sunday, November 7th, 2010. She makes the case that Congress should protect funding for Working Connections Child Care by passing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund. The article makes it clear that failing to protect the Working Connections child care and employment program can only hurt kids, families, and the Washington state's economic recovery.

Home Visiting Public-Private Matching Fund

In the 2010 legislative session, the legislature approved a new public-private matching fund for home visiting, called the Home Visiting Services Account. The Account was established in the budget which can be found here. The legislature started off the fund with $500,000 (which included $200,000 in new state funds), which will then be matched by Thrive by Five Washington, the state’s public-private partnership for early learning.

2010 Early Learning Action Alliance Federal Legislative Agenda

The Early Learning Action Alliance recognizes that federal laws and policies have a direct impact on the opportunities young learners have in Washington State.

Read our federal legislative agenda for 2010.

siobhan Mon, 05/24/2010 - 10:33

Early Learning Action Alliance Letter to Senator Murray on Elementary and Secondary Education Act

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act is major federal legislation that provides both funding and policy direction for public education. Reauthorization of the act presents an opportunity to advance early learning. The Early Learning Action Alliance sent a letter to U.S. Senator Murray outlining policy priorities.

Read ELAA's letter to Senator Murray outlining recommendations to advance early learning in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Early Learning Action Alliance Provides Analysis of 2010 Legislative Session: Budget, Pre-K Timeline and Session Review

These three documents from the Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA) provide detailed review of key accomplishments in the 2010 WA state legislative session.

Early Learning Action Alliance 2010 Session Review

Provides a review of each ELAA priority and advocacy results. Includes information about  HB2731, SB 6759, HB 2867, and HB 3141.

Early Learning Action Alliance Budget Update - April 2010

Finding Home Visiting Services

Looking for home visiting services for your family or someone you know? Here are links to the evidence based programs in Washington State:

NFP site locator:

http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/Locations

Early Head Start locator:

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices

Parents as teachers locator:

http://www.parentsasteachers.org/site/pp.asp?c=ekIRLcMZJxE&b=1595095

Parent-Child Home Program site on Washington:

http://www.parent-child.org/localsites/wa.html

WE'RE IN THE NEWS: STATE BUDGET PLANS TARGET CHILD, FAMILY PROGRAMS

The latest tax proposals from the House, Senate and Governor Gregoire place many child and family programs on the chopping block. Child advocates, including the Children's Alliance, are urging lawmakers to consider the effects on business if child care funding for over 7,000 low-income families is cut. 

Jon Gould, deputy director of the Children's Alliance, says:

Working Connections Child Care Saves State Money

Parents count on Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) to help them cover the high cost of child care so they can go to work or job training.  If projected cuts to WCCC were put in place, in addition to harming stability and continuity of care for children, it would not result in cost savings. An estimated 25% of WCCC families (325 families) who lose their child care subsidy would be unable to work and would be forced turn to the support of TANF.

Read more about how Working Connections Child Care saves Washington Money

MEDIA RELEASE: Senate, house budgets raise much-needed revenue

 

Senate and House lawmakers have rightly proposed budgets that raise substantial new revenue to protect some of the vital services that are helping children and families weather this punishing recession. But more revenue is needed to prevent devastating cuts to safety-net programs that, if enacted, would hurt families and pose serious threats to our state’s economic recovery.

Press Release: Governor's early learning veto a shock and disappointment

May 19, 2009—Governor Chris Gregoire today vetoed the section of the Basic Education Bill (House Bill 2261) that stated the intent to provide preschool for at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds as part of the state’s definition of basic education. As part of basic education preschool for this group would eventually have been funded on a per pupil basis in the same way K-12 education is funded.

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