At Children’s Friend, advocacy is core to our identity. In fact, it’s one of our five principles: “We take a leadership role in educating policymakers and the public on the needs of the youngest and most vulnerable children, even when it means taking risks for the benefit of children.” We believe that we can’t truly serve children and families without also advocating with and for them. As 2019 draws to a close, we look back together on the state of policy and advocacy for children nationally and in Rhode Island.
ZERO TO THREE reports advocacy advances
ZERO TO THREE, a national organization working to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life, just released their list of top advocacy wins for babies in 2019 (LINK: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3096-top-policy-and-advocacy-wins-for-babies-in-2019). Rhode Island Think Babies affiliate and Children’s Friend partner Rhode Island KIDS COUNT was recognized for their work supporting rate-increases for infant and toddler child care. Paid leave and home visiting were brought forward on the national level and in several states. We know there’s still so far to go, here in RI, for babies and toddlers in detention at the southern border and in facilities across the US, and around the nation – and we’ll be raising our voices in the legislature and in the streets in 2020.
“There are 12 million infants and toddlers in the U.S., each born with unlimited potential. But we know that our current system of policies and programs has not kept up with what babies and families across the country need to thrive. …” Click HERE (LINK: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3096-top-policy-and-advocacy-wins-for-babies-in-2019) to learn more!
Robert Hagberg, Chief of Strategy