TAKING ACTION: SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS

Below are talking points to support any local external communications and help guide county officials in their conversations with media, elected officials and community members when describing the importance of garnering a network of support for prenatal to three (PN-3) policies and initiatives. By maintaining a consistent and clear message throughout, counties can develop strategic partnerships and generate positive media coverage of the growing momentum for PN-3 programs and policies at the county level.

The interest and commitment of county public officials, educators and business leaders in PN-3 issues signifies a momentous step toward securing a healthy and prosperous future for generations to come by prioritizing infants, toddlers and their families in our community. We plan on building on this commitment to ensure lasting change across our county.

[Insert county’s name] has made a bold step by publicly declaring our commitment to young children and prioritizing supports for early childhood development.

We recognize our county leadership for making this bold commitment and stand in unison with cross-sector and community partners in our effort to improve services and maximize investments for young children and their families.

In [insert county’s name], we are challenged with [insert local community challenge]. Therefore, we are focusing on infants, toddlers and their families. Research clearly shows supporting children and families during the earliest years produces strong health, education and economic outcomes.

Our growing cohort of public officials and education, health, business and community leaders signal to our county, state and region that we are united in prioritizing and investing in a prenatal-to-three policy agenda.

[Insert county’s name] County recognizes the critical time from birth to age three when a child’s brain develops faster than any later period in life and we understand the importance of taking advantage of these earliest years to promote healthy development and a foundation for future learning, behavior and health.

High-quality early childhood programs and services provide a powerful two-generational approach, by laying the crucial groundwork for tomorrow’s workforce while promoting a strong workforce today.

These educational, social and health benefits set infants and toddlers on a path toward future academic and career success while providing parents with the support and opportunity to continue to participate in the workforce with the knowledge and confidence that their children are receiving high-quality care.

With this evidence of positive and long-term impact from early childhood investments, we have brought together education, health and business leaders in the county to demonstrate the wide-reaching impact of high-quality PN-3 initiatives and ultimately a commitment to our youngest learners and their families.

The commitment from our county leaders has been an energizing start to our work as they continue to identify ways for maximizing and improving the quality of services and supports for young children and families.

With the support of partners like the National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF), we are looking forward to developing programs that are driven by best practices and uses evidence to inform our county’s prenatal-to-three policies.

OPEN LETTER TEMPLATE FOR LOCAL ADVOCACY

Dear <County Leaders(s)>,

Research shows that the most rapid period of brain development occurs within the first three years of life – more than at any other point – laying the foundation for all future learning, behavior and health. By investing in young children early, counties have an opportunity to deliver high-quality services with higher returns and reduce the need for more expensive interventions later.

Counties not only play a pivotal role in building thriving communities for an estimated 16 million children ages birth to three across the United States, they also invest in core policies and services that help to shape early childhood systems. In [insert name of county], [insert 1-2 sentences on local data and unique needs of infants and toddlers in the county (e.g., number of children age 3 and under, etc.)].

The National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF) is a proud partner of The National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT). NCIT brings together national partners and early childhood leaders, creates and strengthens promising policies and programs, and shares what works, so that more states and communities can support the healthy development of our youngest children. We join the NACoRF in urging [insert name of county] to make a bold commitment to young children. With your vocal and public support, we will take the necessary steps to ensure a strong start for our infants, toddlers and their families.

The healthy development of our youngest learners impacts the prospects of our education, health and economic systems. By building a foundation that prioritizes infants, toddlers and their families, we are investing in generations of healthy kids who are ready to learn and succeed in school and life.

Pledging support, creating a prenatal to three (PN-3) stakeholder group, or making some other type of public declaration demonstrates public will and signals to county departments and agencies, and the public, that a priority is being placed on early investments for young children. Though these gestures may appear symbolic, it will help place an emphasis on this critical time in a child’s development and build awareness around how PN-3 programs, policies and systems help to address workforce, education and health challenges and spur economic growth for the entire community.

This is an impactful first step in drawing needed support from county executives and officials who have the power to generate political will and community engagement, fostering a comprehensive effort to build awareness and generate public support for PN-3 policies and initiatives [or insert specific initiative/program, if applicable].

As leaders in your community, county and profession, your voice is vital to engaging the county on PN-3 issues. Demonstrating this commitment goes a long way in bringing these critical issues to the forefront of public opinion. For example, you can make a speech, visit child care centers, bring together stakeholders, or write an opinion piece or letter to the editor.

Now is a critical time for our community to join with its peers across the United States and invest in young children early by advocating for policies and programs that support the healthy development of children and create opportunities that contribute to their long-term success.

Making a clear and unified statement that our county prioritizes its youngest residents will set us on a path to improve and expand early childhood development programs and evidence-based interventions for infants and toddlers in the [county] community. There are a number of ways in which our county can begin to spark and enhance early childhood investments, and as an early childhood leader in our community, we hope you will consider:

Convening a Prenatal-to-Three (PN-3) Stakeholder Group. Assemble a diverse, cross-sector leadership team who can be the driving force for the well-being of infants and toddlers in your county. Collaborative stakeholder groups are an effective first step because they establish a set of early childhood champions who can help to serve as a leading coordinating body for local initiatives. By leveraging their expertise, they can help to identify community assets and deficits, set priorities, build the case for early investments and push toward the intended results.

Joining a rural, suburban or urban Peer Learning Network. NACo Research Foundation’s Peer Learning Networks are quarterly webinars of smaller networking groups for small/rural, midsize/suburban and large/urban counties to share early childhood best practices. These groups allow counties to engage in interactive discussions with their peers across the country to share what’s working and help to spark innovative, actionable ideas for infants and toddlers.

Making a Public Commitment/Pledge of Support. Making a public commitment or pledge of support, including by, but not limited to, adopting a non-binding resolution or issuing a proclamation is a ceremonial gesture that can help to build awareness around a particular PN-3 issue area, educate decision-makers, create new champions and serve as a catalyst for kicking off or enhancing prenatal-to-three efforts in your county.

With your support and partnership, in addition to that of local hospitals, pediatricians, teachers unions, business leaders and more, infants and toddlers will be prioritized in our community, ensuring a healthy start at birth, stronger support for their families and expanded access to high-quality care and learning environments.

Sincerely,

<name>

***We recommend asking the following community stakeholders to sign the letter:

Early childhood providers

Pediatricians

Nurses

Business leaders

Police

Librarians

Teachers Unions

Principals

Parents groups

Faith leaders

Public health officials

Community Action Agencies

Home Visiting Councils

Local advocates

Philanthropic organizations

PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE

[Insert your logo here]

[Insert name of county] [Insert action taken: Creates PN-3 Stakeholder Group/ Passes Resolution/Makes Pledge/Invests in Program] Demonstrating Strong Commitment to Supporting Infants, Toddlers and Their Families

[County] leaders, in coordination with the National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF), prioritizes programs and policies that support healthy brain development from prenatal to age three

Insert City, State – Date TK, 2019 –With an estimated 3 million of the nation’s youngest children at risk of reaching kindergarten not ready to learn, [Insert name of county] today [announcement]. The [county] prenatal-to-three (PN-3) network led the efforts in partnership with the National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF) to prioritize infants and toddlers by ensuring a healthy start at birth, stronger support of their families and expanded access to high-quality care and learning environments.

[Insert 1-2 sentences on local data and unique needs of infants and toddlers in the county (e.g. number of children under age 3, etc.), 1-2 sentences on county’s work to prioritize early childhood services for children prenatal to age three and their families].

“We are proud of the commitment that [Insert name of county] has made to its youngest residents by recognizing the importance of the prenatal to three period as the foundation for all future learning, behavior and health,” said [Insert name of county leader]. “[Insert name of county]’s [resolution/legislation/investment] is representative of the foundational public will that is needed at the local level to begin the development of a coordinated prenatal to three system.”

NACoRF is a partner of The National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT). Funded through the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI), this nationwide effort brings together partners, early childhood leaders, philanthropy, policymakers and practitioners inside and outside state and local government to create and strengthen promising policies and programs, and share what works, so that more states and communities can support the healthy development of our youngest children.

“By investing in young children early, counties have an opportunity to deliver high-quality services with higher returns and reduce the need for more expensive interventions later,” said NACoRF’s Executive Director Matthew Chase. “Counties play a pivotal role in building thriving communities for our nation’s estimated 16 million infants and toddlers -- when the most rapid period of brain development occurs -- and invest in core policies and services that help to shape effective early childhood systems.”

[Insert name of county] understands the benefits of investing in infants and toddlers can be profound. Investments in high-quality programs are critical in helping more children become ready for school and more confident, empathetic, contributing members of their communities. By [insert action taken: creating a PN-3 stakeholder group/making a pledge/passing a resolution/investing in a program], [Insert name of county] has taken an important step towards positive change for young children in the community and will receive NACoRF’s virtual resources to assist with local implementation efforts and access their support to drive change for your youngest residents.

About

About [Insert County/State Name]

[Insert boilerplate]

About the National Association of Counties Research Foundation

The National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF) is a non-profit organization recognized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 public charity providing education, technical assistance and research to counties. NACoRF’s mission is to ascertain, develop and distribute knowledge about county governments and training of public officials, prospective public officials, and other interested parties.

National Association of Counties Research Foundation

660 North Capitol St, NW Suite 400

Washington, DC 20001

About the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI)

The Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI), a project of the J.B. and M. K. Pritzker Family Foundation, is committed to building a promising future for our country by investing in and supporting solutions in early childhood development for children prenatal to age three, with the goal of every child reaching kindergarten ready to learn. More information about PCI can be found at http://pritzkerchildrensinitiative.org/.

About The National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT)

The National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT) is committed to advancing policies and programs that ensure families have the support they need to give their infants and toddlers the foundation for a strong start in life. Funded by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, a program of the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, this effort brings together national partners, early childhood leaders, policymakers and practitioners inside and outside state and local government to create and strengthen promising policies and programs and share what works so that more states and communities can support the healthy development of our youngest children. More information about NCIT can be found at www.thencit.org.

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