Advocacy Resources
Effective advocacy requires knowledge about the various legislative and regulatory processes, as well as how to work with the media, and build strong coalitions. The Toolkit provides specific information for advocates on how to work together to promote excellence in early childhood education. NOTE: Most advocates work with or for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations which have legal limits on what they can and cannot do with regard to the separate activities of (1) lobbying and (2) political activities. A legal memo called Do’s and Don’ts for 501 (c)(3)’s should be read by everyone who engages in advocacy efforts at any level.
Delaware Early Childhood Council
The DECC’s mission is to promote the development of a comprehensive and coordinated early childhood system, birth to eight, which provides the highest quality services and environment for Delaware’s children and their families.
Wilmington Early Care & Education Council
The mission of the WECEC is that all Wilmington children will have access to an integrated early childhood system which fosters collaboration among existing programs, and identifies gaps in current delivery systems for children birth through 8 years old.
http://decc.delaware.gov/meetings/wilmington-early-childhood-council/
Sussex Early Childhood Council
http://decc.delaware.gov/meetings/sussex-early-childhood-council/
Kids Count
A project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, KIDS COUNT is the premier source for data on child and family well-being in the United States. Access hundreds of indicators, download data and create reports and graphics on the KIDS COUNT Data Center that support smart decisions about children and families.
http://www.ccrs.udel.edu/kids-count/data-center
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data#DE
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
NAEYC is the world’s largest organization working on behalf of children. NAEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.
Childcare Aware of America
Child Care Aware of America is a leading voice for child care, working with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) and other community partners to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. To achieve our mission, the organization leads projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offers comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertakes research, and advocates for child care policies that improve the lives of children and families.
http://childcareawareamerica.org/
Open Congress
Opencongress.gov is operated by the Sunlight Foundation which advocates for open government globally and uses technology to make government more accountable to all
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Child Care
The Office of Child Care (OCC) supports low-income working families by providing access to affordable, high-quality early care and afterschool programs. OCC administers the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and works with state, territory and tribal governments to provide support for children and their families juggling work schedules and struggling to find child care programs that will fit their needs and that will prepare children to succeed in school. CCDF also improves the quality of care to support children’s healthy development and learning by supporting child care licensing, quality improvements systems to help programs meet higher standards and support for child care workers to attain more training and education.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ
National Women’s Law Center
Since 1972, the Center has expanded the possibilities for women and girls in this country. We have succeeded in getting new laws on the books and enforced; litigating ground-breaking cases all the way to the Supreme Court, and educating the public about ways to make laws and public policies work for women and their families. Today, an experienced staff of nearly 60 continues to advance the issues that cut to the core of women’s lives in education, employment, family and economic security, and health and reproductive rights—with special attention given to the needs of low-income women and their families.
National Governor’s Association
The National Governors Association (NGA) is the bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors. Through NGA, governors share best practices, speak with a collective voice on national policy and develop innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism.
National Association of State Legislatures
NCSL’s mission is to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures, promote policy innovation and communication among state legislatures, and ensure state legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system. The strength of NCSL is our bipartisanship and commitment to serving both Republicans and Democrats. It is recognized in our comprehensive, unbiased research.
The Center for Law and Social Policy-CLASP
Through careful research and analysis and effective advocacy, CLASP develops and promotes new ideas, mobilizes others, and directly assists governments and advocates to put in place successful strategies that deliver results that matter to people across America. We are nonpartisan and situated at the intersection of local practice, national research, and state and federal policy, and striving to translate each world to each other.
Alliance for Justice
AFJ works to ensure that the federal judiciary advances core constitutional values, preserves human rights and unfettered access to the courts, and adheres to the even-handed administration of justice for all Americans. It is the leading expert on the legal framework for nonprofit advocacy efforts, providing definitive information, resources, and technical assistance that encourages organizations and their funding partners to fully exercise their right to be active participants in the democratic process.
Alliance for Early Success: An Inventory of National Organizations Supporting Early Success for Young Children
The Alliance for Early Success is a catalyst for bringing state, national, and funding partners together to improve state policies for children, started at birth and continuing through age eight.
State & National Partner Summaries 2014-15
ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development.
The BUILD Initiative
The BUILD Initiative works with early childhood leaders within states and nationally to better prepare young children to thrive and succeed. The BUILD Initiative supports state leaders from both the private and public sectors as they work to set policy, offer services and advocate for children from birth to age five.