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APR-10 97 15:02 FROM:
TO: 69412
PAGE 07
As of 3/28/97
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING:
WHAT NEW RESEARCH ON THE BRAIN
TELLS US ABOUT OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN
PANEL ONE PARTICIPANTS
Dr. David Hamburg
President
Carnegie Corporation of New York
437 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-371-3200 207-6215
Fax: 212-223-8831
Dr. Donald Cohen
Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology
Yale University Medical Center
Director
Yale University Child Study Center
Yale University
Post Office Box 207900
New Haven, CT 06520-7900
Phone: 203-785-5759
Fax: 203-785-7402
Dr. Carla Shatz
Professor of Neurobiology
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Howard Hughs Medical institute and
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720
Phone: 510-643-5762
Fax: 510-643-5624
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton
Professor of Pediatrics
Harvard Medical School
300 Longwood Avenue
Hubhand, arst
Boston, MA 02163
Ethan 617/355-4826 W
Phone: 617-864-4543 h
Fax: 617-534-7915
1
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PAGE 08
Dr. Ezra Davidson
Professor and Chairman, Dept. Of OBGYN
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
12021 South Wilmington Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Phone: 310-668-4601
Dr. Patricia Kuhl, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences
University of Washington
1417 NE 42nd Street
Seattle, WA 98105-6246
Phone:
206-685-7400
Dr. Deborah Phillips, Ph.D.
Director of Board on Children, Youth and Families of the National Research Council
National Academy of Sciences
2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Harris Building, Room 156
Washington, DC 20418
Phone: 202-334-1935
Fax: 202-334-3829
2
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PANEL 2 PARTICIPANTS UNDER CONSIDERATION
Ms. Harriet Meyer
Executive Director
Ounce of Prevention Fund
122 South Michigan Avenue
Suite 2050
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-922-3863
Fax:
312-922-3337
Heads national prominent public-private partnership that develops, runs and evaluates innovative
early intervention strategies for replication.
Dr. Gloria Rodriguez
President and CEO
Advance Family Support and Education Program
301 South Frio, Suite 380
San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: 210-270-4630
Fax: 210-270-4612
Hispanic parenting organization recommended by Carnegie.
Mr. Dwayne Crompton
Executive Director
KCMC-Early Child Development Corporation
1900 Vine Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: 816-474-3751
Early head start program. Highly recommended.
Mr. Melvin Wearing
Chief of Police
I Union Avenue
New Haven. CT 06519
Phone: 203-946-6333
Fax: 203-946-7294
New Haven, CT
Model for DOJ-funded Yale Child Study Center effort to build collaborations between police
precincts and child development/mental health experts. Highly rec. By DOJ.
Mr. Amold Langbo
Chairman of the Board and CEO
Kellogg Company
One Kellogg Square
P.O. Box 3599
Battle Creek, MI 49016
Phone: 616-961-2309
Fax: 616-961-2871
3
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MΓ. Rob Reiner
Castlerock Entertainment
335 North Maple Drive, Suite 130
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310-285-2328
Fax: 310-285-2345
Creative Leader of National Engagement Campaign.
Dr. Barry Zuckerman (possibly)
Professor and Chairman of Pediatrics
Boston Medical Center
818 Harrison Avenue
Dowling South Suite 300
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-534-7424
Fax: 617-534-3833
Created and instituted child development programs that are run by (and in) the Hospital such as early
learning and reading programs. Also recommended by Carnegie.
Respondents: Co-Chairs of the NGA Task Force on Young Children
The Hon. Bob Miller
Governor of the State of Nevada
Executive Chamber
Capitol Complex
Carson City, Nevada 89710
Phone: 702/687-5670
The Hon. George Vomovich
Governor of the Ohio
Office of the Governor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614/644-0813
4
MORNING PANEL PARTICIPANTS
Dr. David A. Hamburg, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York
Among the many projects completed in his tenure was the production of Starting Points, the 1994 seminal
report on early childhood development. Dr. Hamburg has served on numerous policy boards, including his
current position on the board of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology. In 1996,
President Clinton bestowed onto Dr. Hamburg the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dr. Donald J. Cohen, Director of the Yale University Child Study Center
The Yale Child Study Center is internationally recognized for its multi disciplinary programs of clinical and
basic research, professional education, and clinical services and advocacy for children and families. Dr.
Cohen is also the Irving Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology at the Yale School of
Medicine. His research has focused on urban child development and approaches to intervention, as well as
studies of the impact of violence and trauma on children and families in the United States and abroad.
Dr. Carla J. Shatz, Professor of Neurobiology at the University of California, Berkeley
Her ongoing studies of brain development have gained her numerous honors, including the Society for
Neuroscience Young Investigator Award in 1985 and the Charles A. Dana Award for Pioneering
Achievement in Health and Education in 1995. Dr. Shatz is the immediate past president of the 24,000
member Society for Neuroscience.
Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl, Chair of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington
Dr. Kuhl's research focuses on language and speech development, and the results of her studies have
illustrated how infants' early experience plays a role in the acquisition of language. She is a Fellow of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Society, and the
Acoustical Society of America.
Dr. Ezra C. Davidson, Jr., Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Charles
R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California
Dr. Davidson also holds professorships at the University of California, Los Angeles and the Dartmouth
School of Medicine. He has led an active career in research, education, and clinical and public service,
serving, for example, as president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and as chair of
the Secretary of Health and Human Services' Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality. He currently chairs
the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs for the Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at Harvard Medical School
Dr. Brazelton is a widely acclaimed pediatrician, author, and professor, who has served as president of the
Society for Research in Child Development and of the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs. Dr.
Brazelton is also an active member of the Child Development Unit at Children's Hospital in Boston,
Massachusetts.
Dr. Deborah Phillips, Director of the Board on Children, Youth and Families of the National Research
Council's Commission on Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute of Medicine
Dr. Phillips is an expert in child care policy. She was the first Director of the Child Care Information Service
of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and serves on numerous advisory groups
that address child and family policy issues, including the Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young
Children of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Advisory Committee on Services for Families
with Infants and Toddlers of the U.S. Administration for Children, Youth and Families.
AFTERNOON PANEL PARTICIPANTS
Arnold Langbo, CEO, The Kellogg Company, Battle Creek, Michigan
Last fall, Kellogg launched "Learning Now!" a community-wide partnership between local business and
education leaders to provide practical early brain development information to every Battle Creek parent and
caregiver. The campaign includes print, radio and TV ads, mailings to parents with information tailored to the
age of their children, and brown-bag lunches in hundreds of businesses. The goal is to ensure that every
student arrives at school ready to learn.
Gloria Rodriguez, President and CEO, AVANCE, Inc. Family Support and Education Programs,
Texas
The AVANCE Program, founded by Dr. Rodriguez in 1973, is a widely acclaimed community and school-
based family support program that serves over 7,000 low-income children and parents a year in
predominantly Hispanic communities throughout Texas. AVANCE operates in public housing centers,
elementary schools, and through its family service centers. It presents classes on child development and
parenting activities, conducts home visits by trained staff, reaches out to fathers, and disseminates
information on community services and education classes and job training.
Sheila Amaning, Co-President, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Early Childhood PTA, North Carolina
This Early Childhood PTA gives parents of pre-school age children the opportunity to share ideas with each
other and become involved in their children's learning from the start. Ms. Amaning has participated in this
Early Childhood PTA since her son was two years old.
Melvin Wearing, Chief of Police, New Haven, Connecticut
With support from the Department of Justice, the New Haven Police Department has partnered with mental
health clinicians at the Yale Child Study Center to develop innovative ways in which community police
officers can deliver better serve children and families exposed to violence.
Harriet Meyer, Executive Director, Ounce of Prevention, Chicago, Illinois
The Ounce of Prevention Fund combines public resources with private funds to develop and test innovative
early intervention strategies for replication. The Ounce's Center for Successful Child Development provides
child care, Head Start and Early Head Start, home visits, medical care, and other services to families in public
housing. The Ounce's Beethoven Project was one of the models for the federal Early Head Start program
established in 1994.
Rob Reiner, Founder, "I Am Your Child" Campaign
The "I Am Your Child" campaign launched this week brings together entertainment leaders, corporations,
foundations, elected officials, and early childhood experts to work together to promote family and community
involvement in the early stages of young children's lives.
Gov. Bob Miller, Governor of Nevada, Chair of the National Governors' Association and Co-Chair of
the National Governors' Association's Children's Task Force
The National Governors' Association has formed the Children's Task Force to explore what actions states
can take to enhance early childhood development.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING:
WHAT NEW RESEARCH ON THE BRAIN TELLS US ABOUT OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN
"Learning begins in the first days of life. Scientists are now discovering how young children develop emotionally and
intellectually from their very first days, and how important it is for parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even
reading to their infants We already know we should start teaching children before they start school.
--President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, February 4, 1997
On April 17, the President and First Lady hosted The White House Conference on Early Childhood
Development and Learning: What New Research on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest Children. The
day-long conference highlighted new scientific findings on brain development in very young children and
pointed to the importance of children's earliest experiences in helping them get off to a strong and healthy start
and reach their full potential.
Applying New Findings on Brain Development in the Earliest Years. New scientific research shows that
experiences after birth -- particularly in the first three years of life -- have a dramatic impact on brain
development. That means that nurturing, talking to, singing to and reading to our youngest children will
improve their ability to learn and develop throughout their lives. The White House Conference focused on the
practical applications of the latest scientific research on the brain, particularly for parents and caregivers. The
conference was also a call to action to all members of society -- including the health, business, media and faith
communities, child care providers and government -- to use this information to strengthen America's families.
Clinton Administration Commitment to Young Children. This conference builds on the Clinton
Administration's investment in children and families. The Administration has invested heavily in research to
help us better understand the importance of the first few years of life to child development and learning.
Between 1993 and 1997, funding for NIH children's research increased 25%, from $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion.
President Clinton has also strengthened efforts to support families with young children. To take just a few
examples, the Administration raised funding for Head Start -- providing low-income children and their families
with comprehensive education, health services, and nutrition -- by 43% over the last four years and created the
Early Head Start program to support families with children ages zero to three. The President's FY 1998 Budget
further increases participation to reach 122,000 more children in FY 1998 than when he took office. The
Administration also dramatically increased participation in the WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program, providing
7.4 million pregnant women, infants, and children with nutrition packages and information and health referrals -
- 1.7 million more than when President Clinton took office. And his FY 1998 Budget would achieve his goal of
full participation in the WIC program by the end of FY 1998.
Conference Program and Participants. During the morning session of the conference, leading researchers
and child development experts discussed the new research and what it means for parents and caregivers. The
panelists for this session were: Dr. David Hamburg, Carnegie Corporation of New York (moderator); Dr. Carla
Shatz, University of California, Berkeley; Dr. Donald Cohen, Yale Child Study Center; Dr. Patricia Kuhl,
University of Washington; Dr. Ezra Davidson, Drew University of Medicine, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Harvard
University; and Dr. Deborah Phillips, National Research Council. The afternoon session highlighted model
community efforts to support parents and enhance early childhood development. The panelists included:
Avance Family Support and Education Program, San Antonio, TX; the CEO and Chairman of the Board, The
Kellogg Company, Battle Creek Michigan; and Ounce of Prevention, Chicago, IL.
100
Broad Participation Across the Country. The morning session of the conference was broadcast by satellite to
over 80Mocations across the country. The satellite conferences were co-hosted by regional federal agencies,
local officials, and children's and other organizations.
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICA'S YOUNGEST CHILDREN
"Learning begins in the first days of life. Scientists are now discovering how young
children develop emotionally and intellectually from their very first days, and how important it is for
parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even reading to their infants We already know we
should start teaching children before they start school."
-- President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, February 4, 1997
Recent scientific research has demonstrated that experiences during the earliest years of life --
before children reach school age -- are critical to their cognitive, emotional, and physical
development. Nurturing and stimulating children in the first years of life actually help their
brains develop and prepare them for the challenges of school and later life. President Clinton is
committed to giving America's children the opportunity to live up to their God-given potential
by investing in research, supporting parents and caregivers, and strengthening programs that
provide early intervention to disadvantaged families.
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH
Supported Over 90% of all Children's Research. In fiscal year 1995, the federal government
spent an estimated $2 billion on research and development directly related to children and youth
-- over 90% of all funding of children's research. Spending on children's health research at The
National Institutes of Health (NIH) increased 25% between 1993 and 1997, and this year NIH
will spend $904 million on research on young children alone. This research has contributed to
the recent advances in understanding early learning and language development.
Increased participation in WIC program. WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program provides
nutrition packages, nutrition education, and health referrals to low-income pregnant women,
infants, and children. Over the past four years participation has expanded by 1.7 million from 5.7
to 7.4 million women, infants, and children. The increase in the President's budget proposal
fulfills his commitment to achieving full participation in WIC by the end of 1998. Research
shows that WIC prenatal services save Medicaid much more than they cost by reducing health
care expenses in the first 60 days after birth.
Raised Childhood Immunization Rates to an All-Time High. The President's Childhood
Immunization Initiative focuses on five areas: 1) improving the quality and quantity of
vaccination delivery services; 2) reducing vaccine costs for parents; 3) increasing community
participation, education and partnerships; 4) improving systems to monitor diseases and
vaccinations; and 5) improving vaccines and vaccine use. This initiative has achieved notable
I
success. In 1995, 75% of two-year olds were fully immunized -- an historic high. Funding for
childhood immunization has doubled since fiscal year 1993.
Protected the Medicaid Guarantee for 9 Million Children Under 6 Years Old. This
Administration has protected and, preserved -- and now will improve on -- the guarantee of
Medicaid coverage for 36 million Americans, including 9 million children under the age of 6. In
1995, the President vetoed the Republican Medicaid block grant proposal that would have ended
the guarantee of coverage for up to 4 million children by 2002. At the same time, the President
worked with states by granting 15 comprehensive Medicaid waivers and approving many more
state plan amendments that improve and expand coverage for children.
Seeks to Extend Health Coverage to Up to 5 Million Children. Although this Administration
has made great strides in protecting the health of America's neediest children, there is still much
to be done. In 1995, more than 10 million American children, 80% of whom have working
parents, had no health insurance. The President's budget takes three important steps to address
the problem of children who lack health insurance coverage:
1)
Provides annual grants to states to cover health insurance premiums for families of
workers who are in-between jobs;
2)
Utilizes state partnership grants to help working families who are not eligible for
Medicaid to purchase private insurance for their children; and
3)
Expands Medicaid coverage by allowing states to continue Medicaid coverage for up to
one year even if family income changes, intensifying outreach to children who are
currently eligible but not enrolled, and continuing current law expansions of coverage to
reach poor children between the ages of 13 and 18.
Fighting Pediatric AIDS. In 1994, the National Institutes of Health released new research
showing that the use of the drug AZT by HIV-infected pregnant women can reduce the risk of
transmission from mother to child by two-thirds. In response, the Food and Drug Administration
quickly approved changes in labeling indications for AZT to include HIV-infected pregnant
women and, in 1995, the Centers for Disease Control began recommending routing HIV
counseling and voluntary HIV testing for all pregnant women. In addition, the President has
consistently supported investment through Title IV of the Ryan White CARE Act, which
provides grants for coordinated HIV services and access to research for children, women and
families. Since 1994, $113 million has been appropriated under Title IV, with 59 organizations
in 26 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia receiving support.
Protecting Mothers and Children. Due to the Clinton Administration's comprehensive strategy
to increase access to prenatal care, the preliminary estimate for the U.S. infant mortality rate (the
rate at which babies die before their first birthday) is at an historic low of less than 8 deaths per
1,000 live births in 1995, and the proportion of mothers getting early prenatal care is at a record
high of 81%. In addition, the President spearheaded legislation requiring insurance companies to
cover at least 48 hour hospital stays following childbirth. In 1970, the average length of stay for
an uncomplicated delivery was four days, but by 1992 it had declined to two days. This
legislation ensures that mothers and babies do not leave the hospital before they and their doctors
decide they are ready. The Administration is ensuring that the health needs of mothers and
2
children are met by providing over $1 billion in FY 97 for Title V Maternal and Child Health
Programs. The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, one of the Title V programs, serves
approximately 17 million women, infants and children, in partnership with states. In addition,
Title V programs provide comprehensive care for children with special health needs, meet
nutritional and development needs of mothers and children and help reduce infant mortality.
Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The Clinton Administration launched the
Back to Sleep public education campaign to send the message to parents and health professionals
that putting babies to sleep on their backs can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Largely as a result of this campaign, SIDS deaths dropped by 30% between 1992 and 1995.
PROMOTING EARLY LEARNING
Increased participation in Head Start, created Early Head Start for 0-3 year olds, and
improved program quality. For more than thirty years, Head Start has been one of our nation's
best investments. President Clinton has made improving and expanding Head Start a priority
because Head Start ensures that low-income children start school ready to learn. Over the past
five years, funding for the program has increased by 80%, and in fiscal year 1997 Head Start will
serve 800,000 low-income children five years old and younger. Initiated in 1994, there are now
143 Early Head Start programs across the country, expanding the proven benefits of Head
Start to low-income families with children under three. Over the last three years, the Clinton
Administration has also invested significantly in improving program quality and providing local
programs with the resources they need to attract and retain high quality teachers. The President's
1998 budget proposal provides a $324 million increase in Head Start's budget so that it will
remain on course to serve 1 million children by 2002.
Improved Support for Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs. Under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Infants and Families Program supports the continuing
efforts of states to implement high quality statewide early intervention services for infants and
toddlers with disabilities. Over the past four years, funding for the program has increased by 48%
or $102.5 million. During the same period, the number of children served increased by 21.5%.
An estimated 191,000 children will be served in fiscal year 1998.
Enhanced Family Literacy Program. Even Start Family Literacy is a family-focused grant
program to improve the educational opportunities for children and their parents in low-income
areas by integrating family literacy activities, including early childhood education, adult
education, and parenting education. Since 1993, funding for Even Start has increased by over
40% to support programs in every state and the District of Columbia.
Providing Funding for Parent Resource Centers in 42 States. In addition to involving parents
in the development of state and local education plans, the President's Goals 2000 program
provides funding to establish parent resource centers that help parents learn how to help their
children meet high standards. The centers provide training, distribute resource materials, and
support a variety of programs that strengthen family involvement in education. In fiscal year
1997, funding is available for support centers in 42 states, 14 more than in 1996.
3
Promoting Parents as First Teachers. The President's America Reads Challenge, a campaign to
ensure that every child can read well by the end of the third grade, includes Parents as First
Teachers Challenge Grants to fund proven local, regional and national programs that provide
assistance to parents to help their children become successful readers. The grants can be used to
expand successful programs such as the Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters
(HIPPY) and the Parents as First Teachers (PAT) program. They will also fund national and
regional networks to share information on how parents can help children to read.
IMPROVING CHILD CARE
Increased Child Care Funding. Since 1993 federal funding for child care has increased by $1
billion, providing services for over 660,000 children -- 65% of whom are under 5 years of age.
The newly established Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) has made available $2.9
billion to states. The new fund, authorized and expanded by the new welfare law, will assist low-
income families working their way off welfare to obtain child care so they can work or attend
school.
Improved Child Care in Public Housing. The Early Childhood Development Program helps to
provide quality child care for families living in public housing communities, as well as families
who are homeless or at risk of becoming so. The program allows parents or guardians who live in
public housing to get and keep jobs by ensuring that their children are cared for. In 1996, $21
million was awarded to public housing sites across the country -- three times more than in 1994.
Providing High Quality Child Care for Military Families. Under the Clinton Administration,
the Department of Defense has made important strides to improve the quality of child care for the
children of the men and women who serve our country. Since 1992, the number of military child
care facilities that are accredited by the independent National Association for the Education of
Young Children has risen from 55 to 466. Currently, 72% of military child care programs are
accredited, as compared to only 7% of other child care facilities nationwide.
SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT
Controlling Childhood Lead Poisoning. The Administration has launched a major new effort to
control childhood lead poisoning. The program requires landlords and sellers of older homes to
notify prospective tenants and buyers about lead-based paint hazards, provides grants to states to
control lead-based paint hazards in low-income privately-owned homes, and offers technical
assistance to ensure that lead hazard control work is done safely and efficiently. The 1997
interim report evaluating the HUD Lead-Based Point Hazard Control grant program shows that
median dust levels on interior window sills were reduced by 85 %. In addition, the number of
children suffering from lead poisoning dropped from 1.7 million in the late 1980s to about
930,000 in the mid-1990s.
Protecting Our Children's Environment. Because their bodies are still developing, children are
among the most vulnerable to pollution in the air, water and soil. In 1995, the Clinton
Administration began requiring that children receive first consideration when EPA assesses
4
environmental hazards and sets public health standards. In addition, the Clinton Administration
has strengthened environmental protections for children by: proposing to strengthen air quality
standards for soot and smog to protect children from air pollution, particularly those with asthma;
speeding the clean-up of two-thirds of the nation's toxic waste sites to protect the 10 million
children under age 12 who live within four miles of a toxic waste dump; strengthening drinking
water protections to ensure that drinking water is free of microbial contaminants; expanding
families' right to know about environmental health risks that infants and children face to help
them make informed decisions about their children's exposure to these risks; issuing advisories
about contaminated fish so parents can protect children from cancer-causing PCBs; and
educating parents about the effects of second-hand smoke, which annually results in 7,500 to
15,000 hospitalizations of infants and children under 18 months of age.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
Passed Family and Medical Leave. The President fought for the passage of the Family and
Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that allows workers to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave to care for a
newborn or adopted child, to attend to their own serious health needs, or to care for a seriously ill
parent, child or spouse. In June 1996, President Clinton proposed expanding FMLA to allow
workers to take up to 24 unpaid hours off each year for school and early childhood education
activities, routine family medical care, and additional activities related to caring for an elderly
relative. Last week, the President asked Federal agencies to implement his expanded leave
policy immediately for Federal workers.
Improved Children's Television. The President announced a breakthrough agreement with the
media and entertainment industry to develop a television ratings system to enable parents to
protect their children from violence and adult content. In addition, the Administration has given
parents greater control over what their children watch on television by requiring the installation
of anti-violence screening chips ("V-chips") in all new televisions.
Reducing Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. The Administration created the Safe
Streets/Safe Kids initiative to make community responses to child abuse and neglect more
comprehensive and coordinated in an effort to break the cycle of early childhood victimization
and later delinquency. The Administration also put in place a nurse home visitation program for
low-income first-time mothers. Studies have shown that home visitation programs are successful
-- for example, reducing cigarette smoking during pregnancy by 25% and reducing mistreatment
of children from birth to age 2 by 80 percent. The Clinton Administration has also taken
significant steps to reduce domestic violence. For example, the Rural Domestic Violence and
Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program helps law enforcement agencies, courts
community organizations and businesses to work toward early identification, intervention and
prevention of domestic violence and child victimization in rural areas. Finally, the President is
committed to finding stable and permanent homes for children who cannot remain safely at
home. As a result, the Administration announced Adoption 2002, a plan to double the number of
children adopted or placed in permanent homes each year by the year 2002.
5
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today, the President and First Lady are hosting The White House Conference on Early Childhood
Development and Learning: What New Research on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest
Children. The day-long conference highlights new scientific findings on brain development in very
young children and points to the importance of children's earliest experiences in helping them get off
to a strong and healthy start and reach their full potential.
Clinton Administration Commitment to Young Children. The Clinton Administration has
invested heavily in research to help us better understand the importance of the first few years of life
to child development and learning. President Clinton has also strengthened efforts to support families
with young children by investing in Head Start and Early Head Start, the WIC Supplemental Nutrition
Program, immunization and other early childhood programs.
At the conference, the President will make a series of policy announcements that build on the Clinton
Administration's commitment to young children:
Improving the Quality of Child Care By Learning from the Military. Child care experts believe
that the military child care system is now the best in the country. The President is issuing an
executive memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to use the Department's expertise to help
improve child care across the nation. The memorandum urges the Department to consider: (1)
creating partnerships with civilian child care centers in the community to help them improve quality;
(2) providing training courses for civilian child care providers; (3) sharing the materials and models
for worker training, accreditation and evaluation, facility design, financing, and other ingred: of
the military's success; and (4) working with States and local governments to enable military child care
facilities to serve as training sites for welfare recipients moving from welfare to work.
Providing Health Coverage for Children. The President's fiscal year 1998 budget includes a
children's health initiative that will extend coverage to up to 5 million uninsured children by the year
2000 by strengthening Medicaid for poor children, building innovative State programs to provide
coverage for working families, and continuing health coverage for children of workers who are
bet een jobs. Today, the Association of American Medical Colleges issued a letter of support : JT
the Clinton Administration's children's health proposal.
Importance of Early Education. The President recognizes that children must be nurtured and
stimulated in the earliest years. That is why he is announcing two initiatives geared toward early
learning.
Expanding Early Head Start. The D
of
Health and Homan
Services is
requesting proposals for new Early Head Start programs to expand Early Head Start
enrollment by one-third next year. Created by the Clinton Administration in 1994, the
Early Head Start program brings Head Start's successful comprehensive services to
families with children ages zero to three and to pregnant women.
Giving Parents and Caregivers Early Childhood Tools. The President's America
Reads Challenge is releasing "Ready*Set*Read" early childhood development activity
kits. The kits offer suggestions to families and caregivers about developmentally
appropriate activities for children ages zero to five. They will be distributed to early
childhood programs across the country and to callers to the Department of
Education's 1-800-USA-LEARN hotline.
Safe Start. The Department of Justice is establishing "Safe Start" to change the way law
enforcement officers respond to children who are the victims of or witnesses to violence. The
program will provide training on early childhood development to community police officers,
prosecutors, probation and parole officers, school personnel and mental health providers. It
will better prepare law enforcement officials to respond to young children exposed to violence
and can help prevent today's children from turning into tomorrow's criminals. The initiative
is built on the successful partnerships between community police officers and mental health
providers funded by DOJ in New Haven, Connecticut and three other communities.
PRESIDENT CLINTON ASKS THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
TO SHARE EXPERTISE FROM THE MILITARY CHILD CARE SYSTEM
We now know that children's earliest experiences, including those in child care, have significant effects
on learning and development. I believe we all have a role to play in making sure that all of our
children have a strong and healthy start in life.
-President Bill Clinton, 4/17/97
Today, the President urged the Secretary of the Department of Defense to use the military's expertise
to improve child care across the nation.
Building on Success: Learning from the Military.
Child care experts believe that the military child care system is now the best in the country. Military
child care programs serve the families of men and women in the United States armed forces and the
civilian employees of the Department of Defense. In developing its child care system, the Department
of Defense has learned how to make a difference in the day to day lives of children. The military child
care system is noted for: (1) high quality standards, including a high percentage of accredited centers;
(2) a strong enforcement and oversight system with four annual unannounced inspections and a 1-800
hot line for parents to report concerns; (3) mandatory training for child care providers; (4) relatively
generous wages and benefits tied to continued training and education; (5) a system of linking up and
providing needed support to individual home care providers; and (6) sufficient funding to make
quality child care affordable.
Leading the Nation in Child Care Accreditation.
Most notably, the Defense Department today leads the nation in achieving child care accreditation:
72% of all of its child care programs have been accredited, compared to 5% nationally. Most of the
Department's success in meeting accreditation standards has come recently: the National Association
for the Education of Young Children has accredited 337 of military child care facilities today, as
compared to 55 in 1992.
A Challenge to the Defense Department.
The President issued an executive memorandum to the Secretary of Defense, directing him to use the
Department's expertise to improve child care in communities ..cross the nation. The memorandum
urges the Department to consider: (1) creating partnerships with civilian child care centers in the
community to help them improve quality; (2) providing training courses for civilian child care
providers; (3) sharing the materials and models used by the military for worker training, accreditation
and evaluation, facility design, financing and other ingredients of tneir success; and (4) working with
States and local governments to enable military child care facilities to serve as training locations for
welfare recipients moving from welfare to work.
discretion
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CHILDREN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE
Significant gaps remain in children's health coverage. In 1995, 10 million children in America
lacked health insurance. The President's children's health initiative will extend coverage to up to
5 million uninsured children by 2000 by strengthening Medicaid for poor children, building
innovative State programs for working families, and continuing health coverage for children of
workers who are between jobs. Today, the Association of American Medical Colleges issued
a letter of support for the Clinton Administration's children's health initiative.
Strengthening Medicaid for Poor Children
12-Month Continuous Eligibility. Currently, many children receive Medicaid protection
for only part of the year. The President's fiscal year 1998 budget gives States the option
to provide one year of continuous Medicaid coverage to children. The budget invests
$3.7 billion over five years, covering an estimated million children who would otherwise
be uninsured.
Outreach. The President also proposes to work with the Nation's Governors,
communities, advocacy groups, providers, and businesses to develop new ways to reach
out to the 3 million children eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid.
Building Innovative State Programs for Children in Working Families
The President's budget provides $3.8 billion between 1998 to 2002 ($750 million a year)
in grants to States. States will use these grants to provide insurance for children,
leveraging State and private investments in children's coverage through a matching system
(as in Medicaid). States have flexibility in designing eligibility rules, benefits (subject to
minimums set by the Secretary), and delivery systems.
The Federal grants, in combination with State and private money, will cover ai. estimated
one million children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to
afford private coverage. The grant program will also increase Medicaid enrollment by
about 400,000 kids since some families interested in the new program will learn that their
children are in fact eligible for Medicaid.
Continuing Coverage for Children Whose Parents are Between Jobs
The President's budget will give States grants to temporarily cover workers between jobs,
including their children, at a cost of $9.8 billion over the budget window. The program,
which is structured as a four-year demonstration, will offer temporary assistance (up to 6
months) to families who would otherwise lose their coverage. This assistance may be
used to purchase coverage from the worker's former employer (through COBRA) or other
private plans, at States' discretion.
This initiative will help an estimated 3.3 million working Americans and their families,
including 700,000 children, in any given year.
The President's budget also makes it easier for small businesses to establish voluntary
purchasing cooperatives, increasing access to insurance for workers and their children.
ASSOCIATION OF
AAMIC
AMERICAN
MEDICAL COLLEGES
2450 N STREET. NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20037-1127
Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., President
PHONE 202-828-0400 FAX 202-828-1125
April 17, 1997
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), I write to express our
strong support for your efforts to extend health care coverage to the ten million American
children who are currently without coverage.
Recent studies have shown that the reduction in the availability of health insurance has
disproportionately affected children in part due to the decline in employment-based dependent
coverage coupled with the general reduction of employment-based coverage. As you know, lack
of health insurance coverage has been shown to be a deterrent for individuals both in requesting
and receiving care. As a result, many uninsured persons seek treatment for themselves and their
family when their condition is more advanced and, as a result, more difficult and expensive to
treat. For a child, forgoing needed medical care can have implications that last a lifetime.
The AAMC represents all of the nation's 125 accredited medical schools, approximately 400
major teaching hospitals, including 75 veterans Affairs medical centers, the faculty of these
institutions through 89 constituent academic society members and the more than 160,000 men
and women in medical education as students and residents. The AAMC member institutions,
which have the multiple missions of education and training, research and direct patient care, are
acutely aware of the rise in the number of uninsured Americans, many of whom seek treatment at
our institutions.
As you strive to reach an agreement on a balanced budget, the AAMC strongly supports your
efforts as well as those on Capitol Hill to include a significant investment to expand health
insurance coverage for children. We are prepared to work with you, your staff and members of
Congress to achie e this critical objective for our nation's children.
Sincerely,
J.
6 ohen
Jordan J. Colien, M.D.
President
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S SAFE START INITIATIVE
Announcement
Today at the White House Early Childhood Development and Learning Conference, the
President announced a new Safe Start Initiative to help break the cycle of violence for our
nation's youngest victims. The Safe Start Initiative will provide training to law
enforcement, prosecutors, school personnel, probation officers, and other professionals to
better respond to the needs of children exposed to violence in their homes and
communities.
The Problem
Throughout America, too many children are exposed to violence at home, in their
neighborhoods, and in their schools. Children's exposure to violence has been associated
with increased depression, anger, substance abuse, and lower academic achievement.
Children who experience violence either as victims or witnesses also are at increased risk
of becoming violent themselves.
In a study conducted at Boston City Hospital, 1 out of every 10 children seen in its
primary care clinic had witnessed a shooting or stabbing before the age of 6 -- half in their
homes and half in the streets. The average age of these children was only 2.7 years old.
The Safe Start Initiative
The Safe Start Initiative builds on the Child Development-Community Policing Program
(CD-CP) started in 1991 between the New Haven Department of Police Services and Yale
University Child Study Center, and now funded by the Department of Justice. It was
more recently extended to Buffalo, NY; Charlotte, NC; Nashville, TN; and Portland, OR,
with Justice Department funding.
The Safe Start Initiative will increase the number and expand the scope of these regional
demonstration sites in which community police officers partner with mental health
clinicians to provide rapid and effective treatm< nt to children exposed to violence.
The Safe Start Initiative will also provide nationwide intensive training and technical
assistance for professionals who come into contact with children who have been exposed
to family and gang violence, violence in their community and schools, and abuse or
neglect.
Up tc 20,000 professionals who work with children in communities across the nation will
receive Sarc Start wraining including: law enforcement, prosecutors, school personnel; and
probation and parole officers.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT & LEARNING
April 17, 1997
THE PRESIDENT & MRS. CLINTON
THE VICE PRESIDENT & MRS. GORE
Dr. John Lawrence Aber
Director, National Center for Children in Poverty
Dr. Duane F. Alexander
Director, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
Ms. Sheila Pegues Amaning
Co-Chair, Early Childhood PTA
Ms. Carolyn Becraft
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Personnel Support, Families
and Education
Ms. Helen Benham
Scholastic, Inc.
Mrs. Carol Berman
Zero to Three National Center
Ms. Julie Bernas-Pierce
Blind Babies Foundation
Hon. Sheldon C. Bilchik
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention
Department of Justice
Ms. Barbara "Bobbi" Blok
Executive Director, Washington Child Development Council
Dr. Thomas Berry Brazelton
Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Mr. David V.B. Britt
President & CEO, Children's Television Workshop
Mr. James Larry Brown
Director, Center on Hunger, Poverty & Nutrition Policy, Tufts University
Dr. John Bruer
President, James S. McConnell Foundation
Mr. Shannon Romandos Bryant
Student Team Leader, Jumpstart
Mr. Patrick Butler
Vice President, The Washington Post Company
Hon. Jane L. Campbell
Cuyahoga County Commissioner
Rev. (Dr.) Joan Brown Campbell
General Secretary, National Council of Churches
Ms. Joy Carlson
Director, Children's Environmental Health Network
Hon. (Gov.) Lawton M. Chiles
Governor of Florida
Dr. Harry T. Chugani
Director, PET Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan
Dr. Donald Cohen
Director, Yale University Child Study Center
Dr. Jordan J. Cohen
President, Academy of American Medical Colleges
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
2.
Ms. Janice Cox
President, Georgia State Parent Teacher Association
Mr. Dwayne Crompton
Executive Director, KCMC-Early Child Development Corporation
Ms. Judsen Culbreth
Editor-in-Chief, Working Mother
Ms. Sharon Darling
President, National Center for Family Literacy
Dr. Ezra C. Davidson
Professor & Chairman, Dept. of OBGYN, Charles R. Drew University
of Medicine & Science
Dr. Karen Davis
President, The Commonwealth Fund
Hon. (Rep.) Rosa DeLauro
D/Connecticut
Ms. Barbara Dellinger
Director for Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Head Start
Ms. Deborah Eaton
President, National Association for Family Child Care
Ms. Marian Wright Edelman
President, Children's Defense Fund
Ms. Isela Flores
Ms. Yolie Flores Aguilar
Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Henry W. Foster
Acting President, Meharry Medical College
Ms. Ellen Galinsky
Co-President, Family & Work Institute
Hon. (Dr.) John H. Gibbons
Director, Office of Science & Technology Policy
Ms. Ellen Gilbert
International Creative Management
Hon. Daniel Glickman
Secretary of Agriculture
Mrs. Katharine Graham
Chairman of the Board, The Washington Post Company
Ms. Sarah Greene
Chief Executive Officer, National Head Start Association, Partnership Project
Dr. Stanley Greenspan
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Pediatrics, George Washington Medical School
Ms. Elinor Guggenheimer
Child Care Action Campaign
Dr. Megan Gunnar
University of Minnesota
Ms. Margaret Hale
Executive Director, West Virginia Kids Count
Ms. Martha D. Haley
Director, Public Affairs, Lifetime Television
Dr. David Alan Hamburg
President, Carnegie Corporation of New York
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
3.
Dr. Robert E. Hannemann
President, American Academy of Pediatrics
Hon. (Sen.) Thomas R. Harkin
D/lowa
Mr. Irving Harris
Chairman, The Harris Foundation
Mr. William Harris
KidsPAC, Head Start
Dr. Jane M. Healy
Author
Ms. Judith Nolte Heimer
Editor-in-Chief, American Baby Magazine
Mrs. Teresa Heinz
Chairman, Heinz Family Foundation
Ms. Harriet Meyer Horwitz
Executive Director, Ounce of Prevention Fund
Mr. Jeffrey Jacobs
President, Harpo Entertainment, Inc.
Ms. Eloise Jenks
President, National Association of WIC Directors
Ms. Judith Marie Jerald
Brattleboro, VT
Dr. Gloria Johnson-Powell
Judge Baker Children's Center
Ms. Judith E. Jones
Director, Free to Grow
Hon. Elena Kagan
Office of Domestic Policy, The White House
Dr. Elaine C. Kamarck
Office of the Vice President
Hon. (Sen.) Edward M. Kennedy
D/Massachusetts
Dr. Patricia Kuhl
Professor & Chair, Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences
University of Washington
Dr. J. Ronald Lally
Director, Center for Child & Family Studies, WestED
Dr. Philip J. Landrigan
Director, Office of Children's Environment Health, EPA
Mr. Arnold Langbo
Chairman of the Board & CEO, Kellogg Corporation
Mr. Ralph S. Larsen
Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson
Dr. David M. Lawrence
CEO, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program
Ms. Geraldine B. Laybourne
President, Disney/ABC Cable Networks
Ms. Dolores Leckey
Executive Director for the Secretariat, Catholic Conference
Dr. Arthur Leibowitz
Chief Medical Officer, AETNA US Healthcare
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
4.
Dr. Michael Levine
Program Officer, Carnegie Corporation of New York
Mr. David Liederman
Executive Director, Child Welfare League of America
Dr. Carolynn Lindeman
National President, Music Educators National Conference
Dr. Evelyn Gruss Lipper
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Cornell Medical Center
Ms. Melissa Ludtke
Author
Dr. Shirley M. Malcom
Director of Education, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Rear Admiral Larry R. Marsh
Bureau of Naval Personnel
Mr. Lawrence A. McAndrews
President & CEO, National Association of Children's Hospitals
Dr. Bruce McEwen
President, Society for Neuroscience, Rockefeller University
Ms. Gail McGovern
AT&T
Mr. Matthew Melmed
Executive Director, Zero to Three National Center for Infants
Hon. (Gov.) Robert J. Miller
Governor of Nevada
Dr. Evelyn K. Moore
Executive Director, National Black Child Development Institute
Dr. Herbert L. Needleman
University of Pittsburgh Medical School
Dr. David Olds
University of Colorado
Dr. Bruce Perry
Senior Fellow, CIVITAS Initiatives
Dr. Carol Brunson Phillips
Executive Director, Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition
Dr. Deborah Phillips
Director, Board on Children, Youth & Families, National Academy of Sciences
Dr. Bruce Ramirez
The Council for Exceptional Children
Mrs. Michele Singer Reiner
Castlerock Entertainment
Mr. Robert Reiner
Castlerock Entertainment
Ms. Barbara Reisman
Executive Director, Child Care Action Campaign
Mr. James J. Renier
Renier & Associates
Ms. Nan H. Rich
National President, National Council of Jewish Women
Dr. Julius Richmond
Professor of Health Policy, Emeritus, Harvard University Medical School
Mr. John E. Riggan
Chairman of the Board, National Association of Child Advocates
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
5.
Hon. Richard W. Riley
Secretary of Education
Ms. Geraldine Robinson
The Children's Museu
Dr. Gloria Rodriguez
President and CEO, Avance Family Support & Education Program
Ms. Susan Roman
Executive Director, American Libraries Association Services to Children
Hon. (Gov.) Roy R. Romer
Governor of Colorado
Mr. Edward F. Rover
Charles A. Dana Foundation
Ms. Esperanza Segura
Mr. Rudy Segura
Honorable Donna E. Shalala
Secretary of Health & Human Services
Dr. Carla J. Shatz
Professor of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Mr. Jack Shifrel
Community Advocate
Ms. Marilyn Smith
Executive Director, National Association for the Education of Young Children
Mr. Marshall Smith
Acting Deputy Secretary of Education
Mr. Richard M. Smith
Editor-in-Chief & President, Newsweek, Inc.
Dr. Mary Susan Stine
Section Chief of Developmental Medicine, DuPont Hospital for Children
Ms. Maria Gregory Taylor
Parent Education Specialist, Parents as Teachers Program
Ms. Inez Moore Tenenbaum
President, South Carolina Center for Family Policy
Ms. Ruth Tracy
Navajo Chapter Coordinator, Pilot Parents
Mr. Thomas Van Coverden
President and CEO, National Association of Community Health Centers
Dr. Harold Varmus
Director, National Institutes of Health
Hon. Melanne Verveer
Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Ms. Yasmina Vinci
Executive Director, National Association of Child Care Resource
and Referral Agencies
Mr. David Walker
Executive Director, North Carolina Partnership for Children
Ms. Claudia Wayne
Executive Director, National Center for the Early Childhood Workforce
Mr. Melvin Wearing
Chief of Police, City of New Haven
Dr. Betsy Weaver
President & CEO, Parent's Plus, Inc.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
6.
Ms. Bernice S. Weissbourd
President, Family Focus
Dr. Miriam Westheimer
Executive Director, HIPPY USA
Dr. Clarissa Leister Willis
Executive Director, Southern Early Childhood Association
Ms. Mildred Winter
Executive Director, Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc.
Ms. Marti Worshtil
College Park, MD
Dr. Ernst L. Wynder
President, American Health Foundation
Dr. Edward Zigler
Professor of Psychology, Yale University
Dr. Barry Zuckerman
Professor & Chairman of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING:
WHAT NEW RESEARCH ON THE BRAIN TELLS US ABOUT OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN
"Learning begins in the first days of life. Scientists are now discovering how young children develop emotionally and
intellectually from their very first days, and how important it is for parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even
reading to their infants We already know we should start teaching children before they start school."
--President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, February 4, 1997
Today, the President and First Lady are hosting The White House Conference on Early Childhood
Development and Learning: What New Research on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest Children. The
day-long conference highlights new scientific findings on brain development in very young children and point to
the importance of children's earliest experiences in helping them get off to a strong and healthy start.
Applying New Findings on Brain Development in the Earliest Years. New scientific research shows that
experiences after birth -- particularly in the first three years of life -- have a dramatic impact on brain
development. That means that nurturing, talking to, singing to and reading to our youngest children will improve
their ability to learn and develop throughout their lives. The White House Conference will focus on the practical
applications of the latest scientific research on the brain, particularly for parents and caregivers. The conference
will also be a call to action to all members of society -- including the health, business, media and faith
communities, child care providers and government -- to use this information to strengthen America's families.
Clinton Administration Commitment to Young Children. This conference builds on the Clinton
Administration's investment in children and families. The Administration has invested heavily in research to help
us better understand the importance of the first few years of life to child development and learning. Between
1993 and 1997, funding for NIH children's research increased 25%, from $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion.
President Clinton has also strengthened efforts to support families with young children. To take just a few
examples, the Administration raised funding for Head Start -- providing low-income children and their families
with comprehensive education, health services, and nutrition -- by 43% over the last four years and created the
Early Head Start program to support families with children ages zero to three. The President's FY 1998 Budget
further increases participation to reach 122,000 more children in FY 1998 than when he took office. The
Administration also dramatically increased participation in the WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program, providing
7.4 million pregnant women, infants, and children with nutrition packages and information and health referrals --
1.7 million more than when President Clinton took office. And his FY 1998 Budget would achieve his goal of
full participation in the WIC program by the end of FY 1998.
Conference Program and Participants. During the morning session of the conference, leading researchers and
child development experts will discuss the new research and what it means for parents and caregivers. The
panelists for this session are: Dr. David Hamburg, Carnegie Corporation of New York (moderator); Dr. Carla
Shatz, University of California, Berkeley; Dr. Donald Cohen, Yale Child Study Center; Dr. Patricia Kuhl,
University of Washington; Dr. Ezra Davidson, Drew University of Medicine, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Harvard
University; and Dr. Deborah Phillips, National Research Council. The afternoon session will highlight model
community efforts to support parents and enhance early childhood development. The panelists include: Avance
Family Support and Education Program, San Antonio, TX; the CEO and Chairman of the Board, The Kellogg
Company, Battle Creek Michigan; and Ounce of Prevention, Chicago, IL.
Broad Participation Across the Country. The morning session of the conference will be broadcast by satellite
to over 80 locations across the country. The satellite conferences will be co-hosted by regional federal agencies,
local officials, and children's and other organizations.
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICA'S YOUNGEST CHILDREN
"Learning begins in the first days of life. Scientists are now discovering how young
children develop emotionally and intellectually from their very first days, and how important it is for
parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even reading to their infants We already know we
should start teaching children before they start school."
-- President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, February 4, 1997
Recent scientific research has demonstrated that experiences during the earliest years of life --
before children reach school age -- are critical to their cognitive, emotional, and physical
development. Nurturing and stimulating children in the first years of life actually help their
brains develop and prepare them for the challenges of school and later life. President Clinton is
committed to giving America's children the opportunity to live up to their God-given potential
by investing in research, supporting parents and caregivers, and strengthening programs that
provide early intervention to disadvantaged families.
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH
Supported Over 90% of all Children's Research. In fiscal year 1995, the federal government
spent an estimated $2 billion on research and development directly related to children and youth
-- over 90% of all funding of children's research. Spending on children's health research at The
National Institutes of Health (NIH) increased 25% between 1993 and 1997, and this year NIH
will spend $904 million on research on young children alone. This research has contributed to
the recent advances in understanding early learning and language development.
Increased participation in WIC program. WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program provides
nutrition packages, nutrition education, and health referrals to low-income pregnant women,
infants, and children. Over the past four years participation has expanded by 1.7 million from 5.7
to 7.4 million women, infants, and children. The increase in the President's budget proposal
fulfills his commitment to achieving full participation in WIC by the end of 1998. Research
shows that WIC prenatal services save Medicaid much more than they cost by reducing health
care expenses in the first 60 days after birth.
Raised Childhood Immunization Rates to an All-Time High. The President's Childhood
Immunization Initiative focuses on five areas: 1) improving the quality and quantity of
vaccination delivery services; 2) reducing vaccine costs for parents; 3) increasing community
participation, education and partnerships; 4) improving systems to monitor diseases and
vaccinations; and 5) improving vaccines and vaccine use. This initiative has achieved notable
success. In 1995, 75% of two-year olds were fully immunized -- an historic high. Funding for
childhood immunization has doubled since fiscal year 1993.
Protected the Medicaid Guarantee for 9 Million Children Under 6 Years Old. This
Administration has protected and, preserved -- and now will improve on -- the guarantee of
Medicaid coverage for 36 million Americans, including 9 million children under the age of 6. In
1995, the President vetoed the Republican Medicaid block grant proposal that would have ended
the guarantee of coverage for up to 4 million children by 2002. At the same time, the President
worked with states by granting 15 comprehensive Medicaid waivers and approving many more
state plan amendments that improve and expand coverage for children.
Seeks to Extend Health Coverage to Up to 5 Million Children. Although this Administration
has made great strides in protecting the health of America's neediest children, there is still much
to be done. In 1995, more than 10 million American children, 80% of whom have working
parents, had no health insurance. The President's budget takes three important steps to address
the problem of children who lack health insurance coverage:
1)
Provides annual grants to states to cover health insurance premiums for families of
workers who are in-between jobs;
2)
Utilizes state partnership grants to help working families who are not eligible for
Medicaid to purchase private insurance for their children; and
3)
Expands Medicaid coverage by allowing states to continue Medicaid coverage for up to
one year even if family income changes, intensifying outreach to children who are
currently eligible but not enrolled, and continuing current law expansions of coverage to
reach poor children between the ages of 13 and 18.
Fighting Pediatric AIDS. In 1994, the National Institutes of Health released new research
showing that the use of the drug AZT by HIV-infected pregnant women can reduce the risk of
transmission from mother to child by two-thirds. In response, the Food and Drug Administration
quickly approved changes in labeling indications for AZT to include HIV-infected pregnant
women and, in 1995, the Centers for Disease Control began recommending routing HIV
counseling and voluntary HIV testing for all pregnant women. In addition, the President has
consistently supported investment through Title IV of the Ryan White CARE Act, which
provides grants for coordinated HIV services and access to research for children, women and
families. Since 1994, $113 million has been appropriated under Title IV, with 59 organizations
in 26 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia receiving support.
Protecting Mothers and Children. Due to the Clinton Administration's comprehensive strategy
to increase access to prenatal care, the preliminary estimate for the U.S. infant mortality rate (the
rate at which babies die before their first birthday) is at an historic low of less than 8 deaths per
1,000 live births in 1995, and the proportion of mothers getting early prenatal care is at a record
high of 81%. In addition, the President spearheaded legislation requiring insurance companies to
cover at least 48 hour hospital stays following childbirth. In 1970, the average length of stay for
an uncomplicated delivery was four days, but by 1992 it had declined to two days. This
legislation ensures that mothers and babies do not leave the hospital before they and their doctors
decide they are ready. The Administration is ensuring that the health needs of mothers and
2
children are met by providing over $1 billion in FY 97 for Title V Maternal and Child Health
Programs. The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, one of the Title V programs, serves
approximately 17 million women, infants and children, in partnership with states. In addition,
Title V programs provide comprehensive care for children with special health needs, meet
nutritional and development needs of mothers and children and help reduce infant mortality.
Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The Clinton Administration launched the
Back to Sleep public education campaign to send the message to parents and health professionals
that putting babies to sleep on their backs can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Largely as a result of this campaign, SIDS deaths dropped by 30% between 1992 and 1995.
PROMOTING EARLY LEARNING
Increased participation in Head Start, created Early Head Start for 0-3 year olds, and
improved program quality. For more than thirty years, Head Start has been one of our nation's
best investments. President Clinton has made improving and expanding Head Start a priority
because Head Start ensures that low-income children start school ready to learn. Over the past
five years, funding for the program has increased by 80%, and in fiscal year 1997 Head Start will
serve 800,000 low-income children five years old and younger. Initiated in 1994, there are now
143 Early Head Start programs across the country, expanding the proven benefits of Head
Start to low-income families with children under three. Over the last three years, the Clinton
Administration has also invested significantly in improving program quality and providing local
programs with the resources they need to attract and retain high quality teachers. The President's
1998 budget proposal provides a $324 million increase in Head Start's budget so that it will
remain on course to serve 1 million children by 2002.
Improved Support for Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs. Under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Infants and Families Program supports the continuing
efforts of states to implement high quality statewide early intervention services for infants and
toddlers with disabilities. Over the past four years, funding for the program has increased by 48%
or $102.5 million. During the same period, the number of children served increased by 21.5%.
An estimated 191,000 children will be served in fiscal year 1998.
Enhanced Family Literacy Program. Even Start Family Literacy is a family-focused grant
program to improve the educational opportunities for children and their parents in low-income
areas by integrating family literacy activities, including early childhood education, adult
education, and parenting education. Since 1993, funding for Even Start has increased by over
40% to support programs in every state and the District of Columbia.
Providing Funding for Parent Resource Centers in 42 States. In addition to involving parents
in the development of state and local education plans, the President's Goals 2000 program
provides funding to establish parent resource centers that help parents learn how to help their
children meet high standards. The centers provide training, distribute resource materials, and
support a variety of programs that strengthen family involvement in education. In fiscal year
1997, funding is available for support centers in 42 states, 14 more than in 1996.
3
Promoting Parents as First Teachers. The President's America Reads Challenge, a campaign to
ensure that every child can read well by the end of the third grade, includes Parents as First
Teachers Challenge Grants to fund proven local, regional and national programs that provide
assistance to parents to help their children become successful readers. The grants can be used to
expand successful programs such as the Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters
(HIPPY) and the Parents as First Teachers (PAT) program. They will also fund national and
regional networks to share information on how parents can help children to read.
IMPROVING CHILD CARE
Increased Child Care Funding. Since 1993 federal funding for child care has increased by $1
billion, providing services for over 660,000 children -- 65% of whom are under 5 years of age.
The newly established Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) has made available $2.9
billion to states. The new fund, authorized and expanded by the new welfare law, will assist low-
income families working their way off welfare to obtain child care so they can work or attend
school.
Improved Child Care in Public Housing. The Early Childhood Development Program helps to
provide quality child care for families living in public housing communities, as well as families
who are homeless or at risk of becoming so. The program allows parents or guardians who live in
public housing to get and keep jobs by ensuring that their children are cared for. In 1996, $21
million was awarded to public housing sites across the country -- three times more than in 1994.
Providing High Quality Child Care for Military Families. Under the Clinton Administration,
the Department of Defense has made important strides to improve the quality of child care for the
children of the men and women who serve our country. Since 1992, the number of military child
care facilities that are accredited by the independent National Association for the Education of
Young Children has risen from 55 to 466. Currently, 72% of military child care programs are
accredited, as compared to only 7% of other child care facilities nationwide.
SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT
Controlling Childhood Lead Poisoning. The Administration has launched a major new effort to
control childhood lead poisoning. The program requires landlords and sellers of older homes to
notify prospective tenants and buyers about lead-based paint hazards, provides grants to states to
control lead-based paint hazards in low-income privately-owned homes, and offers technical
assistance to ensure that lead hazard control work is done safely and efficiently. The 1997
interim report evaluating the HUD Lead-Based Point Hazard Control grant program shows that
median dust levels on interior window sills were reduced by 85%. In addition, the number of
children suffering from lead poisoning dropped from 1.7 million in the late 1980s to about
930,000 in the mid-1990s.
Protecting Our Children's Environment. Because their bodies are still developing, children are
among the most vulnerable to pollution in the air, water and soil. In 1995, the Clinton
Administration began requiring that children receive first consideration when EPA assesses
4
environmental hazards and sets public health standards. In addition, the Clinton Administration
has strengthened environmental protections for children by: proposing to strengthen air quality
standards for soot and smog to protect children from air pollution, particularly those with asthma;
speeding the clean-up of two-thirds of the nation's toxic waste sites to protect the 10 million
children under age 12 who live within four miles of a toxic waste dump; strengthening drinking
water protections to ensure that drinking water is free of microbial contaminants; expanding
families' right to know about environmental health risks that infants and children face to help
them make informed decisions about their children's exposure to these risks; issuing advisories
about contaminated fish so parents can protect children from cancer-causing PCBs; and
educating parents about the effects of second-hand smoke, which annually results in 7,500 to
15,000 hospitalizations of infants and children under 18 months of age.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
Passed Family and Medical Leave. The President fought for the passage of the Family and
Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that allows workers to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave to care for a
newborn or adopted child, to attend to their own serious health needs, or to care for a seriously ill
parent, child or spouse. In June 1996, President Clinton proposed expanding FMLA to allow
workers to take up to 24 unpaid hours off each year for school and early childhood education
activities, routine family medical care, and additional activities related to caring for an elderly
relative. Last week, the President asked Federal agencies to implement his expanded leave
policy immediately for Federal workers.
Improved Children's Television. The President announced a breakthrough agreement with the
media and entertainment industry to develop a television ratings system to enable parents to
protect their children from violence and adult content. In addition, the Administration has given
parents greater control over what their children watch on television by requiring the installation
of anti-violence screening chips ("V-chips") in all new televisions.
Reducing Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. The Administration created the Safe
Streets/Safe Kids initiative to make community responses to child abuse and neglect more
comprehensive and coordinated in an effort to break the cycle of early childhood victimization
and later delinquency. The Administration also put in place a nurse home visitation program for
low-income first-time mothers. Studies have shown that home visitation programs are successful
-- for example, reducing cigarette smoking during pregnancy by 25% and reducing mistreatment
of children from birth to age 2 by 80 percent. The Clinton Administration has also taken
significant steps to reduce domestic violence. For example, the Rural Domestic Violence and
Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program helps law enforcement agencies, courts
community organizations and businesses to work toward early identification, intervention and
prevention of domestic violence and child victimization in rural areas. Finally, the President is
committed to finding stable and permanent homes for children who cannot remain safely at
home. As a result, the Administration announced Adoption 2002, a plan to double the number of
children adopted or placed in permanent homes each year by the year 2002.
5
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today, the President and First Lady are hosting The White House Conference on Early Childhood
Development and Learning: What New Research on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest
Children. The day-long conference highlights new scientific findings on brain development in very
young children and points to the importance of children's earliest experiences in helping them get off
to a strong and healthy start and reach their full potential.
Clinton Administration Commitment to Young Children. The Clinton Administration has
invested heavily in research to help us better understand the importance of the first few years of life
to child development and learning. President Clinton has also strengthened efforts to support families
with young children by investing in Head Start and Early Head Start, the WIC Supplemental Nutrition
Program, immunization and other early childhood programs.
At the conference, the President will make a series of policy announcements that build on the Clinton
Administration's commitment to young children:
Improving the Quality of Child Care By Learning from the Military. Child care experts believe
that the military child care system is now the best in the country. The President is issuing an
executive memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to use the Department's expertise to help
improve child care across the nation. The memorandum urges the Department to consider: (1)
creating partnerships with civilian child care centers in the community to help them improve quality;
(2) providing training courses for civilian child care providers; (3) sharing the materials and models
for worker training, accreditation and evaluation, facility design, financing, and other ingredi of
the military's success; and (4) working with States and local governments to enable military child care
facilities to serve as training sites for welfare recipients moving from welfare to work.
Providing Health Coverage for Children. The President's fiscal year 1998 budget includes a
children's health initiative that will extend coverage to up to 5 million uninsured children by the year
2000 by strengthening Medicaid for poor children, building innovative State programs to provide
coverage for working families, and continuing health coverage for children of workers who are
bet een jobs. Today, the Association of American Medical Colleges issued a letter of support JT
the Clinton Administration's children's health proposal.
Importance of Early Education. The President recognizes that children must be nurtured and
stimulated in the earliest years. That is why he is announcing two initiatives geared toward early
learning.
Expanding Early Head Start. The D
Health and Human
Services is
requesting proposals for new Early Head Start programs to expand Early Head Start
enrollment by one-third next year. Created by the Clinton Administration in 1994, the
Early Head Start program brings Head Start's successful comprehensive services to
families with children ages zero to three and to pregnant women.
Giving Parents and Caregivers Early Childhood Tools. The President's America
Reads Challenge is releasing "Ready* *Read" early childhood development activity
kits. The kits offer suggestions to families and caregivers about developmentally
appropriate activities for children ages zero to five. They will be distributed to early
childhood programs across the country and to callers to the Department of
Education's 1-800-USA-LEARN hotline.
Safe Start. The Department of Justice is establishing "Safe Start" to change the way law
enforcement officers respond to children who are the victims of or witnesses to violence. The
program will provide training on early childhood development to community police officers,
prosecutors, probation and parole officers, school personnel and mental health providers. It
will better prepare law enforcement officials to respond to young children exposed to violence
and can help prevent today's children from turning into tomorrow's criminals. The initiative
is built on the successful partnerships between community police officers and mental health
providers funded by DOJ in New Haven, Connecticut and three other communities.
PRESIDENT CLINTON ASKS THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
TO SHARE EXPERTISE FROM THE MILITARY CHILD CARE SYSTEM
We now know that children's earliest experiences, including those in child care, have significant effects
on learning and development. I believe we all have a role to play in making sure that all of our
children have a strong and healthy start in life.
-President Bill Clinton, 4/17/97
Today, the President urged the Secretary of the Department of Defense to use the military's expertise
to improve child care across the nation.
Building on Success: Learning from the Military.
Child care experts believe that the military child care system is now the best in the country. Military
child care programs serve the families of men and women in the United States armed forces and the
civilian employees of the Department of Defense. In developing its child care system, the Department
of Defense has learned how to make a difference in the day to day lives of children. The military child
care system is noted for: (1) high quality standards, including a high percentage of accredited centers;
(2) a strong enforcement and oversight system with four annual unannounced inspections and a 1-800
hot line for parents to report concerns; (3) mandatory training for child care providers; (4) relatively
generous wages and benefits tied to continued training and education; (5) a system of linking up and
providing needed support to individual home care providers; and (6) sufficient funding to make
quality child care affordable.
Leading the Nation in Child Care Accreditation.
Most notably, the Defense Department today leads the nation in achieving child care accreditation:
72% of all of its child care programs have been accredited, compared to 5% nationally. Most of the
Department's success in meeting accreditation standards has come recently: the National Association
for the Education of Young Children has accredited 337 of military child care facilities today, as
compared to 55 in 1992.
A Challenge to the Defense Department.
The President issued an executive memorandum to the Secretary of Defense, directing him to use the
Department's expertise to improve child care in communities cross the nation. The memorandum
urges the Department to consider: (1) creating partnerships with civilian child care centers in the
community to help them improve quality; (2) providing training courses for civilian child care
providers; (3) sharing the materials and models used by the military for worker training, accreditation
and evaluation, facility design, financing and other ingredients of tneir success; and (4) working with
States and local governments to enable military child care facilities to serve as training locations for
welfare recipients moving from welfare to work.
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CHILDREN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE
Significant gaps remain in children's health coverage. In 1995, 10 million children in America
lacked health insurance. The President's children's health initiative will extend coverage to up to
5 million uninsured children by 2000 by strengthening Medicaid for poor children, building
innovative State programs for working families, and continuing health coverage for children of
workers who are between jobs. Today, the Association of American Medical Colleges issued
a letter of support for the Clinton Administration's children's health initiative.
Strengthening Medicaid for Poor Children
12-Month Continuous Eligibility. Currently, many children receive Medicaid protection
for only part of the year. The President's fiscal year 1998 budget gives States the option
to provide one year of continuous Medicaid coverage to children. The budget invests
$3.7 billion over five years, covering an estimated million children who would otherwise
be uninsured.
Outreach. The President also proposes to work with the Nation's Governors,
communities, advocacy groups, providers, and businesses to develop new ways to reach
out to the 3 million children eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid.
Building Innovative State Programs for Children in Working Families
The President's budget provides $3.8 billion between 1998 to 2002 ($750 million a year)
in grants to States. States will use these grants to provide insurance for children,
leveraging State and private investments in children's coverage through a matching system
(as in Medicaid). States have flexibility in designing eligibility rules, benefits (subject to
minimums set by the Secretary), and delivery systems.
The Federal grants, in combination with State and private money, will cover al. estimated
one million children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to
afford private coverage. The grant program will also increase Medicaid enrollment by
about 400,000 kids since some families interested in the new program will learn that their
children are in fact eligible for Medicaid.
Continuing Coverage for Children Whose Parents are Between Jobs
The President's budget will give States grants to temporarily cover workers between jobs,
including their children, at a cost of $9.8 billion over the budget window. The program,
which is structured as a four-year demonstration, will offer temporary assistance (up to 6
months) to families who would otherwise lose their coverage. This assistance may be
used to purchase coverage from the worker's former employer (through COBRA) or other
private plans, at States' discretion.
This initiative will help an estimated 3.3 million working Americans and their families,
including 700,000 children, in any given year.
The President's budget also makes it easier for small businesses to establish voluntary
purchasing cooperatives, increasing access to insurance for workers and their children.
ASSOCIATION OF
AAMIC
AMERICAN
MEDICAL COLLEGES
2450 N STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20037-1127
Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., President
PHONE 202-828-0400 FAX 202-828-1125
April 17, 1997
The President
The White House
Washington. DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), I write to express our
strong support for your efforts to extend health care coverage to the ten million American
children who are currently without coverage.
Recent studies have shown that the reduction in the availability of health insurance has
disproportionately affected children in part due to the decline in employment-based dependent
coverage coupled with the general reduction of employment-based coverage. As you know, lack
of health insurance coverage has been shown to be a deterrent for individuals both in requesting
and receiving care. As a result, many uninsured persons seek treatment for themselves and their
family when their condition is more advanced and, as a result, more difficult and expensive to
treat. For a child, forgoing needed medical care can have implications that last a lifetime.
The AAMC represents all of the nation's 125 accredited medical schools, approximately 400
major teaching hospitals, including 75 veterans Affairs medical centers, the faculty of these
institutions through 89 constituent academic society members and the more than 160,000 men
and women in medical education as students and residents. The AAMC member institutions,
which have the multiple missions of education and training, research and direct patient care, are
acutely aware of the rise in the number of uninsured Americans, many of whom seek treatment at
our institutions.
As you strive to reach an agreement on a balanced budget, the AAMC strongly supports your
efforts as well as those on Capitol Hill to include a significant investment to expand health
insurance coverage for children. We are prepared to work with you, your staff and members of
Congress to achie e this critical objective for our nation's children.
Sincerely,
I
Jordan J. Cohen, M.D.
President
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S SAFE START INITIATIVE
Announcement
Today at the White House Early Childhood Development and Learning Conference, the
President announced a new Safe Start Initiative to help break the cycle of violence for our
nation's youngest victims. The Safe Start Initiative will provide training to law
enforcement, prosecutors, school personnel, probation officers, and other professionals to
better respond to the needs of children exposed to violence in their homes and
communities.
The Problem
Throughout America, too many children are exposed to violence at home, in their
neighborhoods, and in their schools. Children's exposure to violence has been associated
with increased depression, anger, substance abuse, and lower academic achievement.
Children who experience violence either as victims or witnesses also are at increased risk
of becoming violent themselves.
In a study conducted at Boston City Hospital, 1 out of every 10 children seen in its
primary care clinic had witnessed a shooting or stabbing before the age of 6 -- half in their
homes and half in the streets. The average age of these children was only 2.7 years old.
The Safe Start Initiative
The Safe Start Initiative builds on the Child Development-Community Policing Program
(CD-CP) started in 1991 etween the New Haven Department of Police Services and Yale
University Child Study Center, and now funded by the Department of Justice. It was
more recently extended to Buffalo, NY; Clarlotte, NC; Nashville, TN; and Portland, OR,
with Justice Department funding.
The Safe Start Initiative will increase the number and expand the scope of these regional
demonstration sites in which community police officers partner with mental health
clinicians to provide rapid and effective treatm nt to children exposed to violence.
The Safe Start Initiative will also provide nationwide intensive training and technical
assistance for professionals who come into contact with children who have been exposed
to family and gang violence, violence in their community and schools, and abuse or
neglect.
Up tc 20,000 professionals who work with children in communities across the nation will
receive Sare Start wraining including: law enforcement, prosecutors, school personnel; and
probation and parole officers.
MORNING PANEL PARTICIPANTS
Dr. David A. Hamburg, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York
Among the many projects completed in his tenure was the production of Starting Points, the 1994 seminal
report on early childhood development. Dr. Hamburg has served on numerous policy boards, including his
current position on the board of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology. In 1996,
President Clinton bestowed onto Dr. Hamburg the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dr. Donald J. Cohen, Director of the Yale University Child Study Center
The Yale Child Study Center is internationally recognized for its multi disciplinary programs of clinical and
basic research, professional education, and clinical services and advocacy for children and families. Dr.
Cohen is also the Irving Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology at the Yale School of
Medicine. His research has focused on urban child development and approaches to intervention, as well as
studies of the impact of violence and trauma on children and families in the United States and abroad.
Dr. Carla J. Shatz, Professor of Neurobiology at the University of California, Berkeley
Her ongoing studies of brain development have gained her numerous honors, including the Society for
Neuroscience Young Investigator Award in 1985 and the Charles A. Dana Award for Pioneering
Achievement in Health and Education in 1995. Dr. Shatz is the immediate past president of the 24,000
member Society for Neuroscience.
Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl, Chair of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington
Dr. Kuhl's research focuses on language and speech development, and the results of her studies have
illustrated how infants' early experience plays a role in the acquisition of language. She is a Fellow of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Society, and the
Acoustical Society of America.
Dr. Ezra C. Davidson, Jr., Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Charles
R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California
Dr. Davidson also holds professorships at the University of California, Los Angeles and the Dartmouth
School of Medicine. He has led an active career in research, education, and clinical and public service,
serving, for example, as president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and as chair of
the Secretary of Health and Human Services' Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality. He currently chairs
the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs for the Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at Harvard Medical School
Dr. Brazelton is a widely acclaimed pediatrician, author, and professor, who has served as president of the
Society for Research in Child Development and of the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs. Dr.
Brazelton is also an active member of the Child Development Unit at Children's Hospital in Boston,
Massachusetts.
Dr. Deborah Phillips, Director of the Board on Children, Youth and Families of the National Research
Council's Commission on Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute of Medicine
Dr. Phillips is an expert in child care policy. She was the first Director of the Child Care Information Service
of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and serves on numerous advisory groups
that address child and family policy issues, including the Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young
Children of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Advisory Committee on Services for Families
with Infants and Toddlers of the U.S. Administration for Children, Youth and Families.
AFTERNOON PANEL PARTICIPANTS
Arnold Langbo, CEO, The Kellogg Company, Battle Creek, Michigan
Last fall, Kellogg launched "Learning Now!" a community-wide partnership between local business and
education leaders to provide practical early brain development information to every Battle Creek parent and
caregiver. The campaign includes print, radio and TV ads, mailings to parents with information tailored to the
age of their children, and brown-bag lunches in hundreds of businesses. The goal is to ensure that every
student arrives at school ready to learn.
Gloria Rodriguez, President and CEO, AVANCE, Inc. Family Support and Education Programs,
Texas
The AVANCE Program, founded by Dr. Rodriguez in 1973, is a widely acclaimed community and school-
based family support program that serves over 7,000 low-income children and parents a year in
predominantly Hispanic communities throughout Texas. AVANCE operates in public housing centers,
elementary schools, and through its family service centers. It presents classes on child development and
parenting activities, conducts home visits by trained staff, reaches out to fathers, and disseminates
information on community services and education classes and job training.
Sheila Amaning, Co-President, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Early Childhood PTA, North Carolina
This Early Childhood PTA gives parents of pre-school age children the opportunity to share ideas with each
other and become involved in their children's learning from the start. Ms. Amaning has participated in this
Early Childhood PTA since her son was two years old.
Melvin Wearing, Chief of Police, New Haven, Connecticut
With support from the Department of Justice, the New Haven Police Department has partnered with mental
health clinicians at the Yale Child Study Center to develop innovative ways in which community police
officers can deliver better serve children and families exposed to violence.
Harriet Meyer, Executive Director, Ounce of Prevention, Chicago, Illinois
The Ounce of Prevention Fund combines public resources with private funds to develop and test innovative
early intervention strategies for replication. The Ounce's Center for Successful Child Development provides
child care, Head Start and Early Head Start, home visits, medical care, and other services to families in public
housing. The Ounce's Beethoven Project was one of the models for the federal Early Head Start program
established in 1994.
Rob Reiner, Founder, "I Am Your Child" Campaign
The "I Am Your Child" campaign launched this week brings together entertainment leaders, corporations,
foundations, elected officials, and early childhood experts to work together to promote family and community
involvement in the early stages of young children's lives.
Gov. Bob Miller, Governor of Nevada, Chair of the National Governors' Association and Co-Chair of
the National Governors' Association's Children's Task Force
The National Governors' Association has formed the Children's Task Force to explore what actions states
can take to enhance early childhood development.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT & LEARNING
April 17, 1997
THE PRESIDENT & MRS. CLINTON
THE VICE PRESIDENT & MRS. GORE
Dr. John Lawrence Aber
Director, National Center for Children in Poverty
Dr. Duane F. Alexander
Director, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
Ms. Sheila Pegues Amaning
Co-Chair, Early Childhood PTA
Ms. Carolyn Becraft
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Personnel Support, Families
and Education
Ms. Helen Benham
Scholastic, Inc.
Mrs. Carol Berman
Zero to Three National Center
Ms. Julie Bernas-Pierce
Blind Babies Foundation
Hon. Sheldon C. Bilchik
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention
Department of Justice
Ms. Barbara "Bobbi" Blok
Executive Director, Washington Child Development Council
Dr. Thomas Berry Brazelton
Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Mr. David V.B. Britt
President & CEO, Children's Television Workshop
Mr. James Larry Brown
Director, Center on Hunger, Poverty & Nutrition Policy, Tufts University
Dr. John Bruer
President, James S. McConnell Foundation
Mr. Shannon Romandos Bryant
Student Team Leader, Jumpstart
Mr. Patrick Butler
Vice President, The Washington Post Company
Hon. Jane L. Campbell
Cuyahoga County Commissioner
Rev. (Dr.) Joan Brown Campbell
General Secretary, National Council of Churches
Ms. Joy Carlson
Director, Children's Environmental Health Network
Hon. (Gov.) Lawton M. Chiles
Governor of Florida
Dr. Harry T. Chugani
Director, PET Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan
Dr. Donald Cohen
Director, Yale University Child Study Center
Dr. Jordan J. Cohen
President, Academy of American Medical Colleges
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
2.
Ms. Janice Cox
President, Georgia State Parent Teacher Association
Mr. Dwayne Crompton
Executive Director, KCMC-Early Child Development Corporation
Ms. Judsen Culbreth
Editor-in-Chief, Working Mother
Ms. Sharon Darling
President, National Center for Family Literacy
Dr. Ezra C. Davidson
Professor & Chairman, Dept. of OBGYN, Charles R. Drew University
of Medicine & Science
Dr. Karen Davis
President, The Commonwealth Fund
Hon. (Rep.) Rosa DeLauro
D/Connecticut
Ms. Barbara Dellinger
Director for Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Head Start
Ms. Deborah Eaton
President, National Association for Family Child Care
Ms. Marian Wright Edelman
President, Children's Defense Fund
Ms. Isela Flores
Ms. Yolie Flores Aguilar
Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Henry W. Foster
Acting President, Meharry Medical College
Ms. Ellen Galinsky
Co-President, Family & Work Institute
Hon. (Dr.) John H. Gibbons
Director, Office of Science & Technology Policy
Ms. Ellen Gilbert
International Creative Management
Hon. Daniel Glickman
Secretary of Agriculture
Mrs. Katharine Graham
Chairman of the Board, The Washington Post Company
Ms. Sarah Greene
Chief Executive Officer, National Head Start Association, Partnership Project
Dr. Stanley Greenspan
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Pediatrics, George Washington Medical School
Ms. Elinor Guggenheimer
Child Care Action Campaign
Dr. Megan Gunnar
University of Minnesota
Ms. Margaret Hale
Executive Director, West Virginia Kids Count
Ms. Martha D. Haley
Director, Public Affairs, Lifetime Television
Dr. David Alan Hamburg
President, Carnegie Corporation of New York
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
3.
Dr. Robert E. Hannemann
President, American Academy of Pediatrics
Hon. (Sen.) Thomas R. Harkin
D/lowa
Mr. Irving Harris
Chairman, The Harris Foundation
Mr. William Harris
KidsPAC, Head Start
Dr. Jane M. Healy
Author
Ms. Judith Nolte Heimer
Editor-in-Chief, American Baby Magazine
Mrs. Teresa Heinz
Chairman, Heinz Family Foundation
Ms. Harriet Meyer Horwitz
Executive Director, Ounce of Prevention Fund
Mr. Jeffrey Jacobs
President, Harpo Entertainment, Inc.
Ms. Eloise Jenks
President, National Association of WIC Directors
Ms. Judith Marie Jerald
Brattleboro, VT
Dr. Gloria Johnson-Powell
Judge Baker Children's Center
Ms. Judith E. Jones
Director, Free to Grow
Hon. Elena Kagan
Office of Domestic Policy, The White House
Dr. Elaine C. Kamarck
Office of the Vice President
Hon. (Sen.) Edward M. Kennedy
D/Massachusetts
Dr. Patricia Kuhl
Professor & Chair, Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences
University of Washington
Dr. J. Ronald Lally
Director, Center for Child & Family Studies, WestED
Dr. Philip J. Landrigan
Director, Office of Children's Environment Health, EPA
Mr. Arnold Langbo
Chairman of the Board & CEO, Kellogg Corporation
Mr. Ralph S. Larsen
Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson
Dr. David M. Lawrence
CEO, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program
Ms. Geraldine B. Laybourne
President, Disney/ABC Cable Networks
Ms. Dolores Leckey
Executive Director for the Secretariat, Catholic Conference
Dr. Arthur Leibowitz
Chief Medical Officer, AETNA US Healthcare
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
4.
Dr. Michael Levine
Program Officer, Carnegie Corporation of New York
Mr. David Liederman
Executive Director, Child Welfare League of America
Dr. Carolynn Lindeman
National President, Music Educators National Conference
Dr. Evelyn Gruss Lipper
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Cornell Medical Center
Ms. Melissa Ludtke
Author
Dr. Shirley M. Malcom
Director of Education, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Rear Admiral Larry R. Marsh
Bureau of Naval Personnel
Mr. Lawrence A. McAndrews
President & CEO, National Association of Children's Hospitals
Dr. Bruce McEwen
President, Society for Neuroscience, Rockefeller University
Ms. Gail McGovern
AT&T
Mr. Matthew Melmed
Executive Director, Zero to Three National Center for Infants
Hon. (Gov.) Robert J. Miller
Governor of Nevada
Dr. Evelyn K. Moore
Executive Director, National Black Child Development Institute
Dr. Herbert L. Needleman
University of Pittsburgh Medical School
Dr. David Olds
University of Colorado
Dr. Bruce Perry
Senior Fellow, CIVITAS Initiatives
Dr. Carol Brunson Phillips
Executive Director, Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition
Dr. Deborah Phillips
Director, Board on Children, Youth & Families, National Academy of Sciences
Dr. Bruce Ramirez
The Council for Exceptional Children
Mrs. Michele Singer Reiner
Castlerock Entertainment
Mr. Robert Reiner
Castlerock Entertainment
Ms. Barbara Reisman
Executive Director, Child Care Action Campaign
Mr. James J. Renier
Renier & Associates
Ms. Nan H. Rich
National President, National Council of Jewish Women
Dr. Julius Richmond
Professor of Health Policy, Emeritus, Harvard University Medical School
Mr. John E. Riggan
Chairman of the Board, National Association of Child Advocates
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
5.
Hon. Richard W. Riley
Secretary of Education
Ms. Geraldine Robinson
The Children's Museu
Dr. Gloria Rodriguez
President and CEO, Avance Family Support & Education Program
Ms. Susan Roman
Executive Director, American Libraries Association Services to Children
Hon. (Gov.) Roy R. Romer
Governor of Colorado
Mr. Edward F. Rover
Charles A. Dana Foundation
Ms. Esperanza Segura
Mr. Rudy Segura
Honorable Donna E. Shalala
Secretary of Health & Human Services
Dr. Carla J. Shatz
Professor of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Mr. Jack Shifrel
Community Advocate
Ms. Marilyn Smith
Executive Director, National Association for the Education of Young Children
Mr. Marshall Smith
Acting Deputy Secretary of Education
Mr. Richard M. Smith
Editor-in-Chief & President, Newsweek, Inc.
Dr. Mary Susan Stine
Section Chief of Developmental Medicine, DuPont Hospital for Children
Ms. Maria Gregory Taylor
Parent Education Specialist, Parents as Teachers Program
Ms. Inez Moore Tenenbaum
President, South Carolina Center for Family Policy
Ms. Ruth Tracy
Navajo Chapter Coordinator, Pilot Parents
Mr. Thomas Van Coverden
President and CEO, National Association of Community Health Centers
Dr. Harold Varmus
Director, National Institutes of Health
Hon. Melanne Verveer
Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Ms. Yasmina Vinci
Executive Director, National Association of Child Care Resource
and Referral Agencies
Mr. David Walker
Executive Director, North Carolina Partnership for Children
Ms. Claudia Wayne
Executive Director, National Center for the Early Childhood Workforce
Mr. Melvin Wearing
Chief of Police, City of New Haven
Dr. Betsy Weaver
President & CEO, Parent's Plus, Inc.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
6.
Ms. Bernice S. Weissbourd
President, Family Focus
Dr. Miriam Westheimer
Executive Director, HIPPY USA
Dr. Clarissa Leister Willis
Executive Director, Southern Early Childhood Association
Ms. Mildred Winter
Executive Director, Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc.
Ms. Marti Worshtil
College Park, MD
Dr. Ernst L. Wynder
President, American Health Foundation
Dr. Edward Zigler
Professor of Psychology, Yale University
Dr. Barry Zuckerman
Professor & Chairman of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING:
WHAT NEW RESEARCH ON THE BRAIN TELLS US ABOUT OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN
"Learning begins in the first days of life. Scientists are now discovering how young children develop emotionally and
intellectually from their very first days, and how important it is for parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even
reading to their infants We already know we should start teaching children before they start school."
--President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, February 4, 1997
Today, the President and First Lady are hosting The White House Conference on Early Childhood
Development and Learning: What New Research on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest Children. The
day-long conference highlights new scientific findings on brain development in very young children and points
to the importance of children's earliest experiences in helping them get off to a strong and healthy start and
reach their full potential.
Applying New Findings on Brain Development in the Earliest Years. New scientific research shows that
experiences after birth particularly in the first three years of life have a dramatic impact on brain
development. That means that nurturing, talking to, singing to and reading to our youngest children will
improve their ability to learn and develop throughout their lives. The White House Conference will focus on the
practical applications of the latest scientific research on the brain, particularly for parents and caregivers. The
conference will also be a call to action to all members of society -- including the health, business, media and
faith communities, child care providers and government -- to use this information to strengthen America's
families.
Clinton Administration Commitment to Young Children. This conference builds on the Clinton
Administration's investment in children and families. The Administration has invested heavily in research to
help us better understand the importance of the first few years of life to child development and learning.
Between 1993 and 1997, funding for NIH children's research increased 25%, from $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion.
President Clinton has also strengthened efforts to support families with young children. To take just a few
examples, the Administration raised funding for Head Start providing low-income children and their families
with comprehensive education, health services, and nutrition -- by 43% over the last four years and created the
Early Head Start program to support families with children ages zero to three. The President's FY 1998 Budget
further increases participation to reach 122,000 more children in FY 1998 than when he took office. The
Administration also dramatically increased participation in the WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program, providing
7.4 million pregnant women, infants, and children with nutrition packages and information and health referrals -
- 1.7 million more than when President Clinton took office. And his FY 1998 Budget would achieve his goal of
full participation in the WIC program by the end of FY 1998.
Conference Program and Participants. During the morning session of the conference, leading researchers
and child development experts will discuss the new research and what it means for parents and caregivers. The
panelists for this session are: Dr. David Hamburg, Carnegie Corporation of New York (moderator); Dr. Carla
Shatz, University of California, Berkeley; Dr. Donald Cohen, Yale Child Study Center; Dr. Patricia Kuhl,
University of Washington; Dr. Ezra Davidson, Drew University of Medicine, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Harvard
University; and Dr. Deborah Phillips, National Research Council. The afternoon session will highlight model
community efforts to support parents and enhance early childhood development. The panelists include: Avance
Family Support and Education Program, San Antonio, TX; the CEO and Chairman of the Board, The Kellogg
Company, Battle Creek Michigan; and Ounce of Prevention, Chicago, IL.
Broad Participation Across the Country. The morning session of the conference will be broadcast by
satellite to over 80 locations across the country. The satellite conferences will be co-hosted by regional federal
agencies, local officials, and children's and other organizations.
JEN EN
-
PANEL 2 PARTICIPANTS
KLEN
2FL/WWW
Ms. Harriet Meyer
Executive Director
Ounce of Prevention Fund
122 South Michigan Avenue
Suite 2050
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-922-3863
Fax: 312-922-3337
Dr. Gloria Rodriguez
President and CEO
Advance Family Support and Education Program
301 South Frio, Suite 380
San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: 210-270-4630
Fax: 210-270-4612
Mr. Melvin Wearing
Chief of Police
1 Union Avenue
New Haven, CT 06519
Phone: 203-946-6333
Fax: 203-946-7294
Mr. Arnold Langbo
Chairman of the Board and CEO
Kellogg Company
One Kellogg Square
P.O. Box 3599
Battle Creek, MI 49016
Phone: 616-961-2309
Fax: 616-961-2871
Mr. Rob Reiner
Castlerock Entertainment
335 North maple Drive, Suite 130
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310-285-2328
Fax: 310-285-2345
Harriet Meyer.
Biography
Harriet Meyer received her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and
her graduate degree from Middlebury College after completing most of her
studies in Paris, France. Upon graduation Ms. Meyer worked in the
international department of a major corporation, where she traveled
extensively in Europe, Australia, and Africa before beginning her tenure in
the family support arena.
As an Ounce of Prevention staff member, Ms. Meyer was responsible for the
physical development of a comprehensive child care center in the Robert
Taylor high-rise public housing complex. This center served families through
the prenatal period until their children reached age three. The "Beethoven
Project", as it later became known, has since become a model for child care
centers across the country.
Ms. Meyer then directed the Wells Community Initiative for three years,
coordinating this public/private partnership with Chicago Public Housing,
community residents, and community-based agencies to revitalize the Ida B.
Wells public housing complex.
Ms. Meyer was named Executive Director of the Ounce in 1991. She has been
involved in the development of a variety of innovative prevention programs at
the Ounce and in raising public awareness about policies affecting children
and families through her work with the Ounce's policy arm, the Kids Public
Education and Policy Project.
As Executive Director, Ms. Meyer has overseen the Ounce's expansion in many
areas including Early Head Start services for families with children 0-3
years of age, an elementary school-based health center, and a renowned sexual
abuse prevention education program, Heart to Heart.
A leading advocate for efforts to support the health and well-being of
children, particularly children in the developmentally critical early years,
Ms. Meyer has testified at the state and national levels on many occasions.
She has been a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers and the
U.S. Department of Education Working Group on Comprehensive Services. Ms.
Meyer has made regular appearances on television and radio news and talk
programs focused on child development and early intervention. A joint
interview with Ms. Meyer and two other child development professionals is
featured in the October/November 1996 issue of Zero to Three.
I
F1
B,
three years old and younger, bringing the research,
At the Ounce of Prevention Fund, we see the new
program, and policy cycle to completion. As this
and heightened scrutiny surrounding the financing and
biennial report goes to press, Ounce staff are
developing program and evaluation elements for our
implementation of welfare programs as an unusual
recently awarded Early Head Start program (one of
opportunity to expand the growing consensus in this
sixty-eight in the country) to further refine and improve
country that prevention programs save lives and dollare.
the work we do.
We believe that prevention is a humane and cost-
effective strategy. We promote it through a three-
More new and exciting ventures at the Ounce merit
pronged approach of research, experimental program
mention in this letter than we could possibly address.
implementation, and policy advocacy. We continually
Of special interest are activides at our school-based
seek to play the most effective role we can in the cyclo
health centers, the addition of Casa Central as a third
of research, program, and policy.
Head Start delegate, the expansion of Aunt Martha's
Head Start program with the opening of a Riverdale site
First and foremost, as this bionnial report indicates
to serve fifty-one children, and policy work related to
over and over again, prevention programs save scarce
welfare reform. As
public resources. The cost of supporting a family to
with the
ensure its members can live together in a healthy and
development of
nurturing environment is pocket change compared to
our Early Head
the cost of maintaining children in foster care. The cost
Start program,
of developmental childcare and Head Start to pave the
each of these new
way for school success is negligible when compared to
ventures shares a
the consequences of school failure including substance
common
abuse, premature parenthood, and prison. The cost of
approach of
providing affordable family medical care along with an
applying the most
explanation on how to use it is trivial compared to the
updated research
cost of hospital treatment made necessary by neglected
health. In fact, painstakingly crafted prevention
to program
implementation,
programs are among the most fiscally conservative
evaluating what
human service efforts.
we have done
We are proud to be in the forefront of community-
right and wrong,
based prevention in Illinois. Our work with children
and then
and families is grounded in acientific research and the
spreading the
careful examination of successful predeccesor
word about how
programs. With this approach we individually tallor
social service
services for each Illinois community and participant.
programs need to
We help educate the public by conducting internal
develop in Illinois
research, cooperating with outside researchers, working
and the United
with the press, and documenting our results in
States.
publications that explain what makes prevention
Thank you for
programs effective.
taking the time to
The Ounce of Prevention Fund is particularly proud
review our work
of the recent development of the Early Head Start
in this report Your continued input and analysis is part
program at the federal level. We believe that the
of what makes us successful. Please continue to share
process leading to the creation of Early Head Start
with us your thoughts and perspectives as we continue
represents the best the Ounce has to offer in the cycle
to foster the research, program, and policy cycle in the
of research, experimental program implementation, and
best interests of the families and children of Illinois.
policy advocacy. For nine years, the Ounce has worked
with families with very young children at our Center for
Successful Child Development (CSCD) in the Robert
Heart Meejur
Taylor Homes on Chicago's south side. Based on
community input and program ovaluation, CSCD has
Harriet Meyer
evolved and changed over this time. Last year. Harriet
Examitive Director
Meyer shared our lessons from CSCD as a member of a
federal advisory committee that evaluated programs
and approaches for children between infancy and three
Imig
B.
Hamis
years of age. This committee developed the framework
Irving B. Harris
for a new Early Head Start program to serve children
Chairman of the Board
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
MELVIN H. WEARING
Melvin H. Wearing is the Chief of Police for the New Haven Department of Police Service in
New Haven, Connecticut. He is the first African-American to attain this position as well as his previous
rank of Assistant Chief of Police. As chief, be is responsible for the overall operation and management of
the department which has a swom strength of 443 and 125 civilian employees.
During his 28 year career with the department, Chief Wearing has steadily risen through the ranks.
In 1968, he began his career as a police officer. After 5 years of street assignments, he was appointed to
Detective in 1973 and assigned to the Investigative Services Unit. For the next 10 years, he conducted
investigations in the Narcotics, Gambling, and Robbery/Burgiary Units until his promotion to Sergeant in
1984. As a first-line supervisor, Wearing was assigned to both the Patrol and Investigative Services Units
for 3 years until he was promoted to Lieutenant.
As a Licutenant, in 1988, Wearing was the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Narcotics Enforcement
Unit where he supervised a staff of 10 detectives and was responsible for coordinating joint operations with
state and federal law enforcement agencies. His administrative and supervisory capabilities were key
factors in his 1991 assignment to Chief of Detectives in Investigative Services. In that capacity, he was
responsible for overseeing all major criminal investigations and the supervision of 75 detectives of over a
dozen specialized units including the Bureau of Identification, Corporation Counsel, Major Crimes,
Criminal Intelligence, Robbery, Narcotics, Arson, Firearms, Juvenile Services, Sexual Assault and Family
Violence. After serving 2 years in this position, Wearing was appointed Assistant Chief of Police in 1993.
Chief Wearing is a graduate of the University of New Haven and earned a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration. He attended and completed training in
management and leadership at the Yale University/City of New Haven Management Training Institute. In
1992, be was selected to attend the prestigious Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North
Carolina. a training program for middle and upper level managers in the public and private sectors. He has
participated in numerous training seminars over the years, including programs offered by the Police
Executive Research Forum (PERF). National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
(NOBLE), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Connecticut Office of the State's Attorney.
As one of the original Fellows of Yale Child Study Center's Child Development/Community
Policing Program, Chief Wearing played an important role in the implementation of this unique
collaboration between the Police Department and the Child Study Center. The program is multi-faceted in
its objectives: immediate crisis intervention for children who were witnesses to, or victims of violence;
training in child development and psychology for police officers and supervisors: a consultation and referral
service. Melvin Wearing is co-author of "The Police-Mental Health Partnership: A Community-Based
Response to Urban Violence," published by Yalc University Press in 1995. The CD/CP program has been
recognized nationally as a pioneer initiative in providing intervention through a previously unheralded
delivery system-the officer on the beat. The national focus on the partnership has become so widespread
that funding is now available through the federal government for police departments across the country to
replicate the program.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: MELVIN H. WEARING
Page two
Chief Wearing is a member of many professional and social organizations including the Yale
University Child Study Center, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and Police
Executive Research Forum. He is a steering committee member for the Family Campus Initiative, a
family-focused and child-centered collaboration among the city, public schools, and Yale University. He is
a member of the New Haven County Silver Shields, a fraternal organization of minority police officers,
New Haven County Detectives Association, Connecticut State Police Association, National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Midnight Basketball Association (MBA). He is a
former member of the Board of Directors for Community Mediation, Inc., the oldest non-profit community
based mediation program in Connecticut.
Locally, he is one of the founders as well as current Chair of the New Haven Mentoring Program:
Police, Fire, and Schools, which has paired over 60 youngsters with police officers and fire fighters in one-
to-one relationships. He continually recruits to bring new mentors into the program. As a long standing
member of the Knickerbocker Club, he has helped to introduce students to the fine sport of golf.
Throughout his career, Wearing has received numerous honors and awards. In addition to many
letters of appreciation from citizens and colleagues, he has officially been awarded by the department,
Letters of Commendation, Certificates of Commendation, and a Certificate of Meritorious Service for
professionalism, bravery. and excellence in police work. Hc was the recipient of a Youth Service Award
from the New Haven Board of Young Adult Police Commissioners, and an Outstanding Public Service
Achievement Award from the New Haven County Silver Shields. In 1994, he was presented the Special
Recognition Freedom Award by the NAACP for "distinguished achievements in his career fine and
reverent character that is a model for youth and colleagues alike... his unassuming manner which has not
been changed by phenomenal success." In 1995, during Omega Psi Phi Fratornity's achievement Awards
Week. he was named Citizen of the Year. In 1996, hc was received the Man of the Year Award from the
New Haven Chapter of the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Clubs, Inc.,
for dedicated service and commitment to the youth of the community.
Historical Note: As a police officer in 1974, Melvin Wearing was a main affiant in the precedent-setting
casc, New haven County Silver Shields V, City of New Haven Police Department. The suit alleged that the
city used unfair hiring, promotional and job assignment practices against minorities. The Silver Shields, a
fraternal organization of minority police officers, emerged victorious, and from that point on, the New
haven Police Department was mandated by court decrec to hire and promote more minorities. The
was instrumental in improving the city's hiring practices.
mclres.doc
Gloria G. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer
AVANCE, Inc. Family Support and Education Programs
A San Antonio native, Dr. Gloria G. Rodriguez is founder, National President and Chief Executive Officer of
AVANCE Inc. Family Support and Education Program. Since its establishment in 1973, AVANCE has become a
nationally recognized model and pioneer of parent education, family support and fatherhood education programs.
The agency serves over 7,000 parents and children each year throughout Texas with 250 employees, many
volunteers, and a $7 million annual budget. AVANCE has been visited by Prince Charles, First Lady Barbara
Bush, First Lady of Mexico Araceli Salinas de Gotari, Governor Ann Richards and the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
AVANCE was cited in Barbara Bush's book, First Teachers, as one of ten outstanding programs in family literacy,
and in First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's book, It Takes a Village. AVANCE has been featured in The New
York Times, U.S. News and World Report, ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, Univision, the
MacNeil Lehrer NewsHour and Telemundo.
Dr. Rodriguez has received local and national recognition, and been invited to speak and present testimony on
parent and family support issues throughout the country. She is the recipient of the first Attitude Award for
changing public attitudes toward family support services presented by the Lifetime Nationally Syndicated Program
in 1990. She was inducted into the San Antonio Hall of Fame and Texas Women Hall of Fame and is included at
the U.T. Barker Center of Texas History. Dr. Rodriguez received the Benitia Humanitarian Award in 1996, the
Matt Garcia Public Service Award from the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, Parent's Magazine Social
Action Award in 1994, the Temple Award for Creative Altruism from the National Institute of Noetic Science in
1992, and was named Woman of the Year by the San Antonio Light newspaper in 1981. She was featured in
Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 most influential national Hispanic Women in 1988 and was
included in Notable Hispanic American Women in 1992. Dr. Rodriguez was also selected to Leadership America
(1992), World's Who's Who (1992), Who's Who Among Hispanic Americans (1991), the National Hispana
Leadership Institute (1989), Leadership Texas (1987), Leadership San Antonio (1981), Outstanding Women of
America (1977, 1979).
Dr. Rodriguez was a delegate to the White House Conference on Families, and, by presidential appointment, served
as part of the United States Delegation to the United Nations International Commission on the Status of Women,
and currently, the Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. She was selected to participate
in a two-week child care/family policy study of France in 1989 by the French American Foundation. She has been
invited to speak at state and national conferences, to foundation, university, business, government and elected
officials throughout the country, and at congressional and presidential hearings. She has spoken at the National
Municipal League of Cities, the Forum of Public Affairs at the J.F. Kennedy School of Government, the
Smithsonian Institute, the Aspen Institute and the Summer Institute of the Council of Chief State School Officers.
She has served as a consultant to the federal government, Parent's Magazine, Whittle Communication's La
Familia De Hoy Magazine, Mr. Roger's Corporation, The Work Family Institute, the Harvard Family Research
Project, Georgetown University and the Yale Bush Center.
She served on the founding Board of the National Family Resource Coalition, the Parent Action Board, the
National Council on Families in America Board, the Carnegie Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young
Children, and currently, on the Christian Children's Fund Board. She served as an Advisory Member to the GEMS
Television Board and co-chaired the San Antonio 2000 Ready to Learn Task Force. She also served on the Texas
Health and Human Services Coordinating Council, was appointed to Governor Ann Richard's Transition Team in
Early Childhood Education, and served as Chair of the Governor's Head Start Collaboration Task Force.
Dr. Rodriguez received her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Texas at Austin, and her
Masters of Education and B.A. in Bilingual Education from Our Lady of the Lake University. She is married to
Salvador C. Rodriguez and has three children.
AVANCE
AVANCE is a comprehensive, community and school-based family support program funded by private
companies, foundations, state and federal sources, whose main purpose is to strengthen families.
Our mission: By providing support and education services to low-income families, AVANCE strives to
strengthen the family unit; to enhance parenting skills which nurture the optimal development of children;
to promote educational success, and to foster the personal and economic success of parents. The focus
of AVANCE is community-based intervention which is family centered, preventive, comprehensive and
continuous through integration and collaboration of services.
"Twenty-(three) years ago, a young first-grade teacher was appalled that the schools and
community had given up on so many Hispanic children. Gloria G. Rodriguez, a member of the
Carnegie Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young Children, was herself a poor child of the
barrios. She decided that to give these youngsters a fair chance, their nurture and education had
to start at the very beginning of their lives. Parents would have to be trained to be their babies'
first teachers. With the help of the Zale Foundation in Dallas and a determined door-to-door
search in a housing project to recruit mothers and fathers, Rodriguez, now its president and chief
executive officer, founded AVANCE." Excerpt from "AVANCE, a response that works",
Carnegie Quarterly, Spring, 1994.
The AVANCE program evolved into a comprehensive, continuous program by responding to the needs of
the community. There is door-to-door recruitment of the parents and children. Parents are treated with
dignity and respect. All services are bilingual and are located in predominantly Hispanic communities. All
services, strategies, and program design are culturally sensitive and appropriate. As participants take part
in parenting classes, community is built among neighbors, self esteem is increased and personal goals
are set. Participants are also educated about their rights as parents, are encouraged to take an active role
in shaping their community through neighborhood watches and other collaboratives, and are introduced to
resources such as public libraries, community colleges, public transportation, public health services,
housing assistance, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention counseling and other collaborative
services. The parenting classes are followed by ESL, GED and college classes and job skills training for
the parents. After the 0-3 Parenting / Early Childhood Program, the children follow a sequential path
including Head Start, tutoring, mentoring, recreation and, eventually, college.
Proven results: An extensive scientific evaluation funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York found
that AVANCE program mothers reported and had more nurturing attitudes towards their children, an
enhanced view of self as their child's teacher, increased parental knowledge and skills, and increased
knowledge and use of community resources. Upon graduation from the parent education program,
significantly more program participants elected to continue their education by enrolling in continuing
education classes. The high-risk population which AVANCE serves is characterized by several
generations living in poverty, an 80-percent high school dropout rate among parents, a high degree of
stress and isolation, lack of knowledge of child growth and development, significantly high potential for
child abuse and neglect, and lack of sellable job skills. A 17-year follow-up study of 74% of the first group
of Latino parents and children found that 94% of children who attended AVANCE had either completed
High School, received their GED or were still attending high school, and 43 percent were attending
college. In contrast, 91 percent of their mothers had dropped out of school. After completing the AVANCE
parenting program, 57 percent of those mothers returned to complete their GED, and 64 percent of the
mothers in that group attended a college or technical program.
AVANCE chapters are located in San Antonio, Houston, the Rio Grande Valley, Corpus
Christi and Dallas serving over 7,000 individuals. Chapters are will open early in 1997 in
El Paso, Laredo and Kansas City.
AVANCE, Inc. - 301 S. Frio, Suite 380, San Antonio, Texas 78207 - 210/270-4630 Fax 210/270-4612
Kellogg's®
Arnold G. Langbo
Chairman of the Board
Chieí Executive Officer
Kellogg Company
Arnold G. Langbo has been Kellogg
Mr. Langbo assumed the title of president,
Company's chairman of the board and chief
Mrs. Smith's Frozen Foods Co. in January
executive officer since January 1, 1992.
1983, then became its chairman and chief
executive officer in November 1985. He was
Mr. Langbo joined Kellogg Canada Inc. in
November 1956 as a sales representative in
named group executive vice president, Kellogg
Vancouver. Following other assignments in
Company in January 1983. In June 1986, he
Prince George, Winnipeg, and Toronto, he
was appointed president of Kellogg Interna-
transferred in 1967 to the company's Interna-
tional. Mr. Langbo was elected president,
tional Division in Battle Creek, Michigan. In
chief operating officer and director of Kellogg
1969, he was appointed administrative
Company in December 1990.
assistant to the president of Kellogg Company.
Mr. Langbo is a member of the board of
directors of Johnson & Johnson and the
Mr. Langbo returned to Canada in September
1970 as executive vice president of the
Whirlpool Corporation. He is chairman of the
Canadian company in London, Ontario. In
Albion College Board of Trustees. He also
1971, he moved to the headquarters in
serves on the board of directors of the Grocery
Manufacturers of America, International Youth
Toronto as vice president - sales and markel-
ing of both Kellogg Canada and Salada Foods,
Foundation, the advisory board of the J.L.
Ltd., then a Kellogg subsidiary. In January
Kellogg Graduate School of Management at
1976, Mr. Langbo was appointed president
Northwestern University, and a member of the
and chief executive officer of Kellogg Salada
policy committee of The Business Roundtable.
Canada Ltd. Inc.
Mr. Langbo was born in Richmond, British
in November 1978, Mr. Langbo returned to
Columbia, on April 13, 1937. He attended
Battle Creek as president of the newly estab-
the University of British Columbia in
Vancouver. He and his wife, Martha, reside in
lished U.S. Food Products Division of Kellogg
Company. He was named corporate vice
Battle Creek, Michigan. They've raised eight
children.
president in September 1979, and executive
vice president in August 1981.
Kellogg Company
One Kellogg Square, P.O. Box 3399
Battle Creek, Michigan 49016-3599
(616) 961-2000
FAX: (616) 961-6598
Battle Creek Enquirer
Tuesday. December 10. 1996
Plan targets kids
Businesses join
dent of Pennfield Schools and task
County Family Independence
force chairman, said.
Agency, cares for several other
educators in aiding
The entire effort will cost about
young foster children and two teen-
$150,000, with schools and business-
age grandchildren.
children's potential
es splitting the cost, he said.
With Tai, she said, "I fell in love
The countywide statistics are clear.
Some 38 percent of children
with her the day they gave her to
BILL MILLER
me, and she looked at me with those
entering kindergarten are behind in
The Enquirer
their development, according to a
great big eyes."
survey by Calhoun County
Tai, she said, is big for her
Battle Creek's businesses and
schools today launched a program
Communities in Schools Inc., the
age, and advanced in her develop-
to educate parents and caregivers of
agency administering the Learning
ment. She's already in a dance class.
small children on the need for men-
Now! program.
"Every night I read a story to
tal stimulation in the earliest years.
Slightly less than half of fourth
them," she said. "And every morning.
In a breakfast presentation, the
and seventh grade students meet
we have 'Good morning love.' where I
Greater Battle Creek CEO Forum
basic math skills on the Michigan
sit and rock them until they're ready
and Educator's Task Force unveiled
Educational Assessment Program
to get down.
Learning Now!, a three-year pro-
"I have one foster child. he's 3 and
tests.
gram to boost early childhood devel-
mentally, he's year and a half. His fam-
The high school dropout rate
opment and better prepare children
ily didn't seem to notice he's behind.
rocketed from 4.5 percent in 1991-92
for school.
"And some of the foster children
to 10.5 percent in 1994-95, according
"I don't know of anything under-
I've got don't want hugs or kisses.
to Kids Count in Michigan.
taken in recent history that would
One baby I had a year, when he first
The program's aim is to start
have (as much) positive impact if we
came, he cruised the couch all day. I
reversing those statistics.
succeed in this program," Joseph
had to gradually hold him, a little
Stewart, Kellogg Co. senior vice
WHO IT'S FOR
more each day."
president and forum member, said.
Who are the groups trying to
HOW IT STARTED
Many of the problems of young
reach? Literally, every person who
An initiative to improve student edu-
people, he said, "whether dropout
cares for a child through age 5,
cational performance began two years
rates, substance abuse, you name it,
regardless of their economic status.
ago with formation of the CEO
these are all problems that stem
That means families like those of
Forum.
from a child's development, and in
Richard and Mary Ann Taylor, who
It joined with the existing
some way are related to realization
have a newborn daughter,
Educator's Task Force to promote
of his or her full human potential."
Annamarie, and sons, ages 3 and 5.
and implement local involvement in
The groups plan to:
Richard is a local investment exec-
the federal School-to-Work program
Blanket the community with
information in the months ahead -
utive and Mary Ann is a tax attorney.
aimed at broadening educational,
from inserts in employees' pay
"It's very important to maximize
career and economic opportunities
envelopes to print and TV advertis-
the potential for our kids," Mary Ann
for youth.
ing and fliers.
said, and who is familiar with the
Learning Now! is the second joint
The materials will direct people
recent studies showing the impor-
effort of the two groups, and is based
to a telephone number to call, where
tance of early brain development.
on new research.
they can sign up to have information
Annamarie, who was born at
"It shows brain development of the
sent to them regularly, correspond-
Battle Creek Health System last
first three years is much more rapid
ing to their child's development
Thursday, "is doing great," her
than previously thought, and educa-
mother said. "We talk to her when
tion potential is determined during
stage.
Parent-educators will be recruit-
she's awake, and try not to put her
that time" said Leslie McCarley, exec-
ed to provide training for parents
down. Her brothers talk to her, and
utive director of Calhoun County
and caregivers.
she responds.
Communities in Schools, the agency
Community leaders are using the
"We're conscious about not
administering the Learning Now! pro-
strongest terms to emphasize the
excluding her from a lot of activities.
gram.
effort, which was detailed this
We know now that excluding is the
"During the first three to four years,
morning at the Battle Creek Area
wrong answer, and helping her
glucose metabolizes very rapidly,
Chamber of Commerce's Eye-
explore now is important."
then it kind of stabilizes, and
Opener Breakfast at McCamly Plaza
Learning Now! also is for parents
plateaus." Synapses, or the wires
Hotel.
like Janet Person, who recently
between brain cells. are formed, and a
"I think it's tremendously impor-
adopted Tai Allyn, 2. who was born
lot of learning goes on.
tant we've placed a high priority on
addicted to drugs.
"As a result of this research. these
this," Robert Grimes. superinten-
Person. named 1996 Foster
groups decided the information was
Parent of the Year by the Calhoun
important enough that it should be
they're asked to go.
widely d ninated." she said.
Support by businesses of all
Grimes added, "We all have the
"There V a sense that on the 1 of
kinds is critical, for allowing informa-
same goals, to do what's best for
parents and caregivers in particular,
tion to be distributed in workplaces
young kids You get a lot done if
there might be an information void.
either through pay-check stuffers or
everybody works together."
Learning Now! is designed to help
brown-bag lunches.
address that void."
Different stages of the program will
Even though the research has got-
be conducted over the next three
ten national media attention,
years. Evaluation will be done,
McCarley said, it's important that it be
addressed locally on a regular basis to
McCarley said, by measuring
the people giving care.
changes in kindergarten readiness,
and through statistics such as the
HOW IT WORKS
annual Kids Count surveys.
Print and TV ads, direct mailings
For now, the campaign focuses on
and posters now being prepared all
the greater Battle Creek area, but
point toward the new Learning Now!
Communities in Schools hopes to
phone number: 660-5857.
expand it countywide if other groups
"(Everyone) can sign up to receive
provide the money and support.
information through the mail on a reg-
COALITION BUILDING
ular basis," McCarley said. "For par-
Learning Now! is a whole-commu-
ents with children under age 1, they'll
nity effort, Kellogg's Stewart
get information every other month.
emphasized.
For parents of children 1 to 5, they'll
The aim of the CEO Forum and
get information twice a year.
Educator's Task Force, he said, "is
"This will include not only a parent
to create different kind of coopera-
directory that has resources where to
tive working relationships between
go for assistance, but also hands on,
business and education in our com-
how-to information on what a parent
munity, and to begin to have a real
can do to stimulate brain development
impact on the performance of our
in their child."
young people."
Developmental benchmarks are
For years, he said, "the business
important, she said: "What kinds of
community has had a concern about
immunizations your child should have
the quality of people in the work
received by now, what kinds of things
force and the weakening of some
should your child be doing now.
basic skills, like reading, math and
"It's important to know if your child
science, and how those things
is supposed to be sitting up, and isn't,
require business to invest in addi-
or if your child should be able to sort
tional training."
colors by now, and isn't."
He said businesses, like many
None of the advice is dramatically
parts of society, talked about what's
new, McCarley said, but just reading
Dr. Spock isn't enough anymore.
wrong with schools. But then the
"We are a completely different soci-
CEO Forum realized that "we, too,
ety than 20 years ago," she said, "and
have failed to be involved in the
knowing how to be a good parent isn't
right way."
necessarily passed down. People don't
Learning Now! is expected to be
necessarily live close to support sys-
funded by CEO Forum and
tems like they used to."
Educator's Task Force members,
The campaign, she said, starts at
and relies heavily on in-kind support
birth and builds at the appropriate
by all businesses and educators.
developmental stages, with informa-
Much will depend on business
tion for each of those ages. It leads up
contributions, they said. And each
to the kinds of things your child needs
school system will help cover the
to know when they enter kinder-
cost of parent educators.
garten.
Stewart expects Learning Now! to
Between 1,400 and 2,000 Calhoun
be actively supported by all parts of
County children are in each of seven
the community. More than 100 peo-
stages between birth and age 5, she
ple were expected to attend this
said.
morning's breakfast, and a
The stages are: Birth to 3 months; 3
Thursday appearance by Dr. Harry
to 6 months; 6 to 12 months: 1 to 2
Chugani, a pioneering researcher in
years; 2 to 3 years; 3 to 4 years; and 4
early-childhood development, is
to 5 years.
sold out.
Two other key parts of the pro-
"Businesses alone cannot succeed
gram:
in this," Stewart said. "It will take
A full-time parent educator will be
health-care providers, schools,
hired to conduct seminars - in busi-
churches and social service agen-
ness, schools, churches, wherever
cies."
APR-13 97 18:50 FROM:
TO: 69412
PAGE 01
To : Jen 69412
fust in caseyou didnt Nich have
April 7, 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR MELANNE VERVEER
FROM:
JOHN JANET HILLEY MURGUIA John Hilley JM
Subject:
White House Conference on Early Childhood Development and Learning
Attached for your review are Legislative Affairs recommendations for Member involvement in
the White House Conference on Early Childhood Development and Learning. We have pared
down our list and feel strongly that these Members will best represent the Hill It is our
understanding that Legislative Affairs can use ten slots for the conference to accommodate
Members (ten stats in the moming and ten in the afternoon session) and an additional five slots
for their constituents. Please contact us once you have reviewed our list or should you have any
concerns. Thank you.
Speakers on Panel Il
Senator Kennedy
?
Rep. Goodling
Attending Panel I and Lunch
Rep. Goodling
(Education and Workforce Committee)
Rep. Clay
(Education and Workforce Committee)
Sen. Jeffords
(Health and Human Services Committee)
Delauro
Sen. Kennedy
(Health and Human Services Committee)
Sen. Daschle
(Leadership)
Sen. Lott
(Leadership)
Rep. Gephardt
(Leadership)
Rep. Gingrich
(Leadership)
Rep. Armey
(Leadership)
Attending Panel II
Rep. Riggs
(Subcmte. On Early Childhood, Youth and Families)
Rep. Martinez
(Subcmte. On Early Childhood, Youth and Families)
Rep. Porter
(CHHS Appropriations)
Rep. Ohey
(LHHS Appropriations)
Sen. Specter
(LHHS Appropriations)
Sen. Harkin
(LHHS Appropriations)
APR-13 97 18:50 FROM:
TO: 69412
PAGE: 02
Additional Members to invite
Sen. Wellstone
Sen. Landrieu
Sen. Tim Johnson
Sen. Kohl
Rep. DeLauro
Rep. Conyers
Rep. Roemer
Rep. Tauscher
Nicole R. Rabner
04/14/97 07:56:36 AM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Christa Robinson/OPD/EOP
CC:
Pauline M. Abernathy/OPD/EOP, Jennifer L. Klein/OPD/EOP
Subject: luncheon seating
I know that you are working on the draft luncheon seating for the Conference. The following are
some thoughts for HRC's table:
Ed Zigler, Yale or Julius Richmond, Harvard
Ron Lally, WestEd
Katharine Graham, Wash Post
Marian Wright Edelman, CDF
Sharon Darling, National Center for Family Literacy
Ralph Larsen, CEO, J&J OR David Laurence, CEO, Kaiser Permanente
Geraldine Laybourne, Disney/ABC
Mirian Westheimer, Exec Dir, HIPPY USA
Gov. Roy Romer
We shd also have another "principal's table" (POTUS if he comes, perhaps MEG -- TBD later today)
that includes:
Gov. Miller
Irving Harris or Theresa Heinz
Larsen or Laurance (CEO's)
Stanley Greenspan
Julius Richmond, Harvard or Zigler
Bernice Weisbourd
Dwayne Crompton
Elinor Gugginheimer
Rev. Joan Brown Campbell
I'm sure you are gettting the updated acceptance list from Kim today and you might have some
other ideas re: seating. The most important thing, as we discussed, is that we fill each table with a
broad-based group of people.
Thanks, Christa!
Results of conf.
I
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING:
WHAT NEW RESEARCH ON THE BRAIN TELLS US ABOUT OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN
`Learning begins in the first days of life. Scientists are now discovering how young children develop emotionally and
intellectually from their very first days, and how important it is for parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even
reading to their infants We already know we should start teaching children before they start school.'
--President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, February 4, 1997
On April 17, the President and First Lady will host The White House Conference on Early Childhood
Development and Learning: What New Research on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest Children. The
day-long conference will highlight new scientific findings on brain development in very young children and
point to the importance of children's earliest experiences in helping them get off to a strong and healthy start.
Applying New Findings on Brain Development in the Earliest Years. New scientific research shows that
experiences after birth -- particularly in the first three years of life -- have a dramatic impact on brain
development. That means that nurturing, talking to, singing to and reading to our youngest children will
improve their ability to learn and develop throughout their lives. The White House Conference will focus on the
practical applications of the latest scientific research on the brain, particularly for parents and caregivers. The
conference will also be a call to action to all members of society -- including the health, business, media and
faith communities, child care providers and government -- to use this information to strengthen America's
families.
Clinton Administration Commitment to Young Children. This conference builds on the Clinton
Administration's investment in children and families. The Administration has invested heavily in research to
help us better understand the importance of the first few years of life to child development and learning.
Between 1993 and 1997, funding for NIH children's research increased 25%, from $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion.
President Clinton has also strengthened efforts to support families with young children. To take just a few
examples, the Administration raised funding for Head Start -- providing low-income children and their families
with comprehensive education, health services, and nutrition -- by 43% over the last four years and created the
Early Head Start program to support families with children ages zero to three. The President's FY 1998 Budget
further increases participation to reach 122,000 more children in FY 1998 than when he took office. The
Administration also dramatically increased participation in the WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program, providing
7.4 million pregnant women, infants, and children with nutrition packages and information and health referrals -
- 1.7 million more than when President Clinton took office. And his FY 1998 Budget would achieve his goal of
full participation in the WIC program by the end of FY 1998.
Conference Program and Participants. During the morning session of the conference, leading researchers
and child development experts will discuss the new research and what it means for parents and caregivers. The
panelists for this session are: Dr. David Hamburg, Carnegie Corporation of New York (moderator); Dr. Carla
Shatz, University of California, Berkeley; Dr. Donald Cohen, Yale Child Study Center; Dr. Patricia Kuhl,
University of Washington; Dr. Ezra Davidson, Drew University of Medicine, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Harvard
University; and Dr. Deborah Phillips, National Research Council. The afternoon session will highlight model
community efforts to support parents and enhance early childhood development. The panelists include: Avance
Family Support and Education Program, San Antonio, TX; the CEO and Chairman of the Board, The Kellogg
Company, Battle Creek Michigan; and Ounce of Prevention, Chicago, IL.
Broad Participation Across the Country. The morning session of the conference will be broadcast by
satellite to over 50 locations across the country. The satellite conferences will be co-hosted by regional federal
agencies, local officials, and children's and other organizations.
Patricia F. Lewis
04/08/97 01:22:30 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Release - to go out following news conference
THE WHITE HOUSE
OFFICE OF MEDIA AFFAIRS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 1997
Contact: 202/456-7150
PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON TO HOST WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
Washington, DC -- President and Mrs. Clinton will host the White House Conference on Early
Childhood Development and Learning: What the Newest Research on the Brain Tells Us About
Our Youngest Children, on Thursday, April 17, 1997. The conference will spotlight recent
findings about how children develop from the earliest days, and will explore what this means
for parents and policy makers.
"We hope that this one-day conference will make the latest scientific research more accessible
and understandable to America's families," President Clinton said in announcing the
conference last month. "Our goal is to take this information and explore how it can be
translated into everyday actions and activities involving children."
"We're excited that so many people will be able to take part in this event. We all have a role
to play in making sure parents have the tools they need to do the best job they can," Mrs.
Clinton said. "We believe this Conference can make a valuable contribution."
The morning session will also be broadcast, by satellite, to sites across the country. Watch
parties will be co-hosted by regional federal agencies, local officials, children's and other
organizations.
President and Mrs. Clinton will open the morning session, which will feature leading
researchers and child experts. Among those who will talk about the new research and what it
means to parents are: pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, neuroscientist Carla Shatz, and
Director of the Yale Child Study Center Donald Cohen.
The afternoon session will highlight model programs from across the nation that are
supporting parents and enhancing early childhood development. Among the programs that will
be discussed are the Avance Family Support program based in San Antonio, Texas, and the
Ounce of Prevention program based in Chicago, Illinois.
Morning Session Discussion Participants
Dr. David Hamburg, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Carnegie
produced Starting Points, the seminal study on early childhood development. Dr.
Hamburg will serve as moderator.
Dr. Donald Cohen, Yale University, will discuss how children's behavior helps us
understand their cognitive, emotional and social development.
Dr. Carla Shatz, University of California, Berkeley, will explain how children's brains
grow and develop in the earliest years of life.
Dr. Patricia Kuhl, University of Washington, will discuss how children learn
language.
Dr. Ezra Davidson, Drew University of Medicine, will discuss the importance of
prenatal and perinatal services.
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Harvard University, will talk about the pediatrician's role in
early childhood development.
Dr. Deborah Phillips, Institute of Medicine, will discuss how child care can affect
early development.
Afternoon Session Participants
Dr. Gloria Rodriguez, Avance Family Support Program
San Antonio, TX
Avance is a widely acclaimed family support and education program serving predominantly
Hispanic communities.
Harriet Meyer, Ounce of Prevention
Chicago, IL
Ounce of Prevention is a statewide program that develops and tests innovative early childhood
development programs for replication, and runs model Early Head Start and childcare
programs.
Melvin Wearing, Chief of Police
New Haven, CT
Will talk about a pioneering initiative that trains community police officers to use child
development principles in their work.
Arnold Langbo, The Kellogg Company
Battle Creek, MI
Kellogg launched a community-wide effort last fall to provide practical early brain
development information to every Battle Creek parent and caregiver.
Rob Reiner, CastleRock Entertainment
Los Angeles, CA
Will talk about the "I Am Your Child" campaign launched this month, and the media's role in
making early childhood development information available.
-
30-30-30-
Message Sent To:
ANDERSON L @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
SILVERMAN J @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
SCHEAR S @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
Julia R. Green/WHO/EOP
Laura D. Schwartz/WHO/EOP
MCHUGH L @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
MASON J @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
STOTT D @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
TOIV B @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
MELLODY A @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
GLYNN M @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
MCCURRY M @ A1 @ CD @ LNGTWY
Dag Vega/WHO/EOP
Joseph P. Lockhart/WHO/EOP
Jonathan Murchinson/WHO/EOP
Megan C. Moloney/WHO/EOP
Brenda M. Anders/WHO/EOP
Jessica B. Vogelson/WHO/EOP
Nicole R. Rabner/WHO/EOP
Pauline M. Abernathy/OPD/EOP
Marsha E. Berry/WHO/EOP
Jennifer L. Klein/OPD/EOP
Ann F. Lewis/WHO/EOP
Alison Muscatine/WHO/EOP
Stacey L. Rubin
04/09/97 01:55:52 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Jennifer L. Klein/OPD/EOP
CC:
Subject: Re: Thanks for a great lunch here's the memo we sent to Melanne
April 7, 1997
MEMORANDUM FOR MELANNE VERVEER
FROM:
JOHN HILLEY
JANET MURGUIA
Subject:
White House Conference on Early Childhood Development and Learning
Attached for your review are Legislative Affairs recommendations for Member involvement in
the White House Conference on Early Childhood Development and Learning. We have pared
down our list and feel strongly that these Members will best represent the Hill. It is our
understanding that Legislative Affairs can use ten slots for the conference to accommodate
Members (ten slots in the morning and ten in the afternoon session) and an additional five slots
for their constituents. Please contact us once you have reviewed our list or should you have
any concerns. Thank you.
Speakers on Panel II
Senator Kennedy
Rep. Goodling
Attending Panel I and Lunch
Rep. Goodling
(Education and Workforce Committee)
Rep. Clay
(Education and Workforce Committee)
Sen. Jeffords
(Health and Human Services Committee)
Sen. Kennedy
(Health and Human Services Committee)
Sen. Daschle
(Leadership)
Sen. Lott
(Leadership)
Rep. Gephardt
(Leadership)
Rep. Gingrich
(Leadership)
Rep. Armey
(Leadership)
Attending Panel II
Rep. Riggs
(Subcmte. On Early Childhood, Youth and Families)
Rep. Martinez
(Subcmte. On Early Childhood, Youth and Families)
Rep. Porter
(LHHS Appropriations)
Rep. Obey
(LHHS Appropriations)
Sen. Specter
(LHHS Appropriations)
Sen. Harkin
(LHHS Appropriations)
Additional Members to invite
Sen. Wellstone
Sen. Landrieu
Sen. Tim Johnson
Sen. Kohl
Rep. DeLauro
Rep. Conyers
Rep. Roemer
Rep. Tauscher
ye- 5 coop
BC-JOAN-COLUMN:TE op-ed:R
Brain nourishment' essential for a nation of mentally healthy children
(AT-RISK)
By Joan Beck
Chicago Tribune
(KRT)
It's only a one-day conference on April 17, limited to the number of
influential people who can be packed into the White House's East Room. But the
idea President and Hillary Clinton are plugging is one of the most exciting of
the century, its implications are staggering and its, promise is mind-boggling.
The title is almost as long as a press release: The White House Conference
on Early Childhood Development and Learning: What New Research on the Brain
Tells Us About Our Youngest Children.
It's time the idea got a strong presidential push, especially from
a chief executive who wants to be called The Education President'' and a
first lady who has found a niche as an advocate for kids.
Research accumulating for more than three decades now shows beyond doubt
that the quality and quantity of early mental stimulation opportunities for
appropriate learning from birth on help determine how capable a child's brain
will be for life.
Learning stimulation in the first few years of life actually influences
the physical make-up of the brain, how the neurons will interconnect, how well
the brain will think, how smart'' the child will be. Educational
opportunities later on in life do not affect the brain in the same way or have
such an important impact
An environment rich in appropriate opportunities to learn can raise
a child's potential IQ by 20 to 30 points (by the inexact measures of
intelligence available) because of its impact on the development of the
brain. Mental malnourishment in the first years of life can lower potential
IQ permanently, beyond what even the best schooling can compensate for
completely later on.
Schooling can help a child use the brain he has effectively, give him vast
amounts of information and motivate him to learn. But only in the early years
of life can mental stimulation actually change the brain to make it a more
effective organ of thinking.
Now, the challenge is to identify the kinds of learning experiences that
nourish young children's brains best and how they can be made available to all
our kids. Some participants in the White House conference will talk about
model programs being developed in several communities around the country.
Despite the excitement and promise of neurological research on brain
development, early learning ideas have been slow to become part of mainstream
child care and education.
Many leaders in the growing field of early childhood education are still
too tradition-bound to appreciate the potential of the new neurological
research and misunderstand early learning as imposing formal and inappropriate
lessons on restless youngsters. Their programs concentrate on emotional
development, social behavior and nutrition necessary, of course. But parents,
politicians and donors may be misled into assuming they provide more
neurologically based mental stimulation than they actually do.
More than half of all mothers with young children now hold jobs outside
the home, limiting the time and energy they can devote to their youngsters.
Using early learning strategies can make their time together happier, more
beneficial to the children and more rewarding for the parents.
Much of what good parents do by instinct or because it makes their
children happy provides good nourishment for their brains. Talking to
a baby, responding to his efforts to communicate by body language or by
babbling, creating safe spaces at home where he can explore freely, just
giving him something new to see or do when he fusses out of boredom all help
the brain to grow.
Parents need more ideas about brain-nourishing activities. They need more
time and more flexibility in their jobs so their children don't have to come
in second so often. Most of all, they need a new understanding and
appreciation of how much they can contribute not only to their youngsters'
physical and emotional well-being but to their growing intelligence.
Public school systems generally ignore children younger than age 5'and are
too hard-pressed financially to explore the possibilities of reach-out
programs. Day-care centers often talk about their learning programs but most
provide traditional nursery school fare and lack enough trained teachers to
give all of their charges optimal, individual mental nourishment.
Many of the special programs set up to give early learning help to
high-risk youngsters in poor areas have had only minimal success. They usually
use traditional day-care models and give priority to youngsters' urgent
physical and emotional needs.
This is what happens in many Head Start programs, which generally offer
too little, too late, in the way of mental nourishment. Early Head Start,
begun in 1994, is intended to help children from birth to age 3 in low income
areas, but it is still too small and too new for good evaluation.
The promises of early learning based on new neurological research are too
exciting to brush over lightly or to push aside after the White House
conference in the rush of other political matters. It isn't clear yet,
however, how best to make the advantages of these new findings available to
all our children, especially those in dysfunctional families and those at
risk of eventual school failure.
That's where the president and first lady could really make a difference.
By sticking with this idea for the rest of his term. By using whatever funding
Clinton can bully out of Congress to start and expand model programs. By
pestering Head Start administrators to upgrade standard day-care fare with
special brain-nourishing components. By generating the national sustained
excitement that the promise of the new research deserves.
The idea could do a lot for the Clintons as well as for the nation's
kids.
X X X
(Joan Beck is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Readers may write to
her care of the Op-Ed Desk, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago,
Ill., 60611.)
X X X
(c) 1997, Chicago Tribune.
Visit the Chicago Tribune on America Online (keyword: Tribune) or the
Internet Tribune at http://www.chicago.tribune.com/
Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
**** filed by:KR-F(--) on 04/11/97 at 06:38EST ****
**** printed by: (SCOH) on 04/11/97 at 11:08EST ****
APR-10 97 15:01 FROM:
TO: 69412
PAGE: 04
THE WHITE HOUSE
OFFICE OF MEDIA AFFAIRS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 1997
Contact: 202/456-7150
PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON TO HOST WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
Washington, DC -- President and Mrs. Clinton will host the White House Conference on Early
Childhood Development and Learning: What the Newest Research on the Brain Tells Us About
Our Youngest Children, on Thursday, April 17, 1997. The conference will spotlight recent
findings about how children develop from the earliest days, and will explore what this means for
parents and policy makers.
"We hope that this one-day conference will make the latest scientific research more accessible
and understandable to America's families," President Clinton said in announcing the conference
last month. "Our goal is to take this information and explore how it can be translated into
everyday actions and activities involving children."
"We're excited that so many people will be able to take part in this event. We all have a role to
play in making sure parents have the tools they need to do the best job they can," Mrs. Clinton
said. "We believe this Conference can make a valuable contribution."
The morning session will also be broadcast, by satellite, to sites across the country. Watch parties
will be co-hosted by regional federal agencies, local officials, children's and other organizations.
President and Mrs. Clinton will open the morning session, which will feature leading researchers
and child experts. Among those who will talk about the new research and what it means to
parents are: pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, neuroscientist Carla Shatz, and Director of the Yale
Child Study Center Donald Cohen.
The afternoon session will highlight model programs from across the nation that are supporting
parents and enhancing early childhood development. Among the programs that will be discussed
are the Avance Family Support program based in San Antonio, Texas, and the Ounce of
Prevention program based in Chicago, Illinois.
APR-10 97 15:02 FROM:
TO: 69412
PAGE 05
Morning Session Discussion Participants
Dr. David Hamburg, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Carnegie produced
Starting Points, the seminal study on early childhood development. Dr. Hamburg will serve as
moderator.
Dr. Donald Cohen, Yale University, will discuss how children's behavior helps us understand
their cognitive, emotional and social development.
Dr. Carla Shatz University of California, Berkeley, will explain how children's brains grow and
develop in the earliest years of life.
Dr. Patricia Kuhl, University of Washington, will discuss how children learn language.
Dr. Ezra Davidson, Drew University of Medicine, will discuss the importance of prenatal and
perinatal services.
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Harvard University, will talk about the pediatrician's role in early
childhood development.
Dr. Deborah Phillips, Institute of Medicine, will discuss how child care can affect early
development.
Afternoon Session Participants
Dr. Gloria Rodriguez, Avance Family Support Program
San Antonio, TX
Avance is a widely acclaimed family support and education program serving predominantly
Hispanic communities.
Harriet Meyer, Ounce of Prevention
Chicago, IL
Ounce of Prevention is a statewide program that develops and tests innovative early childhood
development programs for replication, and runs model Early Head Start and childcare programs.
Melvin Wearing, Chief of Police
New Haven, CT
Will talk about a pioneering initiative that trains community police officers to use child
development principles in their work.
APR-10 97 15:02 FROM:
TO: 69412
PAGE 06
Amold Langbo, The Kellogg Company
Battle Creek, MI
Kellogg launched a community-wide effort last fall to provide practical early brain development
information to every Battle Creek parent and caregiver.
Rob Reiner, CastleRock Entertainment
Los Angeles, CA
Will talk about the "I Am Your Child" campaign launched this month, and the media's role in
making early childhood development information available.
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 13, 1997
Today, Hillary and I are pleased to announce that on April 17, 1997, we will host the
White House Conference on Early Childhood Development and Learning: What New Research
on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest Children. The Conference, which will take place at
the White House, will spotlight exciting new findings about how our children develop, and
explore how we can make the most of this information to give our children what they need to
thrive.
We hope that this one-day Conference will make the latest scientific research, nearly all
supported by the federal government, more accessible and understandable to America's
families. The research clearly indicates the importance of children's first few years to their
later success in school and in life. This Conference is a continuation of my Administration's
commitment to children and, in particular, it follows Hillary's work over the years on issues
relating to early childhood development.
The Conference will examine how we can use this new research in practical ways -- to
be better parents, more informed care-givers and more responsive members of our
communities. It will also explore how this information can be used by all members of our
society - from corporate executives to pediatricians, from ministers to elected officials -- to help
strengthen America's families.
Parents desperately want to do right by their children, and we all have a role to play in
making sure they have, the tools they need to do the best job they can. We believe this
Conference can make a valuable contribution.
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(UPI Focus)
Lawmakers lobby for fetus brain
WASHINGTON, April 9 (UPI) A mostly Republican group of lawmakers urged
President Clinton, during his upcoming White House conference on childhood
development and the brain, to devote at least one-third of the program to
studying the development of the brains of fetuses.
In a letter to Clinton, the lawmakers said: Brain development in
children does not begin at birth, but is part of a continuum that originates
at conception.
The president and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton planned to host the
conference on April 17, promising to spotlight research discoveries about how
the young develop and their implications for parents and policymakers.
Planned participants included a host of doctors and researchers with
expertise in various aspects of childhood development, as well as
representatives of community groups, police, and the entertainment industry.
The lawmakers, including House Speaker Newt Gingrich and House Republican
leader Dick Armey, said Wednesday they sent a letter to Clinton suggesting the
names of additional experts concerned with brain development prior to birth.
They urged Clinton to instruct the panel he assembles at the daylong
conference next week to devote at least at third of its time, talents and
resources to brain development in the preborn child.
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Copyright 1997 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
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****
filed by: UPI- (us)
on 04/09/97 at 17:39EST ****
**** printed by: WHPR (SCOH) on 04/10/97 at 10:37EST ****