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Advocacy News

July 25, 2007

Hot off the press! The 2007 National Kids Count data book was released today (July 25). This year’s essay, “Lifelong Family Connections: Supporting Permanence for Children in Foster Care,” focuses on the more than 700,000 children who spend time in foster care each year, and what can be done to strengthen the family relationships that these young people need. The national press release notes that since 2000:

  • Four areas have improved: the child death rate, teen birth rate, high school dropout rate, teens not in school and not working.
  • Two areas saw slight improvement: infant mortality rate, teen death rate.
  • Four areas have worsened: low-birthweight babies, children living in families where no parent has fulltime year-round employment, children in poverty, and children in single-parent

April 25, 2007

If you currently are working to improve the lives of Wyoming children and families, or you want to learn more about how you can actively participate,then please take the time to fill out the Child Well-being Advocacy Questionnaire. The information you provide will allow us to identify your interests and commitment level, connect you with like-minded people, and help us to build a network of advocates that can work collaboratively for the sake of Wyoming children.

NEWS from the Equality State Policy Center

May 3, 2007

Big yields from early childhood education

A new Economic Policy Institute study shows that investing in quality early childhood care and education programs returns enormous benefits for children, the adults they will become, and society at-large.

"This new economic study buttresses other work that shows the importance and benefits of quality early childhood experiences that may occur at home with families, in public schools, with private child-care providers, in church-sponsored programs or other developmentally appropriate settings for children," said Deanna Frey, director of the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance.

"We know that when families are involved with their children, and are able to ensure good health care and early education, we see kids prepared to succeed when it’s time to go to elementary school."

"But all families and all children deserve this opportunity," Frey said. "That’s why we’ve pushed the state to launch and finance a quality child care program that will help children develop so that they’re fully prepared for school and for life."

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) study also shows that state governments will reap huge savings in remedial education, law enforcement and child welfare if children are given better pre-kindergarten opportunities. The study makes clear that states also will realize higher tax revenues from these more productive citizens over time.

Sarah Gorin, chair of the Equality State Policy Center, noted that the study by the EPI’s Robert Lynch discusses universal pre-kindergarten education, as part of a proposal to make such education mandatory. "We don’t endorse a mandatory program, but we believe voluntary, high-quality preschool education and child care should be available to all, just like kindergarten is now," said Gorin.

"This study still is valuable to Wyoming because it helps show, in concrete economic terms, the benefits of investing in our young children," Gorin said.

The Wyoming Education Association also touted the study results. "We’ve long supported the idea that the children of Wyoming deserve equal opportunities for development and education regardless of which community they live in and regardless of their own family’s economic situation," said WEA President Kathryn Valido.

The Wyoming Association of Elementary School Principals likewise touted Lynch’s study. "Pre-kindergarten is not a luxury," said Dave Olsen, principal of Paintbrush Elementary in Campbell County. "High-quality pre- kindergarten significantly improves the ability of children to thrive in school and later in life. The achievement gap will not be closed until all children come to kindergarten prepared to succeed."

Wyoming Nonprofits Advocacy Committee Co-chair Leigh Anne Manlove noted that her organization, which includes more than 80 nonprofit organizations across the state, continues to advocate for quality early childhood care and education in Wyoming to support both its member organizations and the communities they serve.

Wyoming already has seen the value of pre-school education through the success of voluntary Head Start and TANF programs, according to Frey. The benefits of a voluntary, high-quality education program for 3- and 4-year- olds in the lowest quarter of income of Wyoming families would return benefits worth 19.7 times the program costs, according to the study conducted by the EPI economist.

Much of that return comes in the value of higher incomes earned by a better- educated populace. "In an economy the size of Wyoming’s, a relatively small state investment can generate much larger returns, as people making more money spread it around by eating in restaurants and buying things downtown," Gorin said. "This study reaches similar conclusions as the earlier University of Wyoming study on gender gap, which showed significant economic benefits from increasing pay in female-dominated occupations like teaching and child care."

ESPC Executive Director Dan Neal suggested that the Legislature’s Joint Interim Labor, Health and Social Services Committee take a look at the EPI study, since the committee has committed considerable time to the quality child care issue.

"Perhaps a university or community college economist could review the study’s specific conclusions about Wyoming," Neal said. "Legislators are relying more and more on research to help direct policy, and with this research, we now have the opportunity to make an investment in our children that will reap benefits far into the future."

Providing support to Wyoming families through ensuring the availability of high quality early care and education will help to build a stronger foundation for families and communities. As Lynch pointed out in a similar study in 2004, "(T)his is a smart investment." It pays benefits economically, fiscally and socially.

The Wyoming Education Association, the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance, the Wyoming Association of Nonprofit Organizations (Wyoming Nonprofits), the Wyoming Association of Elementary School Principals and the Equality State Policy Center encourage local, state and federal policy makers to expand their investment in Wyoming’s children to ensure a brighter future for the state and its citizens.

Contacts:

  • Deanna Frey - Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance Cheyenne (307) 635-2272 or 800-400-3999
  • Kathryn Valido - Wyoming Education Association Cheyenne (307) 634-7991 or 800-442-2395
  • Leigh Anne Manlove - Wyoming Nonprofits Cheyenne (307) 632-9061 ext. 25
  • Dave Olsen - Wyoming Association of Elementary School Principals Gillette (307) 686-1778
  • Dan Neal - Equality State Policy Center Casper (307) 472-5939 Cell: (307) 258-2783
  • Sarah Gorin - Equality State Policy Center Laramie (307) 745-8594 Cell: (307) 760-8280

The Equality State Policy Center, a broad-based coalition of Wyoming interests, works through research, public education and advocacy to hold Wyoming state and local governments accountable to the people they represent, and to encourage and assist state residents to participate effectively in public policy decision-making. Contact: Dan Neal, executive director, 307-472-5939 dneal@equalitystate.org