• Capitol Corner ECIC's Michigan Legislative Update
  
• Capitol Corner ECIC's Federal Policy Update
• Budget Basics from Michigan's Children
• Issues for Michigan's Children

The election is over, but the work is just beginning! The next few months are an ideal time to to get in touch with your newly elected officials. Congratulate them on their win and let them know you are a resource.

• For a listing of the 2010 Winners for Oakland County Legislative Seats click here.
• To share Michigan's Children Issue Primer which focuses on the importance of early childhood click here.
• To share Michigan's Children Issue Primer which focuses on the concept of Prenatal-20 Education Systems click here.

What does Health Care Reform mean for kids in Michigan? Visit the Michigan's Children website for a synthesis of the new reform and additional resources.

• Introduction to Advocacy
• Types of Advocacy
• Outline for Advocacy Training
• Who Represents Me?
• Understanding Michigan Legislature
• Tips for Meeting with Legislators

• Never Again
• Five Numbers to Remember about Early Childhood Development
• Inspiring Innovation: Creative State Financing Structures
• Mission: Readiness

If we invest in programs that promote learning beginning at birth-the statistics will change, the stories will change, the future will change-change the first five years and you change everything. Click here to watch this powerful video from The Ounce of Prevention Fund.

• Birth to Five Policy Alliance
• Michigan Child Care Task Force
• Michigan’s Children
• Michigan 4C Association
• Michigan Department of Education
  Office of Early Childhood and Family Service
• Early Childhood Investment Corporation
• Pre-K Now

Noted University of Chicago Economics Professor James Heckman has proven that there are great economic gains by investing in early childhood development. The videos and other resources on his website can be useful advocacy tools.

As state budgets continue to tighten, many governors and legislators have proposed to cut back on critical programs for children and families, including early childhood. Three recent analyses show that such actions have negative economic consequences in the short and long term:

• Using cost benefit analyses of early learning programs, a study from Wilder Research found that over the past 25 years, Michigan's pre-k program has saved the state more than $1 billion through lower grade retention and special education placement rates, reduced criminal activity and higher employment. Researchers also found that serving all low income children in Michigan at a cost of about $236 million a year would save the state roughly another $600 million annually.
• A report from America's Edge shows that investing in early childhood education can stimulate the economy because providers buy goods and services from local businesses and hire teachers and staff who make their own purchases. All of this economic activity supports more jobs in the community.
• A brief from the Partnership for America's Economic Success details the cost of disinvesting in a variety of early childhood programs that are proven to reduce the need for more costly interventions in the short and long terms, create jobs and stimulate the economy, including home visiting, pre-k and child care.