Mission: Working together to build a community that nurtures the full potential of our youngest children.

SELF Council Members

ARC- Arc of Clark County / Pride for Kids

BGSD- Battle Ground School District

CCCN- Clark County Community Network

CCHD- Clark County Health Department

CHSW- Children's Home Society of Washington

Clark- Clark College: Child and Family Studies

CRMHS- Columbia River Mental Health

DCCEL- Division of Child Care and Early Learning

ECPT- Early Choice Pediatric Therapy

Funding Partner

SELF Council Members

EOCF- Educational Opportunities for Children and Families

ESD 112- Educational Service District 112

EVSD- Evergreen School District

FVRL- Fort Vancouver Regional Library District

ISNW- Vancouver Children's Therapy Center

SWCCC- Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium

SWMC- Southwest Washington Medical Center

VHA- Vancouver Housing Authority

VSD- Vancouver School District

WSUV- Washington State University Vancouver

YWCA- Clark County

Our youngest children count on the adults in their lives for care and protection. Parents, early childhood educators and professionals, and the public can be the voice that speaks up for the resources and services our children need.

Children are born learning. The research is clear that what happens in the earliest years makes a critical difference in a child's readiness for success in school and in life. This critical period is jeopardized by unequal opportunity for too many children.

With unprecedented momentum behind early learning, this is the year that our state policymakers should take action to get Washington headed in the right direction. Governor Chris Gregoire has presented the 2006 Washington Legislature with action proposals that will support parents as their child’s first teacher, improve child care quality and make early learning a statewide priority.

Follow the links below and stand up for our youngest children. Let your legislator know that every $1 spent on early care and education saves society $7 in future costs for special education, delinquency,crime control, welfare benefits and lost taxes.

• SELF position paper on 2006 early learning Legislative proposals.
  2006 Early Learning Legislative Proposals
  
  
• Join the Early Care and Education Coalition’s Action Center to
  receive action alerts and contact your Legislator. http://www.childrenshub.org/ec2/join.html
  
  Washington Legislature
• Look up bills, committee schedules, legislator information, and more.
  http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature
  
  
• The Washington Learns interim report describing the early
  learning proposals (summarized on pages 24 and 25 ) http://www.washingtonlearns.wa.gov/report/Interim2005_report.pdf
  
  
• The Children’s Alliance’s 2006 Early Learning Policy Paper
  http://www.childrensalliance.org/4Download/earlylearning/2006-Early_learning_policy_paper.pdf
  
  Advocacy Toolkit
• Early Care and Education Talking Points
  http://www.earlyeducationcoalition.org/content/resources/factsheets2.php
  
  
• Developing Effective Messages
  http://www.childrensalliance.org/4Download/training/DEVELOPING_EFFECTIVE_MESSAGES_worksheet.pdf
  
  
• Legislator Meeting Tip Sheet http://www.childrensalliance.org/4Download/training/legislator_meeting_tip_sheet.pdf