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AVANCE (www.avance.org)
AVANCE serves predominantly poor Latino families in underserved communities.
Its Parent-Child program supports parents of children aged zero to three as their
child's first teachers through parenting education, parent-child activities, and adult
literacy, English, and GED classes. In sites throughout Texas and in Los Angeles,
CA, the core program is supplemented by a host of other activities that build
ongoing community support for families. AVANCE's methods and materials have
been adapted by other programs that serve predominantly Latino families.
301 South Frio, Suite 310, San Antonio, TX 78207; (210) 270-4630
Better Baby Care Campaign (www.betterbabycare.org)
The Better Baby Care Campaign is a nationwide effort to improve the early care of
infants and toddlers while their parents are working, in school, or in need of outof
home services. The campaign works in collaboration with national, state, and
local organizations to bring attention to the issues and to improve the policies that
govern child care, support and education for families, paid family leave, and related
areas. Its Web site provides fact sheets, research reports, and other resources for
parents and advocates.
Brazelton Touchpoints Center (www.touchpoints.org)
The Brazelton Touchpoints Center gives health care, child care, education, and
family support professionals "effective and proven tools to support infants and parents
at the beginning of their lives together." Developed by Dr.T. Berry Brazelton,
the Touchpoints model "aims to build alliances between parents and providers
around key points in the development of young children." These predictable issues
and milestones "can disrupt family relations, but can also provide an opportunity
for practitioners to connect with parents." The Center trains professionals
working in a variety of settings to incorporate Dr. Brazelton's relationship-based,
anticipatory guidance model into their individual practice and to infuse it in their
communities.
1295 Boylston Street, Ste 320, Boston, MA 02215; 617-355-2297
Center for the Childcare Workforce (www.ccw.org)
The Center for the ChildcareWorkforce, a project of the American Federation of
Teachers, works to improve the quality of early care and education for all children
by promoting policy, research, and organizing that ensure that the early care and
education workforce is well educated, receives better compensation, and has a
voice in their workplace. ItsWeb site provides information on the compensation,
retention, and education of early childhood teachers and resources that can be
used at the program, community, or state level to reduce turnover and improve
program quality.
American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation, 555 New Jersey
Avenue NW,Washington, DC 20001; (202) 662-8005
Child Care Services Association (www.childcareservices.org)
The Child Care Services Association supports local and state efforts in North Carolina
to improve the quality of child care. It also supports other states in the implementation
of its successful T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood r_ Project andWage$
Plus to improve the education and compensation of early childhood teachers and
caregivers and the retention of qualified professionals in these roles.
1829 East Franklin Street, Bldg. 1000, P.O. Box 901, Chapel Hill, NC 27514;
(919) 967-3272
Children's Defense Fund (www.childrensdefense.org)
The mission of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is "to Leave No Child
Behind" and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start,
a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with
the help of caring families and communities." CDF develops fact sheets, outreach
campaigns, and other resources to educate the nation about the needs of children
and about opportunities to effectively address these needs through preventive investments
and enlightened public policies. Its Web site and e-mails keep advocates
informed of upcoming legislative decisions on a range of children's issues.
25 E Street NW,Washington, DC 20001; (202) 628-8787
Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org) As "an alternative news source on theWeb," Connect for Kids helps adults become aware of and join campaigns to make their communities better places for families and children. Their Web site provides solutions-oriented coverage of critical issues for children and families, bringing together meaningful information, success stories, and ideas for action.
Ecumenical Childcare Network (www.eccn.org)
Ecumenical Childcare Network (ECCN) is a national interdenominational network
of individuals who work from a faith perspective to strengthen early childhood
care and education programs offered by religious organizations and to garner
congregational support. ECCN's members advocate "serving families by offering
options, celebrating diversity, and assuring high quality, affordable, and equitable
care and education for all God's children."
P.O. Box 803586, Chicago, IL 60680; (800) 694-5443
Every Child Matters (www.everychildmatters.org)
With a special focus on making sure that all children "get the right start," the Every
Child Matters Education Fund works to push children's many needs to a higher
place on the country's political and policy agenda. To this end, the Education Fund
conducts polls, publishes reports, works with reporters and state children's groups,
runs advertising, and conducts campaigns on behalf of children.
440 First Street, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20001-2080; (202) 393-
0504
Family Support America (www.familysupportamerica.org)
Family Support America (FSA) is an umbrella organization for programs and
organizations that provide support and information to families.With its bedrock
belief that parents need to be involved as equal partners in crafting solutions
and systems to serve their children, families, and communities, FSA serves as the
"catalyst, thought leader, and clearinghouse" for the family support movement.
20 NorthWacker Dr. Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60606; (312) 338-0900
Fight Crime: Invest In Kids (www.fightcrime.org)
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a bipartisan, nonprofit anti-crime organization led
by more than 2,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, victims of violence, and
leaders of police officer associations. Its mission is "to take a hard-nosed, skeptical
look at the research about what really works-and what doesn't work-to keep
kids from becoming criminals" and to share that information with policy makers
and the public in the form of reports, policy recommendations, articles written by
its members, and resources for journalists.
2000 P St. NW, Suite 240,Washington, DC 20036; (202)776-0027
High/Scope Educational Research Foundation (www.highscope.org)
High/Scope Educational Research Foundation is a research, development, training,
and public advocacy organization whose mission is "to improve the life chances
of children and youth by promoting high-quality educational programs." The
High/Scope approach is based on the belief that "children learn best through
active experiences with people, materials, events and ideas."
600 North River Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198-2898; (734) 485-2000
HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) (www.hippyusa.org)
HIPPY is a home-based program that helps parents prepare their three-, four-,
and five-year-old children for success in school and beyond. The program was
designed to "bring families, organizations, and communities together and remove
any barriers to participation," including limited education and lack of financial
resources.
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 300, New York; (212) 532-7730
National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) (www.naccrra.org)
"NACCRRA is the national network of more than 850 child care resource and
referral centers (CCR&Rs) located in every state and most communities across the
US. CCR&R centers help families, child care providers, and communities find,
provide, and plan for affordable, quality child care."NACCRRAprovides training,
resources, and best practices standards to local and state CCR&Rs and promotes
national policies and partnerships that facilitate universal access to quality child
care.
1319 F. Street, NW, Suite 500,Washington, DC 20004-1106; 202-393-5501
National Association for the Education of Young Children (www.naeyc.org)
With more than 100,000 members and a network of 450 local, state, and regional
affiliates, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
is "the nation's largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators
and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from
birth through third grade." NAEYC and its Affiliate Groups work to improve
professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education and to
build public support for high quality early childhood programs. NAEYC accredits
early childhood centers and programs for early childhood educators, publishes
materials for educators, parents, and policy makers, holds training conferences,
and issues position papers that set standards for the field.
1509 16th Street, NW,Washington, DC 20036-1426; 800-424-2460
National Association for Family Child Care (www.nafcc.org)
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) works to "promote
quality care by strengthening the profession of family child care." NAFCC accredits
family child-care programs, supports family child-care associations, provides
training and technical assistance to providers through outreach, conferences, and
materials, and provides an advocacy voice for the profession.
5202 Pinemont Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84123 (801) 269-9338
National Association for Bilingual Education (www.nabe.org)
As "the only national organization exclusively concerned with the education
of language-minority students in American schools," National Association for
Bilingual Education (NABE) supports the education of English language learners
by providing publications and professional development opportunities for their
teachers, advocating nationally for strong bilingual education programs, and
"collaborating with other civil rights and education organizations to ensure that
the needs of language minority students are met in every state."
1030 15th St., NW, Suite 470,Washington, DC 20005; (202) 898-1829
National Head Start Association (www.nhsa.org)
The National Head Start Association is a membership organization that represents
the children, staff, and families of Head Start programs in the United States. "The
Association provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating
for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families; by
providing extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff; and
by developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich
Head Start program delivery."
1651 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 739-0875
National Black Child Development Institute (www.nbcdi.org)
The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) focuses especially on
the needs of African American children and of their families and communities. The
NBCDIdevelops programs and resources related to early childhood education and
health, parenting, elementary and secondary education, and child welfare. It also
provides training and support for professionals, policy makers, and community
leaders seeking to effectively serve African American children and support them
to "take pride in their African American heritage and culture." NBCDI's Parent
Empowerment Project (PEP) draws upon African and African American traditions
as it seeks to "inspire parents to excellence as their child's first teacher." Originally
designed "by and for lower income African Americans," PEP "has demonstrated
effectiveness with a broad spectrum of parents."
11-1 15th Street NW, Suite 300,Washington, DC 20005; (202) 833-8222
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (www.nga.org/center)
The Center'sWeb site provides policy makers with up-to-date resources and information
on promising state policies and initiatives. The education division provides
information on early childhood issues.
Hall of States, 444 N. Capitol St., Washington, DC 20001-1512; (202) 624-5300
National Latino Children's Institute (www.nlci.org)
The National Latino Children's Institute is "the only national Latino organization
that focuses exclusively on children." Its Words for the Future-Creando el futuro
kit "uses culturally appropriate materials and strategies to gently guide parents
through the process of learning how to best provide their children with the experiences
they need." "The underlying premise of Words for the Future is that during
every moment a child is learning. Parents who talk, sing, read, explain and explore
with their children, even during their first days of life, are giving their children a
gift that will last a lifetime."
1325 N. Flores Street, Suite 114, San Antonio, TX 78212; (210) 228-9997
Ounce of Prevention (www.ounceofprevention.org)
Informed by the latest research and theories, the Ounce develops model programs,
tests them "in real-world circumstances," and shares effective approaches "as best
practices with the entire early childhood field." Typically, the Ounce "uses private
dollars as 'seed money' to launch innovative programs and to leverage public
funding." The OunceWeb site provides information for policy makers, advocates,
and professionals on effective prevention strategies and programs.
122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 2050 Chicago, IL 60603-6198; (312) 922-3863
Parents Action for Children (www.parentsaction.org)
Formerly known as the I Am Your Child Foundation, Parents Action for Children
is a national organization that seeks to raise awareness about the importance of
early childhood development. ItsWeb site provides a wide variety of resources for
parents, early childhood professionals, child advocates, health care providers, policy
makers, and the media. Its celebrity-hosted video series exploring critical issues
in early childhood development is a valuable resource for parents, professionals,
community organizers, and advocates. TheWeb site also makes it easy for parents
and advocates to connect with each other and to add their voices to campaigns to
improve child and family policies.
335 N. Maple Drive, Suite 135, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; (310) 285-2385
Parent Services Project (www.parentservices.org)
The Parent Services Project (PSP) integrates family support into child-care,
school, and early education settings. PSP's family support strategies, including
family activities, parenting education, peer support, and information and referral
services, are grounded in "warm, respectful relationships" that "nourish the personal
connections that make change possible." PSP uses family support strategies
to break down barriers among parents and program staff and "to create social
support networks for all families."
79 Belvedere St. #101, San Rafael, CA 94901; (415) 454-1870
Parent-Child Home Program (www.parent-child.org)
The Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) "is a home-based literacy and parenting
program for families challenged by poverty, low levels of education, language
barriers and other obstacles to educational success." Participating families are visited
twice a week for two years by trained and well-supported Home Visitors who
speak their language, beginning when their child is approximately two years old.
"In play sessions with the parent and the child together, the Home Visitor demonstrates
parenting techniques. The Home Visitor emphasizes verbal interaction and
learning through play, using carefully chosen books and toys. PCHP strengthens
families and prepares children to succeed in school by increasing parent-child
interaction."
800 Port Washington Boulevard, PortWashington, NY 11050; (516) 883-7480
Parents as Teachers (www.patnc.org)
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an international program serving families from pregnancy
to their child's entry into kindergarten. Local PAT programs offer child
development information, parenting education, and family support services and
referrals to all parents in their communities. The Parents as Teachers National
Center, Inc. (PATNC) develops curricula, trains early childhood professionals,
and certifies parent educators.
2228 Ball Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146; (314) 432-4330
School of the 21st Century (www.yale.edu/bushcenter/21C)
The School of the 21st Century (21C), an initiative of the Yale Center in Child
Development and Social Policy at Yale University, is "a community school model
that incorporates childcare and family support services into schools. Its overall
goal is to promote the optimal growth and development of children beginning at
birth." Using the public school as a base, the model provides high quality child
care for all children in the community whose families choose to enroll them. The
national 21C organization provides training, technical assistance, and evaluation
services for schools and communities implementing the 21C model.
The Yale University Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy, 310 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511;
(203) 432-9944
Stand for Children (www.stand.org)
Stand for Children is a national membership organization that "enables everyday
people to join together in a strong, effective voice to win concrete changes for
children." Members of its grassroots chapters advocate for improved schools, early
childhood education programs, after-school enrichment, and other services for
children in their communities and states.
National Office: 516 SE Morrison Street, Suite 206, Portland,OR97214; (503)
235-2305
United Way/Success By Six (http://national.unitedway.org/sb6/)
"United Way Success By 6 is a national community-based movement of public
and private partners that work together to deliver proven solutions that ensure
all children ages zero to six are healthy, nurtured and ready to succeed. In more
than 350 cities throughout the United States and Canada, UnitedWay Success By
6 is creating effective community-based solutions that contribute to the positive
quality of life for young children."
USA Childcare (www.usachildcare.org)
USA Childcare is a professional organization of child-care providers committed to
serving low- and moderate-income children. The national organization supports
a network of local and state associations "with the goal of engaging providers
in the policy dialogue and increasing their capacity to lead local communities in
developing a system of high quality child care." The organization also supports
national campaigns and legislation and provides expertise to legislators and policy
makers.
703-875-8100
Voices for America's Children (www.voicesforamericaschildren.org)
Voices for America's Children is a national child advocacy organization that supports
organizations working at state and local levels to improve the well-being
of children. "With member organizations in almost every state, Voices provides a
voice for the voiceless-children-in city halls and statehouses across the country."
1522 K Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005-1202;(202) 289-0777
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families (www.zerotothree.org)
ZERO TO THREE's mission is "to promote the healthy development of our nation's
infants and toddlers by supporting and strengthening families, communities,
and those who work on their behalf." The organization is "dedicated to advancing
current knowledge; promoting beneficial policies and practices; communicating
research and best practices to a wide variety of audiences; and providing training,
technical assistance and leadership development." Its Web site contains a wealth
of resources for parents, professionals, and advocates.
2000 M Street, NW, Suite 200,Washington, DC 20036; (202) 638-1144