| What Is Kids Are Priority One? Kids Are Priority One is a statewide coalition of organizations, businesses and individuals who are committed to ensuring that Vermont's children get the best possible start. By means of constant public education, tireless grassroots organizing, skillful advocacy and ongoing leadership development activities, Kids Are Priority One is working to: - Empower people to speak out on behalf of children;
- Strengthen policies that make our early childhood system work better for children and families;
- Ensure that key decision-makers make children's health, care, and education a top priority
For more info ,please visit: www.kidsarepriorityone.org. Education and Early Education EARLY EDUCATION-Educational research suggests that brain development in young children -from birth- is essential for creating successful students and lifelong learners. I will advocate strongly to support both public and private efforts at making early education services and support available to all Vermont children. And, let's not forget ,here in Vermont, that our current governor refused to sign a bill for an early education initiative that the Democratic legislature passed...at the same time he was having a photo-op at a new child care facility in Brattleboro , purporting to be a supporter of early ed.
Developmental Asset Initiative- Educating our children and building communities. In 1995 the Vt. Dept. of Education began disseminating the work of the Search Institute regarding Developmental Assets. (see www.search-institute.org ) Based on resiliency theory, their research into one million American youth showed these 40 assets were indicators of success for our youth and communities. In 2004,I was part of the Agency of Human Services -Alliance for Building Community, Developmental Assets Initiative Committee that began work to share these ideas and their practice with a wider range of community. I would like to continue this work and help existing practitioners expand even further. |