8th Annual Young Children's Issues Forum 2012
Speak Out for Children: Educate and Advocate

A forum for discussion among State Legislators, local elected officials and the community regarding current children's issues.

Our 8th annual forum is free and open to the public. The LPC greatly encourages the
participation of all parents, child care providers, teachers, and students in the county
and other community representatives. Within the last year we have witnessed visible
positive outcomes due largely to our efforts to collaborate and coordinate our work
across the county to respond to critical local needs.

Invited guest speakers include: State Legislators and local elected officials.

When: Saturday, March 24, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Refreshments, resources and information available at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Willow Pass Community Center
2748 East Olivera Road, Concord, CA

Cost: Free

Register Now!!

We invite you to partner with us by becoming a Sponsor and/or a Partner in the Annual Young Children's Issues Forum. If you're interested in collaborating or sponsoring this year's event, please click here.

 

For more information, please call Ruth Fernández at 925-942-3413
Coordinated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education

Young Children's Issues Forum 2012 (PDF)

 

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2011 Young Children's Issues Forum

On Saturday, March 19, 2011, close to 200 teachers, preschool administrators, college faculty, community advocates, and school district administrators attended the 7th Annual Young Children’s Issues Forum, held at Los Medanos College, in Pittsburg, CA.   This year’s Forum was titled, Speak Out for Children.

The Contra Costa Local Planning Council for Child Care and Development (LPC) and the Contra Costa County Office of Education successfully coordinate this annual event with the goal to increase awareness about important California state and local policies that impact the education and well being of young children and underserved families.   The purpose is to promote community conversations and to provide information and resources to the public that inform and promote participation in the policy-making process in California.

This year’s event gathered an impressive list of state and local elected officials. Delaine Eastin, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction, served as the keynote speaker.  Eastin delivered a powerful and motivational opening speech, rich with historical data and current policy issues.  “I do believe budgets are a statement of values…,” said Eastin during her presentation titled: The Sad State of Our State: Where Did California’s Vision, Courage, and Heart Go?   The keynote speech was followed by presentations made by members of a diverse panel of local elected officials and State legislators that included:
 

• Helen Benjamin, Ph.D., Chancellor, Community College District
• Joan Buchanan, Assemblymember, 15th District
• Mark DeSaulnier, Senator, 7th District
• Francis Fortini, Manager of Constituent Services for Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, 14th District
• Federal Glover, County Supervisor, District V
• Karen Mitchoff, County Supervisor, District IV
• Joe Valentine, Director, Employment and Human Services Departments
• Joseph A. Ovick, Ed.D., Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools
• William B. Walker, M.D., Director and Health Officer, Contra Costa Health Services

Panelists spoke about their involvement in the development of policies that impact children and families.  In their own unique style, each panelist provided the audience with tips and recommendations to conduct effective advocacy and to take pro-active steps in policy development.  Dr. Joseph Ovick summarized it well for the audience: “It behooves  us to continue to find those teachable moments for our members of congress so that they can make informed decisions for our children…keep it brief: issue, impact, and resolution.”

Roberta Peck was the moderator for the panel presentation and discussion.  Peck facilitated the conversation between panel members and the audience making sure that the focus remained on children’s issues and the policy making process.  Most recently, she led the California Early Learning Quality Improvement System Advisory Committee as a Consultant with the California Department of Education Child Development Division.

Materials available from this meeting are now posted (below) and downloadable in PDF format:

Event Program

Delaine Eastin’s Keynote Speech

Advocacy Handouts:

Telling Your Story…
How to Give Public Testimony
Tips for Visiting a State Legislator
Writing Letters to Legislators

Event Sponsors

The Local Planning Council for Child Care and Development (LPC) wishes to thank and acknowledge all of our sponsors for their generous contributions and support for our 7th Annual Young Children’s Issues Forum 2011:

Old Fire House Preschool                                        
Cambridge Community Center 
Martinez Early Childhood Center 
YMCA of the East Bay
YWCA of the East Bay 
Concord Child Care Center, Inc. 
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Staples, Pittsburg, CA
Professional Association for Childhood Education (PACE)
Contra Costa Community Services Bureau and Head Start Program
Los Medanos College
El Nuevo Mundo Children’s Center

Additional Sponsors

Doug Rowe
Parent Voices, Contra Costa Chapter
Contra Costa Affiliate of the Association for the Education of Young Children
Child Abuse Prevention Council
Sue Houweling
Contra Costa Child Care Council
Brandman University
Rick Ernst, AdCom Group

Community Partners

CARE Parent Network
First 5 Contra Costa Children and Families Commission
California Child Development Corps/Working 4 Quality Child Care

For more information about the event, contact Ruth Fernandez, LPC Coordinator, at (925) 942-3413.