2011 PA Early Childhood Public Policy Forum 

Sunday, March 13

4:00 – 4:30 Registration  

Join us for a Meet and Greet with cash bar

 4:30 – 5:30

Continued Networking and Dinner

5:30 – 6:30                          

Keynote Presentation – The State of Early Childhood in our Nation

                Harriet Dichter – National Director, First Five Years Fund  

6:30 - 6:50

Voice for Children Award Presentation

Monday, March 14

7:30 – 8:15 Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:15 – 8:30 Welcome and Forum overview

Morning Leadership Sessions 8:30 – 11:45

8:30 – 10:00

1. Beginning to Build a Relationship with Your Legislator

Martha Isler - Director of Public Policy, Pittsburgh AEYC

Take your legislator on an Educational "Early Learning" Tour.   What is the best way to explain to your legislator how his/her support translates to improving your program for children and families served in the legislator's district?  Are you registered, have a certificate of compliance, are you a STARs program, do you participate in TEACH, do you serve subsidized families, does Pre-K fund your children, do you have a Head Start Grant, do you include children with disabilities?  If you receive these state supports - your legislator needs to understand how you are impacted - and what better way than to teach as the legislator sees? 

2. Engaging School Boards in Early Care and Education

 Tracy Weaver - Outreach Coordinator, Pennsylvania AEYC

Larry Roberts - Outreach Coordinator, Pennsylvania AEYC

Take the next step in advocacy and learn how to increase investment in early education by engaging your local school board members, educating them about programs in your community and providing them with leadership opportunities that support early education.

3. Building Early Care and Education Leaders in Your Local Community

Pamela Haines - Public Policy Director, Delaware Valley AEYC

Discuss the strengths and challenges of working within your local community and how to get others interested and involved.  What does it take to identify potential leaders?  How can you make sure you are effectively welcoming others and encouraging their participation?  Learn why local leadership is critical to maintaining our state-wide gains and how you can help others make a difference. 

10:15 – 11:45

1. Your Local Media as an Advocacy Tool

David Pribish - Communications Director, Pittsburgh AEYC

What’s the best way to learn effective media communication?  Talk to a former journalist! This session will  focus on dealing with newspapers, radio, TV with an emphasis on How to write a press release; letter to the editor and how to produce an Op-Ed piece to showcase your issue.

 2. Federal Early Care and Education Issues – Why Do They Matter to You

Terry Casey - President, Pennsylvania Child Care Association

Mary Beth Salomone Testa – Policy Director, Early Childhood Education Consortium

In this session participants will gain an understanding of what is happening at the federal level around early care and education and how the federal funding impacts what happens in our state.  Find out what the national advocate organizations have to say about progress with our issue at the national level and what we can do to get involved to make a difference. 

3. Connecting with Colleges and Universities - ECE Students as Partners

 LouAnn Bonnett, PhD. – Associate Professor, Clarion University of Pennsylvania

In this session you will have the opportunity to learn how to engage early care and education students in advocacy through their college or university.  Find out how this potential partnership can build your voice in your local community and also strengthen your volunteer base.  Discuss how to connect with individual students and program faculty. 

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch and Keynote – What the Governor’s Proposed Budget Means to You

                Colleen Kopp - Vice President, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

Colleen Kopp joined Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children in Jan. 2011 as Vice President. Kopp, secretary of legislative affairs under former Gov. Ed Rendell, is leading PPC's government relations efforts.  As a member of Rendell's staff, Kopp was involved in the development and negotiation of key elements of the former governor's agenda, including increased funding for public education, passage of "Cover All Kids" which expanded CHIP for all children in Pennsylvania, and enhancements to the PACE program providing prescription assistance to older adults.

Prior to being named secretary of legislative affairs, Kopp served as deputy secretary for legislative affairs for four years and also held senior roles in the House of Representatives including as executive director and chief of staff to the Democratic Whip.

Kopp is a graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she currently serves as a member of the university's board of trustees.

Afternoon Leadership Sessions 1:15 – 4:30

1:15 – 2:45

1. Advocating in difficult times

Terry Casey - President, Pennsylvania Child Care Association

Mary Beth Salomone Testa – Policy Director, Early Childhood Education Consortium

Despite its track record of being a sound investment with proven cost-savings in later years, and despite the clear connection between reliable child care and parents’ ability to go to work, early care and education is an area consistently threatened with budget cuts. This workshop will discuss organizing strategies that make a difference in these difficult times, and ways to work together this year in Pennsylvania. 

2. Inside the Administration – Political Processes

 Colleen Kopp - Vice President, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

Have you ever wondered about the political process inside the administration?  How do decisions get made and who is involved?  What is effective advocacy from the eyes of administration staff?  Learn the answer to these questions and more from the former Governor’s secretary of legislative affairs.

3. Social Media – the Future of Advocacy

Melissa Grimm - President & Founder Gramercy Group, LLC

Today we are able to expand the reach of our efforts by exponential numbers never dreamed of years ago due to social media.  But how do you decide what is most effective and worthy of your time?  How can you use the internet to build and strengthen your advocacy and leadership development?

3:00 – 4:30

1. Conversation with a Lobbyist: Long Term Relationship Building

                Jill McCormack- Associate, Malady & Wooten LLP

You've sent letters to your legislators. You've participated in Action Day. You may have even invited your legislators to your program, but what else you can do to engage and build your relationship with your legislators? What are your next steps?  Share your questions and challenges with an experienced lobbyist who will help you identify effective strategies for developing and building your relationship with legislators.

2. Action Day Overview – How to Make the Most of Your Day at the Capitol

Michelle Figlar – Executive Director, Pittsburgh AEYC

Is this your first Action Day adventure?  Do you have questions about the Capitol, the legislative visit, follow-up or what we are here to do?  This is session to get all your logistical, technical, practical and procedural questions answered.  You will leave with the confidence of a veteran participant and be able to make full use of your time on your legislative visit and within the halls of the Capitol. 

3. Increasing the Size of the Budget Pie

Christie Balka - Director of Child Care and Budget Policy, Public Citizens for Children and Youth
 
Like most states Pennsylvania is not expected to recover from the recession for another two years. In the meantime, programs that support children, youth and families are vulnerable to budget cuts.  Many children who are enrolled in the state’s early childhood education programs also rely on Medicaid, CHIP, full day kindergarten and other programs that support the development of healthy, well-rounded children.  In a difficult budget environment how can we avoid a “zero-sum” approach to the state budget advocacy, in which gains for some programs result in losses for others? This workshop will discuss current proposals to increase state revenue and effective strategies for communicating with state legislators about these.

3:00 – 5:30

Special Session for Action Day Regional Coordinators including Dinner

Nathalie Borozny – Vice President Public Policy, Pennsylvania AEYC Board of Directors

Jodi Askins - Executive Director, Pennsylvania AEYC

Pamela Haines - Public Policy Director, Delaware Valley AEYC