Newsletter
January 3, 2007

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January 9: 'Bringing Safety Back to Youth in 2007'
Youth safety will be the theme of the next regular meeting of the Commission on Children, set for 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, January 9, in Room 1-C of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Watch the Commission website for details.  Directions to the LOB

January 11: Family Support Council meeting
The Council, a state panel that works on issues concerning children with disabilities, will hold its next monthly meeting from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, January 11, in Room 1-B of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Directions to the LOB

January 18: Infant/Toddler Workgroup meeting
The Commission will hold a briefing on state policy toward infants and toddlers on Thursday, January 18, from 10 a.m. to noon, in Room 1-B of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Directions to the LOB

Recent Events

Nearly 300 grandparents attend COC-sponsored forum
Many Connecticut children live in households headed by grandparents -- who hardly find it easier the second time around. To assist them, the Commission on Children, in partnership with AARP Connecticut, and Generations United, hosted a conference where experts offered useful information on everything from subsidized guardianship to child health. Grandparents from throughout the state converged on the Legislative Office Building in Hartford for the event. Visit our website for details and photos

First Words, First Steps
What policies should Connecticut follow to promote the health and education of infants and toddlers? The Commission and the state Department of Social Services (DSS) have sought to answer that by issuing a draft document entitled, "First Words, First Steps: The Importance of the Early Years." To coincide with that, the state's Early Childhood Education Cabinet held a forum on infants and toddlers on November 15.
Read all about it on our website

Visit 'Healthyville'
Parents and kids alike can learn about nutrition, fitness, hygiene, and safety at the "Healthyville" exhibit of the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. The Commission has authored a pamphlet for the exhibit, entitled, "Healthy Children, Healthy Communities." It explains what state government has done in recent years to promote children’s health, safety, and learning.

"When schools, families, and communities work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more." That's one of the findings in a report from the National Center for Family & Community Connections with Schools, at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL).

The 241-page report, "A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement," may be downloaded for free in PDF format or purchased in book form via the SEDL website.

The National Education Association, which represents teachers and other education professionals, has highlighted the findings on its website.
 

Heard Our PSA Yet?
If you haven't heard our public service announcement on childhood obesity, listen to it on the home page of our website: www.cga.ct.gov/coc. Produced in partnership with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, it features three mayors -- Eddie Perez of Hartford, Betsy Paterson of Mansfield, and Jim Richetelli of Milford -- who list ways families can "get moving!" Mayor Perez narrates a Spanish-language version. 

Created in 1985 by the Connecticut General Assembly, the 25-member Commission on Children brings together the three branches of government--legislative, executive, and judicial--as well as the private sector to promote public policies in the best interests of children. More

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