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| Just some of the many initiatives undertaken by
the Commission on Children since its founding in 1985 |
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The Children’s Stock Portfolio
The Commission analyzes children’s policies and writes a
Children’s Stock Portfolio highlighting state prevention
programs and policies that produce a substantial return on
investment and excellent child outcomes.
Learn more |
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Plan for Kids with Coach Calhoun
The Commission partners with Coach Jim Calhoun on the
Playbook for Prevention: The Winning Gameplan for Kids and
Connecticut. Focused on prevention. The Playbook is a free
“best seller,”distributed in the thousands.
Learn more |
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Reading – The Key Ingredient
The Commission guides legislation to create a Reading Panel
which determines the skills and knowledge needed to teach
reading effectively. The Commission brings in $3 million
from Congress to create reading academies. The Commission
works with the National Institute of Child Development and
Haskins Laboratories to create a proven training model for
schools. Learn more |
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Finding Federal Dollars
The Commission locates funding opportunities that brings
federal dollars to Connecticut, including: the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Contingency Fund,
valued at $53 million; the Food Stamp Employment Training (FSET)
50/50 match fund, valued at $2.5
million; and Medicaid payment for home visitation, valued at
$7 million.
Learn more |
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Bring Parents to the Policy Table
The Commission develops a family civics initiative that
teaches parents how to lead for children. The Parent
Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is in 16 cities and
towns and replicated in other states.Graduates invest more
than 1.5 million volunteer hours for children. Parent SEE
(Parent Supporting Education Excellence) is in 9 towns.
Learn more |
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Prevention – A Pound of Cure
The National Crime Prevention Council selects the Commission
to guide Connecticut on prevention policy. Resulting from
this, state leaders seek to shift 10 percent of the state
budget from crisis to prevention. Learn more |
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Trusting Parents as Partners
Connecticut is the first state in the nation to establish a
trust for parent engagement on the community level. Quality
parent engagement is defined to include diversity, proven
leadership training and civic tools. Philanthropy partners
and matches state dollars. Learn more |
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Bring Back the Fathers
The Commission promotes the positive role of the father in
the life of the child. The Commission works to develop a
Fatherhood Initiative funded through Congressional dollars.
Learn more |
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First Words, First Steps
A comprehensive plan is written to ensure that every child
is born in good health, that the family functions and
nurtures its new arrival. Harvard University rates this
infant toddler report
as the most comprehensive and useful of its kind in the
nation.
Learn more |
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Poverty Reduction
The Commission leads on landmark policy to reduce child
poverty by 50 percent
within ten years. A Child Poverty and
Prevention Council is charged with
specific benchmarks and outcome
measures to track progress. Learn more |
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Vaccinate: Your Baby’s Best Shot
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) honors Connecticut
for reaching hard-to-reach children and
for ranking in the top five states in
vaccination rates for 12 consecutive years.
The Commission is credited as a key
innovator in this success, recognized for
outreach to vulnerable populations.
Learn more |
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Move to Health – Child Obesity
The Commission educates on the costs of
obesity, coordinates information among
ten state agencies, and connects school
and health leaders to obesity prevention
strategies that work. Forums yield policy
and recommendations for communities
and the state. Learn more |
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Get the Lead Out
The Commission supports legislation to
eradicate lead poisoning in children and
assist property owners to remediate lead
hazards. New laws include: universal
screening for elevated blood levels in
one- and two-year-olds; and lead standards
in children’s toys. Learn more |
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School Readiness
The Commission creates an early
childhood plan and template for school
readiness law. The school readiness law is
a comprehensive system of preschool for
three- and four-year-olds with quality
standards, community councils, pooled
cross-agency funds, financing for building
expansion, provider accreditation and
regional training. Learn more |
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Safety and Learning
The Commission leads on anti-bullying
strategies to ensure every child learns
without fear. Model programs are started
and dollars raised to match state
investments in safe schools. An after
school network is established to ensure
learning and safety in non-school hours.
Disney and Mott foundations partner on
this effort.
Learn more |
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Homeland Security and Children
The Commission works with children on
9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, making
Connecticut the only state to involve
children annually in issues concerning
natural and unnatural disasters. Landmark
legislation is written to ensure that
disaster plans include planning for
children. A committee on children and
crisis within Connecticut’s Homeland
Security Office is established.
Learn more |
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Recognition and Honors
- The Commission receives the Innovative
Practices in State Government Award
from the Ford Foundation and Good
Housekeeping, presented in
Washington D.C. by Congress.
- The Commission is asked to serve as
co-chair of Children and Human
Services for National Conference of
State Legislators.
- The Commission serves on the New
England Regional Lead Conference and
is recognized for innovative policy on
lead hazard reduction in housing.
- The Commission serves on the Federal
Department of Education Early
Reading First Panel for implementation
of research based reading instruction.
Social Health Index
The Commission creates the first state
index in the nation looking at social
health. Eleven indicators follow a 30-year
trend line so the public and policy
leaders can see how Connecticut is faring.
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| This page was
last updated:
October 14, 2009 |
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