Hope you all are making calls! Here is the text of the speaking exercise from Saturday’s conference call. For an abridged version, see our laser talk: http://www.results.org/take_action/february_2011_u.s._poverty_laser_talk/
Aide: (phone ringing): Office of Senator Carter
Hello, this is Meredith Dodson and I’m calling from Westford here in the district. Can I speak to the aide who handles appropriations for Head Start and child care?
Aide: Actually, that’s under my purview – my name is Jos Linn.
Hi Jos. As I mentioned, my name is Meredith and I am a volunteer with RESULTS. We are a grassroots organization with an active chapter here in Westford. Our mission is to create the will to end poverty here in America, and we support investments in early childhood programs to support low-income families to work and break the cycle of poverty. How familiar are you with early childhood programs?
Aide: Actually, I’m new to these issues and have a lot to learn.
Unlike K-12 education, the federal government plays a primary role in funding programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Here’s a basic description of the key programs:
1. Head Start is a federally funded preschool program that provides comprehensive services to low-income children and their parents
2. Early Head Start is a child development program for pregnant women and low-income families with infants and toddlers
3. The Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) provides child care assistance to low-income families and provides critical funds to states to help them improve the quality of child care.
And, it’s a real success story – over the past few years thousands of jobs were created when 7000 Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms opened. And, 200,000 low-income children received child care services, allowing their parents to work or go to school.
Right now, we face a double whammy: 300,000 children and their families will no longer have access to quality, affordable programs unless Congress continues funding programs that got a boost in the recovery bill; meanwhile, many in Congress are pushing for even deeper cuts to domestic spending this year and beyond.
Aide: Well, the senator is very concerned about the deficit and we think we need to look at scaling back our spending.
I share your concern about the debt, but let me tell you why I and many others back here in the state think Congress should prioritize these programs. Early childhood services like Head Start and child care are not only critical to helping at-risk kids get the foundation they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond, they also empower parents to foster this growth and development long after their children leave the program. And we as a society benefit through reduced need for special education and remediation, better health outcomes, reduced need for social services, lower criminal justice costs, and increased self-sufficiency and productivity among families. So it makes sense for us as a society in the long run. And it’s important for jobs here locally – if Congress cuts this funding, thousands of employees will lose jobs and working families will struggle to stay employed and contribute to their local economies.
Will you ask your boss to speak to Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Harkin and Ranking Senator Shelby and urge them to allocate the necessary funding for Head Start, Early Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant in FY 2011 and 2012 to sustain current service levels?
Aide: Okay, I’ll talk to her about that. But, here’s a question for you – I’ve heard that the impact of these programs fades out over time. What do you know about that?
Head Start programs have strict standards and are evaluated regularly. But, the key to these programs is quality – and that means well-trained teachers in the classroom. In many parts of the country, these programs do not pay teachers much and therefore have a hard time keeping quality staff. But if want teachers to get college degrees and specialized training in early childhood, we must pay them adequately. This means we can’t keep on cutting funding.
Aide: That makes sense, I suppose. I’ll talk to the senator about this.
Given that the House is voting on spending cuts next week and the Senate will move on a bill shortly, can you talk to her in the next few days?
Aide: Yes, we meet on Tuesday mornings and I’ll put it on the agenda.
Great. What’s the best way to follow up with you?
Aide: Here’s my phone number, but the best way to reach me is via email at jos_linn@carter.senate.gov. If you don’t hear back from me next Tuesday afternoon, drop me an email.
Thanks, will do. I’ll be in DC in June and I look forward to meeting you in person then. Have a great day.
