News

Dear Advocates:
As of this writing, the budget has a shortfall of at least $500 million. Among the items on the table is consideration of suspending of all or some of the state's tax exemptions and tax credits. The House of Representatives has proposed a deficit reduction plan that would specifically cut the School Readiness Tax Credits.  
 
Please call your member of the House of Representatives now and URGE HIM OR HER to keep the School Readiness Tax Credits intact.

Please take these action steps TODAY:
 
1) Call Your Representative by Calling the House Switchboard TODAY at 225 342-6945 (talking points below). You will need to know who your Representative is - click to find out who represents you. 

2) AND Contact your state representatives at their local offices TODAY.  If you need the number for your district office, go to: http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/FindMyLegislators.aspx

3) AND Email your representatives TODAY
 
Below are some talking points:

• Please preserve the  School Readiness Tax Credits, which are cut in the House deficit reduction plan.
• The $12.5 million in Tax Credits actually generate funding for the state because they are used to draw down over $20 million in federal funds under the Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant.
• The School Readiness Tax Credits are an extremely effective program that benefit families, teachers, providers and small businesses.  The School Readiness Tax Credits encourage and support higher quality early childhood education in our state.

 
See below for a sample email to send to your representative TODAY.

Dear Representative:
Please preserve the  School Readiness Tax Credits, which are cut in the House deficit reduction plan.

The $12.5 million in Tax Credits actually generate funding for the state because they are used to draw down over $20 million in federal funds under the Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant.

The School Readiness Tax Credits are an extremely effective program that benefits families, teachers, providers and small businesses, and encourage and support higher quality early childhood education in our state.

Thank you for your support of the School Readiness Tax Credits.

Best,
Melanie 

Melanie Bronfin, J.D.
Director
The Policy Institute
Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families
504-228-0988

Please show your support for Nurse-Family Partnership and join us for our upcoming community events!   Come learn more about how Nurse-Family Partnership improves school readiness, enhances economic development, and reduces juvenile crime in our state.  Join us on a date and location that is convenient to you, and please RSVP to Christy Ross at 504.875.6268.

Monroe Breakfast for Babies
Saturday, April 20, 2013
9:00 am – 11:00 am
West Monroe Convention Center
901 Ridge Ave, West Monroe, LA 71291
318.396.5000
 
Nurse-Family Partnership Meet-and-Greet
Saturday, April 20, 2013
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Good Eats
7803 Youree Drive
Shreveport, LA
318.797.8088
 
Nurse-Family Partnership Cool Down
Saturday, April 27, 2013
9:30 am - 12:00 pm
March of Dimes March for Babies
AZ Young Park – Downtown
755 3rd Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
225.295.0655
 
Lafayette Breakfast for Babies
Saturday, May 4, 2013
9:00 am - 11 am
Holiday Inn Lafayette
2032 NE Evangeline Thruway
Lafayette, LA 70501
337.408.2810

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation has opened nominations for the 2013 Angel Award.

The deadline to nominate an individual who has done extraordinary volunteer work on behalf of Louisiana kids is April 5, 2013. 

Winning nominees receive $20,000 plus great promotion in support of their work.

A summary of the Parenting Educators on the LAPEN Registry and the curriculums/models used has recently been released by the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families. 

The Louisiana Parenting Registry Report includes the narrative report and additional information:
•Data - Tables and Graphs
•Map - Locations of Parenting Educators
•Curriculum and Models

Click to view the report and additional supporting documents.

The Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families' Policy Institute has released an email blast that includes a survey for stakeholders. Click to access the e-news.  

The Louisiana Legislative Summary Report is complete. Please review for an up-to-date listing of actions that may have an impact children and families. To view the emailed message, click here.