"I am your child" -- Early childhood public engagement campaign

"I Am Your Child," an unprecedented early childhood public engagement campaign, will be officially launched in Washington, D.C. on April 16, 1997. Read information from the press release below.

Campaign Chair Rob Reiner will be joined by elected officials, corporate and foundation representatives and leaders in health, science and early childhood development to bring public attention to the importance of the first few years of life. Reiner and other Campaign leaders will then participate in the White House Conference on Early Childhood Development on April 17.

The goals of the campaign are:

• to increase public awareness about the importance of the first three years of life;
• unite and expand the work being done on the national, state and local levels to improve services for young children and their families; and
• to provide families with young children the information, resources and services they need.

National media events

• Hour-Long ABC Prime Time Special -- Produced by Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, the special will air on ABC on April 28, 8pm ET (see local listings to confirm time) and will feature music, comedy and a documentary about a community that has mobilized on behalf of young children. The program, hosted by Tom Hanks, will star Billy Crystal, Rosie O’Donnell, and more.
• A World Wide Web Site is facilitating widespread communication about campaign activities, enabling campaign leaders to find colleagues in their geographic areas and to share ideas with each other.
• Newsweek Special Edition -- This special edition will be published to coincide with the airing of the prime-time special and will be a status report on young children and their families.
• A Parent Booklet -- The First Years Last Forever, funded by AT&T. The booklet will include tips on how families can promote young children’s healthy development. The booklet will be available free of charge, by calling 1-800-447-3400.
• PSAs -- The Ad Council is distributing a series of print and electronic PSAs focusing on the importance of family involvement in early childhood development.
• Video for New Parents -- This video will be sent to birthing hospitals, schools, libraries and child care centers throughout the country, and will be available for free to parents and other caregivers (only a $5.00 fee for shipping and handling will be charged).
• CD-ROM -- Funded by IBM, the CD-ROM will address, among other things, questions parents have about their children, beginning in the prenatal period and extending through the first three years of life.

National, State & Community Action

• Coalitions in all 50 states are forming partnerships to strengthen programs and policies around early childhood development.
• National organizations are using newsletters, journals, and other communications vehicles to publicize the Campaign and inform members about early childhood development.
• The Campaign is stimulating bipartisan dialogue about federal, state and local policies concerning health care, parenting and early childhood development.
• The National Governor’s Association has formed a bipartisan task force of governors that will study federal and state policy options to strengthen programs and supports for families with young children.
• The National Conference of State Legislatures is developing a leadership group of state legislators who will promote legislative action around the healthy development of young children.
• The Rand Corporation is conducting research on the long-term economic benefits of various childhood development policies.

For more information, visit the campaign web site at www.iamyourchild.org.