First Things First News

VOTE NO!

Proposition 302

Ballot to eliminate First Things First.

FTF recognized the state’s dire financial position and have offered to help. In December 2009, FTF proposed a fund transfer to the Governor and legislative leaders. The only condition: that the monies have to be paid back. The Governor accepted this fund transfer concept and included it in her budget plan.

Legislative leaders, however, rejected the fund transfer offer. Instead, they passed a measure to ask voters to eliminate FTF, sweep all FTF funds set aside for early childhood education and health, and let the Legislature decide what to do with the money. In other words, scrap FTF and our mission but keep the tax for their own purposes. The First Things First statewide Board has voted to formally oppose this action.

We understand several lawmakers are willing to reconsider this action and accept the fund transfer offer – which is $300 million, to be paid back by 2017 – with NO interest. The terms of the fund transfer would be specified in an alternative ballot measure that would go to the voters in November.

If an agreement on a fund transfer cannot be reached, the existing measure to eliminate FTF will be on the November ballot. We are confident voters will overwhelmingly reject this attempt to take money from our children, but it would be unfortunate if we had to waste time and resources to mount a campaign in order to keep the early childhood investment voters already authorized, especially when a viable alternative is available.

Please visit the website Saving First Things First to find out what you can do to help.

Click here to read ACCA’s argument “Against” Prop 302 that was sent to the Secretary of State.

What First Things First Does:

First Things First exists solely to improve the lives of children birth through age five; in order to ensure their readiness for school and support their families in preparing them for a lifetime of success and wellbeing.

First Things First continually seeks new innovative activities and approaches in pursuit of achieving the goals set out by statute, which are also 6 areas that have significant impact on young children.

Those goals and impact areas are:

•Quality early care and education

•Access to those those quality programs, as well as health providers,

•Early health and screenings

•Parent and family information and support

•Professional development of early care and education providers

•Coordination, documentation and evaluation of early childhood programs and services

•Informing the public about the importance of early childhood to establish and reflect a culture of quality that is accountable to young children and their families.

CLICK HERE to visit their website, then find your regional council and get involved!!

Here are some Additional First things First Programs!