Evie's Desk: Cities As Partners in Early Childhood ProgramsNovember 21, 2005 |
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Since 2000, First 5 LA has invested more than $800 million in early childhood initiatives for LA County's children and their families. But the need is far greater than our ability to fund programs and services. That's why it's so important to reach out to other policy makers—as we did last week when we sponsored the LA County Children's Planning Council's City Leaders Summit on investing in early childhood development. Many of the elected and appointed officials who govern and make policy for LA County's 88 cities participated in this historic conference. The key message: No one entity can do it alone. Not just the federal government, not just the state or county, not just our schools, and certainly not just community groups or funding organizations alone. We must work together to pool resources and ideas, to create the public will for identifying new ways within our limited means to invest in the best insurance policy around—the future of our children. Experts say the payback is tremendous — 12-16 percent on our investment. What are you earning on your CDs? What return do you receive on your stocks, bonds, or mutual funds these days? There is no wiser, more fiscally prudent investment than that which we make in preparing our society's youngest members for a bright and productive future. First 5 LA is proud to stand with the LA County Children's Planning Council and the many co-sponsors of the City Leaders Summit in solidarity with the city leaders who are making a decisive and long-standing commitment to early childhood development. Evelyn V. Martinez |
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