Policy and Advocacy

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Our Focus

The Policy and Advocacy Working Group, launched in early 2018, brings early childhood supporters together in order to build public goodwill and advocate for policies to improve the region’s early care and education system.

In July 2019 Governor Northam issued an Executive Directive asking state agency leaders to conduct listening sessions, analyze data, collaborate across agencies and develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to address access to, quality of and state governance challenges around early childhood education. The resulting recommendations are now being implemented (see Building a Unified Early Childhood System website). Read more about the 2019 Executive Directive.

 

Check out Voices for Virginia's Children Legislative Advocacy Guide for tips on influencing policymaking.

Working Group Members
Dr. Suzanne Brixey, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters Rosalind Cutchins, Children’s Center, Suffolk Brittany Langley, CHKD, Children's Specialty Group Tina Gill, The Up Center Emily Griffey, Voices for Virginia’s Children Thaler McCormick, ForKids Inc. Brittany Monks, Fortify Children's Health Dr. Lindsay Robbins, EVMS OBGYN, Center For Maternal and Child Health Equity and Advocacy Sara Rothenberg, Eastern Virginia Medical School Diane Umstead, Smart Beginnings Virginia Peninsula Leah Williams-Rumbley, Foodbank of Southern Virginia & Eastern Shore
Contact Beth Parker for more information at ParkerEK@EVMS.EDU