Michigan's Promise Public Policy

Public Policy

June 7, 2007

Dear Community of Promise Partners;

The ConnectMichigan Alliance would like to take this opportunity to first, thank you for all you do for our children and second, provide you some exciting news about our future work together to advance Michigan’s Promise.

Since 1997 and the launch of America’s Promise, you and hundreds of others across Michigan have developed innovative partnerships, programs and resources to support the Five Promises for kids. The ConnectMichigan Alliance has been very proud to host Michigan’s Promise over the last four years as we have worked to bring you information, resources and training opportunities that support your work at the local level. This support has included providing you with the latest information, online tools and guidance on resources.

Most recently, we launched our statewide Red Wagon Awards, thanks to the Consumers Energy Foundation, our exclusive sponsor. The Red Wagon Awards are a way for us to acknowledge the great work being done at the local level to help our children reach their full potential. We hope to continue offering this opportunity on an annual basis and to continue to recognize and support your work.

While we’ve seen progress and growth in Michigan’s Promise, we know there is much more that needs to be done and at an increased level if we are to ensure every child has access to the Five Promises. That is why America’s Promise and Michigan’s Promise are examining how we can best affect the lives of children.

After an extensive examination process America’s Promise has reconfigured its work around advocating and supporting strong public policy that brings the Five Promises to kids. Now, as we look at the evolution of Michigan’s Promise from a local community programming model to one focusing on advocacy and public policy, the ConnectMichigan Alliance is positioning our support of your work to grow in this new arena as well.

Michigan’s Promise / Michigan’s Children

Over the past six months staff of the ConnectMichigan Alliance has been engaged in a dialogue with one of the state’s premiere child advocacy organizations, Michigan’s Children. After a deep examination of mission, goals and priorities, we agreed to combine the advocacy resources of Michigan’s Children with the grassroots networks of Michigan’s Communities of Promise. We see this strategic alliance as an important step in our development work to help identify, understand and support sound public policy.

First Effort / First Focus

Our first effort together in this new collaboration involved seeking financial support of our integration plans. Michigan’s Children and Michigan’s Promise reached out to First Focus, an affiliate of America’s Promise, for grant funds to support our work together. We are proud to announce that we were awarded an 18 month grant of $75,000 to:

Build communication and advocacy tools for local communities
Increase the capacity of the Promise Communities to understand and engage in state and federal advocacy
Provide local training opportunities on advocacy
Recognize local communities that are using advocacy as a tool to impact children at the local level

These resources should help you reach out to leaders and policy makers to address the key issues facing our state’s children. Soon you will be receiving information on the various public policy initiatives we will be focusing on as part of our First Focus grant. They will include:

MI CHILD and SCHIP reauthorization
No Child Left Behind reauthorization
Expand the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Care Credit

Please look for these bulletins and let us know how you can help achieve these goals.

Thank you again for all your efforts to bring the Five Promises to our children. We know you’ll agree that this new and exciting partnership with Michigan’s Children will help us all reach our mutual goals of providing a caring adult, a healthy start, an effective education, a safe place and an opportunity to help others for Michigan’s most valuable resource—our children.

Sincerely,

Kyle Caldwell
President and CEO
ConnectMichigan Alliance

Michigan Public Policy Updates

SCHIP Reauthorization Summit

Michigan's Children and Michigan's Promise are hosting an SCHIP reauthorization summit for those interested in re-engaging in statewide efforts to protect the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Join us on Thursday, July 12 at the Lansing Radisson to learn about the reauthorization process and what it means for Michigan, the political landscape surrounding the reauthorization debate and messaging tools you can use to advocate for the strengthening and expansion of this vital program.

Click here for more information and to register.

MNA Advocacy Action Network

The Advocacy Action Network is the primary tool that MNA utilizes to communicate with membership and the broader nonprofit sector regarding state and federal policy issues impacting Michigan nonprofits.

Michigan's Children E-Bulletins

Michigan's Children would like to help you keep current on the policy and program decisions being made in Lansing that impact children and families. Subscribing to our E-Bulletin will keep you informed on the latest topics and provide you with the opportunity to learn more.



About Michigan's Promise Michigan’s Sites and Communities of Promise 100 Best Communities for Young People Public Policy Red Wagon Awards Resources Promise of Michigan’s Children Contact Us	Public Policy June 7, 2007 Dear Community of Promise Partners; The ConnectMichigan Alliance would like to take this opportunity to first, thank you for all you do for our children and second, provide you some exciting news about our future work together to advance Michigan’s Promise. Since 1997 and the launch of America’s Promise, you and hundreds of others across Michigan have developed innovative partnerships, programs and resources to support the Five Promises for kids. The ConnectMichigan Alliance has been very proud to host Michigan’s Promise over the last four years as we have worked to bring you information, resources and training opportunities that support your work at the local level. This support has included providing you with the latest information, online tools and guidance on resources. Most recently, we launched our statewide Red Wagon Awards, thanks to the Consumers Energy Foundation, our exclusive sponsor. The Red Wagon Awards are a way for us to acknowledge the great work being done at the local level to help our children reach their full potential. We hope to continue offering this opportunity on an annual basis and to continue to recognize and support your work. While we’ve seen progress and growth in Michigan’s Promise, we know there is much more that needs to be done and at an increased level if we are to ensure every child has access to the Five Promises. That is why America’s Promise and Michigan’s Promise are examining how we can best affect the lives of children. After an extensive examination process America’s Promise has reconfigured its work around advocating and supporting strong public policy that brings the Five Promises to kids. Now, as we look at the evolution of Michigan’s Promise from a local community programming model to one focusing on advocacy and public policy, the ConnectMichigan Alliance is positioning our support of your work to grow in this new arena as well. Michigan’s Promise / Michigan’s Children Over the past six months staff of the ConnectMichigan Alliance has been engaged in a dialogue with one of the state’s premiere child advocacy organizations, Michigan’s Children. After a deep examination of mission, goals and priorities, we agreed to combine the advocacy resources of Michigan’s Children with the grassroots networks of Michigan’s Communities of Promise. We see this strategic alliance as an important step in our development work to help identify, understand and support sound public policy. First Effort / First Focus Our first effort together in this new collaboration involved seeking financial support of our integration plans. Michigan’s Children and Michigan’s Promise reached out to First Focus, an affiliate of America’s Promise, for grant funds to support our work together. We are proud to announce that we were awarded an 18 month grant of $75,000 to: Build communication and advocacy tools for local communities Increase the capacity of the Promise Communities to understand and engage in state and federal advocacy Provide local training opportunities on advocacy Recognize local communities that are using advocacy as a tool to impact children at the local level These resources should help you reach out to leaders and policy makers to address the key issues facing our state’s children. Soon you will be receiving information on the various public policy initiatives we will be focusing on as part of our First Focus grant. They will include: MI CHILD and SCHIP reauthorization No Child Left Behind reauthorization Expand the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Care Credit Please look for these bulletins and let us know how you can help achieve these goals. Thank you again for all your efforts to bring the Five Promises to our children. We know you’ll agree that this new and exciting partnership with Michigan’s Children will help us all reach our mutual goals of providing a caring adult, a healthy start, an effective education, a safe place and an opportunity to help others for Michigan’s most valuable resource—our children. Sincerely, Kyle Caldwell President and CEO ConnectMichigan Alliance Michigan Public Policy Updates SCHIP Reauthorization Summit Michigan's Children and Michigan's Promise are hosting an SCHIP reauthorization summit for those interested in re-engaging in statewide efforts to protect the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Join us on Thursday, July 12 at the Lansing Radisson to learn about the reauthorization process and what it means for Michigan, the political landscape surrounding the reauthorization debate and messaging tools you can use to advocate for the strengthening and expansion of this vital program. Click here for more information and to register. MNA Advocacy Action Network The Advocacy Action Network is the primary tool that MNA utilizes to communicate with membership and the broader nonprofit sector regarding state and federal policy issues impacting Michigan nonprofits. Michigan's Children E-Bulletins Michigan's Children would like to help you keep current on the policy and program decisions being made in Lansing that impact children and families. Subscribing to our E-Bulletin will keep you informed on the latest topics and provide you with the opportunity to learn more.
Copyright 2007 by Michigan’s Promise. Address: 1048 Pierpont Suite 3, Lansing MI 48854 Phone: 517-492-2440