Birth Through Eight State Policy Framework Social Media Toolkit

The years from birth through the age of eight are a critical period in development when good and bad experiences set children on a trajectory for their future. Many young children do not get the supports they need to help set them on a strong path for adulthood. However, over the past few decades, researchers and practitioners have identified policies that can help ensure more children are supported during early childhood. The Alliance for Early Success (Alliance) developed the Birth Through Eight State Policy Framework (Framework) based on the latest research to guide state policymakers in implementing better early childhood policies. The Framework outlines “best bet” policies in the areas of health, family support, and learning to improve early childhood outcomes.

This social media toolkit provides Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts to raise awareness about the Framework and these best bet policies. By having unified messages, we can better and more effectively advocate for the needs of young children. Feel free to use these messages as is or use them as a jumping off point with your organization’s communication strategies.

Tweets

General & Cross-cutting Themes Latest @4earlysuccess Framework shows best bet policies to support #Bthru8 children #ece bit.ly/1nwjIDY

What #health, #ece, & #family policies best support #Bthru8 kids? Find out via @4earlysuccess bit.ly/1nwjIDY

#Earlychildhood affects the future. @4earlysuccess shows best #Bthru8 policies bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Need to think abt healthy enviros, prevention, & quality improvement in all policies for young kids bit.ly/1nwjIDY #Bthru8

Health Good #health policies for #Bthru8 kids ensure they’re born & stay healthy & surrounded by healthy adults bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Millions of #Bthru8 kids uninsured. Ensure access to affordable health insurance coverage 4 them & their parents. bit.ly/1nwjIDY

1 | Birth Through Eight State Policy Framework Social Media Toolkit – February 2016 Promote use of #prenatal & #pediatric #healthcare prevention strategies w/ #Bthru8 kids bit.ly/1nwjIDY #mnch

Improve #healthcare quality for #Bthru8 kids by using data to track & improve referral & follow-up services. bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Family Support #Poverty can keep parents from mtg #BThru8 kids’ needs. Family support programs help overcome stressors. bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Sensitivity to families’ cultural & ethnic #diversity increases likelihood of support for program bit.ly/1nwjIDY #Bthru8

Revise eligibility & work requirements 4 families in #poverty and improve continuity of care 4 #BThru8 kids. bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Family support services are critical for families in #poverty b/c they facilitate access to #ece. bit.ly/1nwjIDY #BThru8

Learning #BThru8 #earlyed goals: kids come to #kindergarten w/ skills to meet dev milestones, achieve academically bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Kids who enter #school w/ strong skills tend to excel throughout. Start them off w/ high quality #ece bit.ly/1nwjIDY #Bthru8

~33% #childcare center-based staff leave yearly. Implement strategies to improve benefits 4 #earlyed pros bit.ly/1nwjIDY

#BThru8 is critical 4 developments linked to #schoolreadiness. Expand access to high-quality #ece. bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Facebook Posts Multiple fields work together to support the development of young children. These include the health, family welfare, and education sectors. While each sector focuses on a different aspect of support for young children and their families, three cross- cutting policy areas connect them: fostering healthy environments, focusing on prevention, and promoting accountability and continuous quality improvement. Learn more about each of these policies and the Alliance for Early Success’s updated #Bthru8 policy framework: bit.ly/1nwjIDY

The environments young children are exposed to affect their health, social development, and ability to learn. When we build up safe communities that are accessible to all families and further their social mobility, we lay the foundation for a better future for all #Bthru8 children. Learn more: bit.ly/1nwjIDY Health from #BThru8 has significant cumulative and sustained effects on child and adult outcomes. Ensure access to affordable, physical, oral, and mental health insurance coverage for children and parents. Learn more: bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Family support is continually emphasized as a critical component of integrated early care and education systems that are developed to promote positive child outcomes. Support strategies that foster responsive caregiving and align policies and practices that support stable, economically secure families. Learn more: bit.ly/1nwjIDY

Without early and consistent intervention and support, early disparities can persist. Supporting learning during #bthru8 includes providing access to high-quality early care and education experiences for kids while strengthening the professional development of the early childhood workforce. Learn more: bit.ly/1nwjIDY

3 | Birth Through Eight State Policy Framework Social Media Toolkit – February 2016 Social Media Images Use these images with the posts above to further emphasize the need for strong early childhood policies. You can get downloadable versions by visiting http://earlysuccess.org/our-work/policy-framework.