Make your voice heard! Urge your federal and state lawmakers, county and city commissioners, school board members, and other elected officials to advance public policies that support the health, early learning, and development of our community’s children. It will take the private and public sectors working together to sustain a network of support services for young children and their families in Kent County.
Here is a sample letter to a state legislator. (It is merely an example and has not been sent to any elected official.)
Dear Representative,
“Invest in the very young.” It’s the advice of economists, and I believe it is good advice for the state of Michigan. As a public servant representing Kent County, I know you are deeply committed to making sure all children are prepared to be successful in school and beyond.
Given Michigan’s economic challenges, you have to make difficult decisions to ensure our limited public resources are being used efficiently and effectively. As you make those decisions, I hope you will consider the significant benefits that come from investing in early childhood initiatives.
Studies have shown quality early childhood programs can lead to a return of as much as $17 for every $1 invested, with a more typical return of between $3-7. Little else gives us that much bang for our buck! Quality services that intervene in the first few years of a child’s life can actually save money in areas such as remedial education, law enforcement and welfare services. Michigan’s escalating prison costs are an enormous burden to taxpayers; early childhood initiatives can ultimately reduce that expense.
Science has taught us a great deal about the importance of the earliest years of a child’s life. The brain is not fully developed at birth, and the first few years are critical. This is when children learn how to think, solve problems, cope with stress, be creative and communicate. The experiences children have long before they start kindergarten can have a profound impact on how successful they will be in school, and ultimately, as adults.
As a key decision-maker in Michigan, I encourage you to learn more about early childhood brain development and the return on investment when communities commit their resources to our youngest children. I believe this is one of our best strategies to strengthen our future workforce, break the cycle of poverty and secure our community’s economic prosperity.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
Street Address
City, State Zip
Phone Number
Click here for the Early Childhood Investment Corporation Policy Center. It includes more information about advocacy for specific early childhood issues.
Here is information to help you contact your elected officials.
Federal Level
U.S. Senator Carl Levin
senator@levin.senate.gov
269 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6221
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
senator@stabenow.senate.gov
133 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4822
U.S. Representative Vern Ehlers
http://www.house.gov/Ehlers
Gerald R. Ford Federal Building
110 Michigan St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
451-8383
U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra
TellHoek@mail.house.gov
184 S. River Avenue
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 395-0030
State Level
Governor Jennifer Granholm
http://www.michigan.gov
State Capitol
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-3400
Senator Bill Hardiman
29th District
SenBHardiman@senate.michigan.gov
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
(517) 373-1801
Senator Mark Jansen
28th District
SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
(517) 373-0797
Representative Dave Agema
74th District
DaveAgema@house.mi.gov
N-1093 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
(517) 373-8900
Representative Justin Amash
72nd District
JustinAmash@house.mi.gov
N-1091 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
(517) 373-0840
Representative Robert Dean
75th District
RobertDean@house.mi.gov
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
(517) 373-2668
Representative Kevin Green
77th District
KevinGreen@house.mi.gov
N-1096 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
(517) 373-2277
Representative Dave Hildenbrand
86th District
RepHildenbrand@house.mi.gov
141 Capitol Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
(517) 373-0846
Representative Tom Pearce
73rd District
TomPearce@house.mi.gov
N-1092 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
(517) 373-0218
Representative Roy Schmidt
76th District
RoySchmidt@house.mi.gov
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
(517) 373-0822
Click here for contact information for Kent County Commissioners.
Click here for contact information for Grand Rapids City Commissioners.