First Focus book launch: “Big Ideas for Children”

First Focus is pleased to invite you to the official advocates’ launch of our new publication, Big Ideas for Children: Investing in Our Nation’s Future. In recent years, children have been an afterthought in federal policymaking rather than the priority. As we elect a new Congress and a new president, First Focus has solicited large-scale policy proposals from leading and emerging thought leaders in an effort to find the next big idea that will exponentially improve the lives of children in America. At breakfast, a panel of contributing authors will join us to discuss their big ideas. Speakers will include authors Isabel V. Sawhill, Sara Rosenbaum, Jared Bernstein and Mark Greenberg. Additional authors will be announced as confirmed. WHEN: Tuesday, October 21 at 10:00am WHERE: First Focus, 1110 Vermont Ave. Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 RSVP: Email events@firstfocus.net by Friday, October 17 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Katie Peters with any questions at 202.657.0685 or katiep@firstfocus.net THE NEED FOR BIG IDEAS As a nation we are standing at a critical juncture. The recent turnover in Congress and the upcoming presidential and congressional elections present a critical opportunity to bring forth a new series of big ideas on public policies designed to improve the lives of children in the United States. History has shown that significant achievements in federal policy for children typically happen in the first year after a president is elected. But this year, we have seen no “big ideas” for children during this campaign season. In fact, children are noticeably absent from the current political and policy dialogue. First Focus believes now is an opportune time to raise the visibility of children and youth on the national policy front, address challenges, generate solutions, and formulate big ideas to respond to the needs of our children. THE PUBLICATION As we elect a new Congress and a new president, First Focus has solicited large-scale policy proposals from leading and emerging thought leaders in an effort to find the next big idea that will exponentially improve the prospects of children in America. First Focus has commissioned Big Ideas for Children: Investing in Our Nation’s Futureto illustrate the universal recognition among thought leaders that children are not a major priority at the federal level, and that creative solutions are needed to once again increase the federal investment in children. The proposals included in this book encompass various issue areas, including poverty, child health, early childhood, education, home and community, child welfare, and child safety.