Vancouver, Wash. – People interested in ensuring the best start for every Clark County child are encouraged to attend four community cafés this winter and spring. Each event includes the screening of an episode from the documentary, The Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of Our Nation, followed by a community discussion.

“We hope these events will spur conversation and collective problem solving for our community,” said Cyndie Meyer, program manager. “People may not agree with everything in the film, but by sharing ideas and working together, we can make our community a healthier place for children.”

The community cafés will be 4-6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of January through April. All cafés will be at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 N.E. 136th Ave., where DVDs of the film are available. 

The documentary’s episodes, described at www.raisingofamerica.org/, are:

• Once Upon A Time: Imagine how things might be different if, for the past four decades, all children in the U.S. had access to high-quality early care and education. (Jan. 26)
• Are We Crazy About Our Kids? Investing in high-quality early care and education pays for itself in many ways and many times over. What is holding us back? (Feb. 23)
• Wounded Places - Confronting Childhood PTSD in America’s Shell-Shocked Cities: Too many children, especially children in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty, experience adversity, violence, neglect and other forms of trauma and show symptoms similar to PTSD. (March 23)
• DNA Is Not Destiny - How the Outside Gets Under the Skin: New scientific discoveries reveal how fetal and early childhood environments ‒ chemical, family, economic ‒ literally become part of us. (April 27)

The events are sponsored by the ACEs Action Alliance, Clark County Public Health, Community Foundation of Southwest Washington, Educational Service District 112, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District and Support for Early Learning and Families.

CONTACT
Cyndie Meyer
Chronic Disease Prevention program manager
Public Health
360.397.8000 ext. 7305
cyndie.meyer@clark.wa.gov