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Congress on Children
Wednesday, September 21, 2007
University of the Incarnate Word
SKYROOM
International Conference Center

Program

Check-in
8:00 to 8:30 am

Cam Messina
Executive Director, VOICES FOR CHILDREN

Megan Kromer, Program Director
Precious Minds, New Connections

Palmer Moe
Executive Director, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation

Child Abuse & Neglect:
Janet Ketcham, Executive Director
Child Advocates San Antonio and
Co-chair Abuse & Neglect Task Force

Melissa Tijerina, External Relations Specialist
Texas Department of Family & Protective Services
Presentation

Kendra Sippel, Policy Analyst
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Nurse-Family Partnership
Presentation

Senator Carlos Uresti
Texas Senate District 19

Early Care & Education
Tammy Morales-Bernal, Director-Child Development Program
Good Samaritan Community Services
and co-chair of the Early Care & Education Task Force with
Jensie Madden

Rebecca Ramos, TEEM Program Coordinator -- San Antonio
UT Health Science Center -- Houston -- CIRCLE
Presentation

Rep. Joe Straus
Texas House of Representatives, District 121

Dr. Bryan Alsip, Assistant Director -- Metropolitan Health District
City of San Antonio
Presentation

Nicole Rogers, Executive Director
Bexar County Community Health Collaborative

Break

George Hernandez, President/CEO -- University Health System
University Health System
Presentation

Pilar Oates, Executive Director -- Methodist Healthcare Ministries
Presentation

Rep. Robert Puente, Texas House of Representatives, District 119

Rev. Ted White
Protestant Chaplain -- Bexar County Detention Center

Lunch

Child Advocacy Awards to Bexar County Delegates
Toni-Marie Van Buren, Director of Public Policy
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County

District 116     Adam Corral, Legislative Aide for Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer
District 117     Rep. David Leibowitz
District 118     Rep. Joe Farias
District 119     Rep. Robert Puente
District 120     Marge Reyna, District Office manager for Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon
District 121     Rep. Joe Straus
District 123     Rep. Mike Villarreal
District 125     Rep. Joaquin Castro
District 19       Senator Carlos Uresti
District 25       Jenee Gonzales-Garza, Deputy Legislative Director for Senator Leticia Van de Putte

Keynote Address
Dr. Cheryl Charles

Moderator,
Megan Kromer

Panelists
Siri Lindholm, Education Director
San Antonio Botanical Garden
Presentation

Lupita Castrejon, Education Director
San Antonio Children's Museum
Presentation

George Shannon, Director of Public Programs
Witte Museum
Presentation

Lacy Morrison, Nature Spot Supervisor
San Antonio Zoo & Aquarium
Presentation

Kim Bowers, Vice President  -- Valero Energy Corporation and
United Way Children's Issue Council Chair
Born Learning Trail

Door Prize Drawings

Speaker
George Block
VOICES FOR CHILDREN Board Chair

Go Forth and Raise your Voice for Children

City Budget Hearing Update

Well-over twenty child advocates attended the City Council Budget Hearing on September 3^rd.  Many spoke and many others stood in their support.  Our message was clear:  invest in young children for the greatest return; and the professional development of our early childhood teachers is the best way to ensure a smart start!

The high point of the evening was a presentation to council members of decorated flower pots that carried information about the number of children, child care centers and child care teachers in their district!  Children from centers in each district presented the gifts!  We snapped a few photos, follow link to catch those kids’ smiles!