WASHINGTON, D.C., February 3 --- The nation's governors spoke out for quality programs for infants, young children and their families at their annual winter meeting here, but they avoided asking for federal help in funding such programs.

At a meeting of the Committee on Human Resources of the National Governors' Association, several governors eloquently described their states' efforts to focus on the very young. Gov. Jim Hunt (D-N.C.), for example, presented his state's Smart Start Partnerships as models for public/private efforts designed and implemented at the local level. Similarly, Gov. John Engler (R-MI) said his state's Early On effort encourages agencies and other groups to collaborate at the local level so that once a child or family needs support, they are connected to the whole system of services.

Gov. Roy Romer (D-CO), who speaks out on the importance of early brain stimulation whenever he has an audience these days, insisted that quality prenatal and postnatal and day care programs are essential. But they are costly, he added. He called upon local communities to fill in the gap between "what people can afford and what assures quality" by using all their resources, such as senior citizens and church groups.

While agreeing on the need for quality early childhood support, Gov. Lawton Chiles (D-FL) argued that the public has other priorities, and these are the ones that legislatures pay attention to, such as building prisons. "Unless we can create a strong cadre out there for children, I can't do things," he said. Building coalitions, Hunt emphasized, is the role of governors.

The Committee's agenda sought to link early childhood investments to prevention of criminal behaviors later on. Making that link for them was David Olds, director of the Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health at the University of Colorado. Long-term studies of nurse home visitations to young, single mothers in Elmira, N.Y., and Memphis, Tenn., found substantial benefits, such as reduced child abuse, fewer emergency health visits, fewer subsequent pregnancies, and fewer behavior problems in schools and in the communities.

Some behaviors, however, were not affected by the intensive early care, such as drug abuse. Other interventions and preventions for children not reached by this kind of program are necessary, a point emphasized by Gov. John Kitzhaber (D-OR). While Oregon is focusing heavily on early prevention, it is spending a lot on intervention with older children, he said. Olds added that his research shows that early preventive care is costly, but reduces costs for treatment or incarceration later on.

Governors can directly affect the quality of programs for young children, such as in negotiations over managed care, pointed out Emily Fenichel, associate director of the national center Zero to Three. She praised them for emphasizing the importance of quality in the programs and suggested that they consider four questions when shaping early childhood policies. Are the policies being shaped with the experiences of babies in mind, such as a safe environment and adults who understand child development? Are the right connections being made for a child, such as with a few providers rather than a large bureaucracy? Are the investments sufficient? Like a dose of medicine, she said, a watered-down program doesn't stick with a family and "may really be doing harm." Are services supporting strong relationships, such as positive parenting?

The governors took no policy action in the committee meeting, although early childhood will be on the agenda for the closing plenary session on Tuesday. The committee has recommended changes in the wording of the NGA policy on quality child care. In its recommendations for the 105th Congress, NGA makes no mention of any child- or education-related programs except for workforce development. The child care policy change, the committee report notes, does not require federal funding.

The committee's meeting was a standing-room-only session. However, the early childhood discussion preceded an issue that was of greater media interest, the committee's recommendations on changes in the welfare law. It adopted a statement that said an "equitable solution" could be achieved to the problems facing states over the loss of aid for legal immigrants "without opening the statute." Legislation may be needed, however, to address the issue of disabled/aged immigrants now receiving supplemental aid.