Advocacy
Priority Issues
2011 FLORIDA CSC LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Moving the Children’s Agenda
Working together to ensure Florida's children are healthy, safe and ready to succeed
Early Childhood Systems of Care - A Proven Investment Strategy
Early childhood systems of care provide a network of comprehensive services and supports that focus on the overall health and developmental needs of young children. These systems ensure optimal outcomes for children by bridging gaps in services. They also contribute to global economic outcomes, including a larger, more qualified workforce, healthier communities, and a thriving consumer market.
Strategies to promote early childhood systems of care include:
PROMOTE the funding of programs and services that are proven to work and increase the potential for children to have the best outcomes.
ENSURE Florida proactively seeks and allocates adequate funding (known as Maintenance of Effort) to draw down all federal funds available to support early childhood programs.
SUPPORT the work of the Children's Movement of Florida, a bipartisan grassroots movement to make children the highest priority in the State of Florida.
INCREASE participation and commitment to the Early Childhood Caucus, a bipartisan effort in the Florida Legislature to address issues related to early childhood.
WORK with state leaders and the Children's Cabinet to pursue a cohesive vision and plan, align public resources and promote increased efficiency and improved service delivery.
SUPPORT development of a Statewide Early Childhood Advisory Council under the auspices of the Children's Cabinet. Ensure that the advisory council's work is coordinated and consolidated with activities of the existing Early Learning Advisory Council.
MONITOR rulemaking activities to ensure appropriate implementation of policies.
MONITOR agency consolidation efforts to ensure programs that support children's health, learning and safety are not negatively impacted.
CRITICAL PRIORITIES
PROTECT FUNDING AND IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD/AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
PRESERVE 2010 levels of funding for early childhood programs: child care, voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK), and home visitation programs serving pregnant women and newborns.
MAINTAIN the base allocation rate for VPK and student ratios so children can be successful and achieve the best outcomes.
ENSURE that funding formulas and policies do not discourage Early Learning Coalitions from serving school age children. ASSURE funds for afterschool programs are maintained.
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED CHILDREN
SEEK opportunities to maximize available matching revenues and reduce the number of uninsured children. SUPPORT retention and cost-effective targeted enrollment efforts in the Florida KidCare program, particularly school-based efforts provided through the sharing of data from the free and reduced lunch program to Florida Healthy Kids and the Department of Children and Families.
OPPOSE EFFORTS TO REDUCE LOCAL REVENUE STREAMS FOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
ENSURE that efforts to reduce revenue streams for local governments and special districts do not negatively impact children, including investments Children's Services Councils make in community-driven systems of care for children and families.
FOCUS ISSUES
QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES
QUALITY CHILD CARE/VOLUNTARY UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN
SUPPORT creation of a coordinated statewide professional development system to ensure early childhood professionals have clear means to improve their knowledge and skills, which results in better outcomes for children.
SUPPORT the use of curricula with proven successful outcomes in early childhood programs.
SUPPORT efforts to adequately assess kindergarten readiness by conducting appropriate assessments rather than year-end pre-K tests.
ENSURE quality improvements in both VPK and school readiness programs so that children can be successful and have the best outcomes.
HEALTHY CHILDREN
SUPPORT universal developmental screenings, assessments, and access to appropriate interventions in early childhood programs, including childcare, pre-K, Head Start, and Early Steps.
ENSURE that Medicaid reform efforts provide appropriate pre-natal care and a medical home for each child. ENSURE all children have access to an annual health (physical and mental) and preventive dental visit.
SUPPORT legislation that requires an approved child restraint device - booster seat plus seat belt - be used for children ages 4-8.
SUPPORT ISSUES
CHILD WELFARE
PREVENT funding reductions for Community Based Care programs, adoption subsidies and child protective services.
ENSURE that children with developmental disabilities in state custody continue to receive priority status for services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
ENSURE that young adults leaving foster care can be successful and have the best outcome through adequate and appropriate Road to Independence program support.
JUVENILE JUSTICE
SUPPORT the revenue-neutral 2008 Blueprint Commission's reform recommendations, particularly those focused on prevention and community-driven solutions.
PRESERVE funding for Juvenile Assessment Centers (JACs) in areas with high need and utilization.
PRESERVE prevention and diversion funding including that for Children in Need of Services/Families in Need of Services (CINS/FINS) and effective girls' programs.
