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Dates
to Watch
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FAN Board Meeting
Children's Board of
Hillsborough
Sept. 16, 2009
Children and Youth Cabinet
Meeting
Kissimmee
Sept. 24-27, 2009
Early Childhood
Conference
Orlando
Oct. 6-7, 2009
FCSC Board of Directors Meeting
CSC of Palm Beach
Oct.
12-14, 2009
Florida Coalition
for Children Annual Conference
Orlando
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Send Me More
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CSCs
strategically invest in primary prevention and early intervention
programs and services.
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TOP STORIES
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$30
Million Public-Private Partnership Commits to Early Childhood Learning
Bucking a national trend of cutbacks in public-private
partnerships, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and the George Kaiser Family
Foundation announced a $30 million commitment to early childhood
learning that will be the first initiative of its kind and serve as a
national model for quality. Henry said the state will use $15 million
of federal education stimulus money and the George Kaiser Family
Foundation agreed to match the amount. The funds will go toward
creating additional early childhood centers in the Tulsa Public Schools
(TPS) that will provide high-quality early care and education for 600
at-risk infant and toddlers. TPS will also allocate $2 million to the
initiative for operating funds. Learn more.
Court Invalidates APD
TIER System
The First District Court of Appeal issued an opinion last
Friday concluding that the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
failed to develop valid rules when it created a TIER system for
delivery of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) to individuals
with developmental disabilities. The Florida legislature had amended
Florida's HCBS waiver statute 393.0661, and directed APD to develop
rules to implement the four-tiered system outlined in the statute. APD responded by
promulgating Rules 65G4.0021, 65G-4.0022, 65G-4.0023, 65G-4.0024 and
65G-4.0025.
As a result of the legislation and agency rules, in
September 2008, thousands of Floridians with developmental disabilities
were informed by APD that they would be moved to a new tier that would
result in a reduction of services. APD delayed the implementation of
the TIER process while legal proceedings were pending. If the
First District had not reversed the administrative order, anyone slated
for a reduction of services would have had their benefits reduced
beginning September 1, 2009.
~ Source: Advocacy
Center for Persons with Disabilities
House Speaker Shakes Up Council and Committee Structure
House Speaker
Larry Cretul reshuffled the leadership deck last week when he announced
a significant restructuring of House Councils and Committees. Many of
the moves represented sweeping changes for the panels that regulate
health care policy and spending in the state. Cretul, an Ocala
Republican, merged two powerful budget-writing committees into one
smaller one headed by Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami. He also eliminated
four committees and reduced the number of lawmakers on each committee.
Specifically, he eliminated the Human Services Appropriations
Committee, and will refer health care and human services bills with a
fiscal impact to the Health Care Appropriations Committee. Cretul also
placed Rep. Denise Grimsley, a Republican from Highlands and registered
nurse, in charge of the Health Care Appropriations Committee, which
oversees the $17-billion Medicaid program. See all council and
committee assignments.
LeMieux Named as Replacement for Martinez's U.S. Senate
Seat
 Gov.
Charlie Crist announced the appointment of George LeMieux to the U.S.
Senate following the early resignation of Sen. Mel Martinez. Lemieux,
who previously served as Chief of Staff to Governor Crist, as well as
Deputy Attorney General, is the current Chairman of Gunster Yoakley, a
full-service law firm based in Ft. Lauderdale. He earned his J.D. cum
laude from Georgetown University Law Center and graduated magna cum
laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University. "These are historic
times in our state and in our nation and the people of Florida deserve
a continuity of representation in Washington right now to protect their
best interests," said LeMieux. "I am honored by Governor
Crist's confidence in my commitment to serve and am honored by the
opportunity to represent this great state." Read the press release.
Governor Signs Compact with Seminole Tribe, Awaits
Legislature's Approval
Gov. Charlie Crist signed
a compact Monday with the Seminole Tribe of Florida worth an estimated
$6.8 billion over 20 years. The compact will allow the tribe to keep
slot machines and blackjack at their South Florida casinos (Broward and
Miami-Dade only). About 97 percent of the money paid to the state would
be used for education, and 3 percent would go to local governments
affected by the casinos. The compact now heads to the Legislature for
ratification. If the Legislature does not sign off, the governor and
tribe will be forced to return to the negotiating table. Crist is expected
to call for a special session in October, but judging from the tribe's
rejection of the Legislature's conditions for the agreement, the
compact may be in jeopardy.
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FEDERAL WATCH
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Biden
Announces $1.2 Billion for Electronic Health Records
Last
Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden announced
nearly $1.2 billion in grants to help the nation's hospitals and
doctors put electronic health records to use. He said the grants will
be funded by the $787 billion economic stimulus plan. Storing patient data
electronically can improve efficiency and prevent medical errors, Biden
said, adding he's tired of being handed paper forms to fill out every
time he goes to the doctor. Read full article in the New York Times.
Children's Advocates
Fear Health Reform Could Undermine CHIP
As Democratic leaders pursue their quest to provide millions of
Americans with health care insurance, some advocates see an unlikely
casualty of reform: youngsters now covered by the Children's Health
Insurance Program whom they fear could end up with reduced benefits. Read article in Kaiser Health News.
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CSC NEWS
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The Children's Board of Hillsborough County (CBHC) voted
unanimously on Aug. 20 to approve funding to help address two areas
slated by the county for reduction or elimination: child care licensing
and afterschool programs. The board vote followed a request by
Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners for the Children's Board to
provide the county $1.9 million to maintain the two programs for fiscal
years 2010 and 2011. The plan approved by the CBHC creates community
collaboration to sustain the local child care licensing effort. It includes recommendations to reduce
operating costs, rely on the Children's Board, Early Learning Coalition
of Hillsborough County and Department of Children and Families for
additional support, and increase licensing fees paid by child care
providers. "This was a great partnership and collaborative effort
among the Early Learning Coalition, the County and the Children's
Board," said Board CEO Luanne Panacek. "It fits perfectly with our
focus to unite, invest and lead." Learn more.
Palm Beach CSC Conference Takes Evidence-Based
Programming to New Level
The Palm Beach CSC will
host the "Expect Success Evidence-Based Programs: Lasting
Impacts" Conference Feb. 25, 2010, at the West Palm Beach Marriott
and Feb. 26, 2010, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Online
registration opens Oct. 7, 2009. The conference will feature
presentations by nationally recognized experts in evidence-based programs
and practices for early childhood, youth development, juvenile justice,
substance abuse, mental health, teen pregnancy and violence prevention.
Keynote speakers include Steve Aos, Jon Baron, Ph.D., Sid Gardner,
Jim Mayer and Delbert S. Elliott, Ph.D. The conference will provide a
clear understanding of what evidence-based means and the skills that
program providers can use to improve their chances of achieving
positive outcomes for their communities. This conference will take
the concept of evidence-based programming to a new level by going
beyond programs and practices - it's about accountability for results,
resources and costs. National experts will describe the
implications - on a national level - about impact on policy, return on
investment, and cost benefits. To learn more, visit www.cscpbc.org/evidence.
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IN OTHER NEWS
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Report Claims Medicaid Reform Saved Money
The University of Florida
analysis of Medicaid Reform concludes that the controversial program
does, indeed, save money. Critics called it
"meaningless" because HMOs have not yet turned
in data on patients' actual encounters with the health care
system. The UF report shows health care spending has decreased in the
two largest Medicaid Reform counties, Broward and Duval. But the
biggest cost savers are not the HMOs, as many expected, but the
"provider-sponsored networks"- managed-care networks
sponsored by hospitals and doctor groups. Read article at Health News
Florida.
Jacksonville, Miami
Nonprofit Communities Launch Campaigns to Stop Cuts to Social Services
The Jacksonville nonprofit
community has launched a new web site, www.IGetItJax.com, to capture responses of support for arts and
social services, as the City Council considers cutting $50 million from
its budget. Social service and cultural groups worry that the cuts
could mean fewer dollars for many programs that provide vital safety-net
services for the poor and underprivileged. Nonprofits also held a joint
news conference outside of Council chambers during a recent Council
meeting, telling the Council to "Stop Taking
Us for Granted". A group of 18 Jacksonville foundations also sent a letter to Council members to explain that private
funders cannot make up for city cuts to nonprofits. Echoing
Jacksonville, Miami's nonprofit Human Services Coalition has launched a
campaign, Penny Wise Miami, aimed at stopping Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos
Alvarez's plans to cut funding for community-based organizations
concerned with social services, the environment and the arts.
~ Source: Florida
Philanthropic Network
Parents Scramble as Ax Falls
on After-School Programs
A recent Wall Street
Journal article says that a critical safety net for working parents
is unraveling, and many are bracing to pay a hefty price. As schools
open their doors this month and next, closings and cutbacks at
thousands of after-school programs nationwide have parents scrambling
to make alternative arrangements. Some are forging new childcare
alliances with neighbors, or turning their work or sleep schedules
upside down to watch their children after school. A growing number will
leave young school children home alone, or in the care of siblings. Read the article.
Fact vs. Fiction:
Explaining Key Issues in Health Reform
A new policy brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation presents the facts in explaining the implications of
the current debate on the nation's health care system. The policy brief
explains three of the key issues currently attracting attention, and
sets the record straight on what is true now for patients, payers and
providers - and what could change under the health reform legislation
being discussed. Topics covered in the brief are: the federal
government's role in financing and delivering care; lowering the rate
of growth in Medicare spending; and advance-care planning for serious
illness.
Read the issue brief. Watch the Webcast.
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Urban
Institute Analyzes How Quality of America's Health Care Compares
Internationally
Recent surveys show that the majority of Americans believe that despite
spotty coverage, high costs and other problems, the U.S. health care
system-and the quality of health care delivered-is the best in the
world. But is it really? A new analysis from the Urban Institute looks
at the evidence on how quality of care in the United States compares to
that in other countries and provides implications for health reform.
Authors Elizabeth Docteur and Robert Berenson find that the evidence
for American superiority in quality of care is a mixed bag, with the
nation doing relatively well in some areas-such as cancer care-and less
well in others-such as mortality from treatable and preventable
conditions. Read the policy brief.
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EVENTS
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Early
Childhood Association Conference Coming to Orlando
The Early Childhood Association of Florida will hold its
54th Annual Conference Sept. 24-27, 2009, in Orlando at the
Rosen Centre Hotel. Anyone interested in early care and education
should attend this conference, which features more than 100 sessions.
Early registration is available until Aug. 12. To register, or for more
information, go to: www.ecaoffl.org.
Out-Of-School
Administrators Mini-Conference
Out-of-School administrators and site directors are invited to attend
the OOS Administrators Mini-Conference hosted by the Children's Forum
on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Doubletree Airport Hotel.
Twelve workshops and exhibitors will highlight exciting
topics and materials relevant to operating quality OOS programs.
To register, click here.
Deadline to register is Friday, Sept. 11. For
details, contact Jenn Faber, event
coordinator, at 239-489-4386 or email jfaber@thechildrensforum.com.
Florida Coalition for Children to Hold Annual Conference
in October
The Florida
Coalition for Children is holding its 2009 conference with a focus on
"Protecting & Preserving Florida's Most Valuable Resource -
Our Children and Families." The event will take place October
12-14, 2009, in Orlando at Rosen Shingle Creek. Register by Sept. 15
and save. For more information, visit the Florida Coalition for Children web site.
Conference Focuses on "Meeting the Needs of Young
Children and Families"
The Early
Childhood Council (ECC) and the Florida Association for Infant Mental
Health (FAIMH) will be co-hosting a conference, "Meeting the Needs
of Young Children and Families," November 18-20, 2009, at the
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Early registration is $125 for ECC or FAIMH
members (deadline is September 15), which includes the pre-conference
event on Nov. 18 and the full conference program Nov. 19-20 with a
reception Thursday night. For more information, call (813)
837-7753 or visit www.ecctampabay.org.
NAEYC to Hold Annual Conference
& Expo in Washington
The National Association for the Education of Young
Children will hold its annual conference Nov. 18-21, 2009, in
Washington, DC. This year's conference features more than 900 sessions
on diverse topics and themes reflecting both traditional strategies and
cutting-edge practice. Look for presentations on topics ranging from
how to plan an effective elected official's visit to your center, to
the role of quality rating systems in professional development, as well
as what's on the early childhood federal horizon. Housing and
registration are now open.
National Afterschool Association Convention Set for
April 2010, Seeking Workshop RFPs
Join thousands of afterschool professionals for
outstanding learning and networking experiences at the National
Afterschool Association Convention in Washington, DC, April 19-21,
2010. The event will feature hundreds of workshops from across the
afterschool field. Early registration is available through Aug. 31,
2009. For details, or to submit your workshop proposals through an
online RFP process, visit www.naaconvention.org/workshop.html. Proposals will
be accepted until Sept. 25, 2009.
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