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Dates
to Watch
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July
26, 2010
Voter registration
deadline
Primary Election
August
24, 2010
Primary Election
October
4, 2010
Voter registration
deadline
General Election
November
2, 2010
General Election
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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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New Leader Heads DOE Office of
Early Learning
The Florida Department of Education (DOE) recently
announced the appointment of new leadership for its Office of Early
Learning (OEL). The DOE/OEL oversees implementation of the state's VPK
Education Program, in collaboration with the Agency for Workforce Innovation
(AWI) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Stuart Greenberg, Executive Director of Just Read
Florida!, will head the office. Prior to joining DOE, Greenberg served
as the Associate Director for The Florida Center for Reading Research
at Florida State University and was the Director of the Eastern Regional
Reading First Technical Assistance Center, providing technical support
during the implementation phase of the federal Reading First program
throughout the east coast. In a prior post, he served as the Director
of Curriculum Support K-12 for Broward County Public Schools and the
Alliance of Quality Schools, focusing on schools that needed to
accelerate achievement in reading, writing, math, science, in addition
to school-wide management.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida
Atlantic University in Exceptional Education, and a Master's degree
from Nova University in Educational Leadership. Congratulations and
best wishes to Director Greenberg in his new role.
The Gulf Oil Spill: What About the
Impact on Children?
The nation continues a grim vigil as it anguishes
over the loss of life, environmental devastation, and the impact on
livelihoods of people of the Gulf Coast states caused by the tragic oil
spill. But, as child advocates
understand so well, the hidden toll on the young will be profound and
long-lasting. In a recent ABC news report,
Chris Cuomo talked to children in Gulf Coast Louisiana who are worried.
Reports of increased domestic violence and substance abuse are on the
rise. In Florida, budget forecasters are projecting an additional $2
billion budget deficit even before oil-spill impacts are factored in.
All of this looms heavy over human services programs in the next year.
The grown-ups are worried too. Gov. Charlie Crist has created the Gulf
Spill Economic Recovery Task Force, which includes DCF Secretary George
Sheldon and AWI Secretary Cynthia Lorenzo. Learn more at www.flgov.com/gulfrecoverytaskforce.
The governor's office also has established a website that allows job
seekers to locate and apply for positions created in response to the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill: www.floridagulfrecoveryjobs.com.
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IN OTHER NEWS
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Children's Cabinet Posts
Preliminary Children's Budget Online
The last issue of FCSC
News Update reported on the release of a preliminary draft of
"The Children's Budget," a Children's Cabinet committee
project that has been underway for more than a year. The project was a
very complex undertaking to identify the state's total spending on
children's programs and to analyze expenditures related to the
priorities established by the Cabinet. The draft report
is now available on the Children's Cabinet web site.
The budget is a
work in progress, and Cabinet members must review it before voting to
formally adopt the report. Special thanks go to Cabinet Member and
JWB-CSC of Pinellas County Executive Director Gay Lancaster and her
staff who worked with the Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's offices,
and state agencies to compile the report. Special recognition goes to
Lisa Sahulka, JWB Director of Programs, Finance, & Research,
Michael Warner, JWB Senior Contract Manager, and Ed Simon, JWB Senior
Research Analyst. Without their hard work and dedication, this project
would not have seen completion. Download the
report here.
Qualifying
Period Ends, One-Fifth of Florida Legislature Qualifies Unopposed
A total of 34
candidates for Florida legislative seats qualified without opposition
last Friday -- seven candidates for the Senate and 27 candidates for
the House drew no opponents as qualifying ended.
The senators
elected without opposition include incoming Senate President Mike
Haridopolos, incoming Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich, Sen. Arthenia
Joyner, Sen. Don Gaetz, and Sen. Joe Negron. The 27 unopposed state
House candidates include 16 Republicans and 11 Democrats, all but one
of whom are incumbents. Go to www.lexology.com
for details.
Consolidation
of Standards for Florida's 4-Year-Olds
The Offices of
Early Learning in DOE and AWI have announced plans to work together to
develop one set of program standards for four-year-olds participating
in either School Readiness or VPK. The work will begin this summer with
a release date anticipated for spring 2011. Details about the process
and plans for keeping stakeholders informed can be found at both the
AWI web site (www.flbt5.com) and the DOE/OEL website (www.fldoe.org/earlylearning/perform.asp).
Children's Forum Ranked Among Top 10 Florida Woman-Led
Businesses
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Phyllis Kalifeh
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The Children's
Forum, a Tallahassee-based non-profit organization that strives for the
best learning outcomes for young children, was recently ranked among
the top 10 non-profit woman-led businesses in Florida for 2010. The rankings, compiled from survey responses,
were conducted by the Center for Leadership at Florida International
University (FIU) and based on organizations' revenues and budgets.
Responses to the survey have added important data to FIU's longitudinal
study about the opportunities and challenges women business leaders
face.
"I am humbled
that the Children's Forum was chosen for this distinguished
ranking," said Phyllis Kalifeh, president and CEO of the
Children's Forum. "We serve the early care and education field,
which is primarily composed of women. Through our research, advocacy,
training, professional development and classroom assessment services,
we will continue to be fiscally responsible, which is especially valued
during these challenging economic times."
For more
information about the Children's Forum, visit their web site at www.thechildrensforum.com.
New Nonprofit News Site, Florida Independent,
Launched
The Florida Independent launched in May as a nonprofit, nonpartisan
statewide news site providing daily investigative reporting and
analysis of state and local issues that affect Florida
communities. It was established with a $352,000 grant to Gulf
Coast Community Foundation of Venice from the John S. and James L.
Knight Foundation, as part of the Knight Community Information
Challenge. Learn more.
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FEDERAL WATCH
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FMAP
Funds for Florida Still in Jeopardy
Last week, the Baucus-Reid substitute jobs bill (H.R.
4213) that included $24 billion to extend federal Medicaid assistance
to states failed to garner the necessary 60 votes in the Senate,
largely due to the $55.1 billion that this level of funding would add
to the deficit. The bill would have provided a six-month extension of
enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funds, which
provides Medicaid matching funds, and helps to provide health care and
child welfare services for children. Other important elements of the
bill include additional unemployment compensation, youth employment and
COBRA.
After the bill failed to get the necessary votes, Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid returned to the negotiating table to find a way to
get votes on a modified bill. The anticipated new version trims at
least $16.4 billion. According to the Congressional Quarterly, the new version, which has been
circulated among lobbyists but not officially released, would gradually
reduce the enhanced FMAP included in last year's stimulus bill.
States had received at least a 6.2 percent increase. That amount would
be reduced to 5.3 percent increase in the first quarter of 2011, and a
3.2 percent increase in the second quarter of 2011. The fate of the
modified bill and timing of a vote remain uncertain.
If the FMAP extension is not approved, Florida will lose nearly $1
billion -- $270 million included in the 2010-11 budget, and $800
million budgeted in reserves for the next budget year. A special
session would not be required. Instead, programs funded by FMAP dollars
in 2010-11 simply would not receive the funds.
CALL TO ACTION: Florida still has a
chance to get much needed FMAP dollars, but congressional members need
to hear from you now. Call Sens. Nelson and LeMieux toll free at
1-888-340-6521 and ask them to support restoring six months of extra
Medicaid help to states.
Child Care Block Grant Up for
Renewal: Calls Needed
Advocates are urged to contact Sen. Bill Nelson and urge
his support of the President's funding proposals for the Child Care
Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Nelson serves on the Senate Finance
Committee, which is considering the mandatory budget as Congress
deliberates about reauthorization of the law. Important points to
communicate to the Senator are:
- An
additional 20,000 children in Florida have had access to child
care as a result of ARRA funding.
- This
should be continued so their families can work
After years of stagnant funding for child care, the
President's FY 2011 budget proposal includes a $1.6 billion increase
for CCDBG, a $1 billion increase for child nutrition programs and
$989 million increase for Head Start / Early Head Start. Urge support
for the administration's recommendation. Send an email to Sen. Nelson at billnelson@senate.gov
or call (202) 224-5274.
Child
Nutrition Legislation Introduced in House
On June 10, Rep.
George Miller (D-California), Chairman of the House Education and Labor
Committee, and Rep. Todd Platts (R-Pennsylvania) introduced new
legislation (HR 5504) aimed at improving the quality of meals for
children in child care and in school settings, and increasing the
number of children served by federal nutrition programs. The bill calls
for an increase of $8 billion over 10 years for these crucial programs.
At this point, the bill has been referred to the Committee on Education
and Labor and the Committee on the Budget. The bill has 30 co-sponsors,
none from Florida.
~ Portions excerpted from Early Care and Education Consortium
E-News
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Study Shows High
Demand for Summer Learning Programs
Only 25 percent of school-age children in the United
States currently take part in summer learning programs, but demand for
such programs is much higher, especially among African-American,
Hispanic and lower-income parents. That's one of the key findings in a
national and state-by-state look at parents' attitudes toward summer
learning. The Wallace-sponsored report was based on research for the
America After 3PM survey, which polled some 30,000 American households
in 2009. The study also finds that 82 percent of American parents
support public funding of summer learning programs for children with
few opportunities. Learn more.
ECEC
Online Radio Features Child Care Bureau: Child Care's Home in the
Federal Government
The Child Care
Bureau is engaged in providing vital services to families and child
care providers, distributing subsidies to low-income families that support
over 1.6 million children in child care settings each month, as well as
providing a number of training and professional development
opportunities. The Early Care and Education Consortium recently
broadcast an online radio program, titled "The Child Care Bureau: Child Care's Home in
the Federal Government, featuring Shannon Rudisill, Associate
Director of the Child Care Bureau. The broadcast gives an overview of
the programs available through the agency, developments on the federal
level to support early learning programs, and what the Bureau will
focus on in the next 6-12 months. Listen to the
broadcast.
~ Source: Early Care and Education
Consortium E-News
The
New Demography of American Motherhood
A report, published by the Pew Research
Center, examines the changing demographics of U.S. mothers by comparing
women who gave birth in 2008 with their counterparts in 1990. It finds
that, on average, mothers today are more likely to be older, unmarried,
and have at least some college education.
National
Group Releases School Based Health Center Census
The National Assembly on
School Based Health Care released its 2007-08 School Based Health
Center (SBHC) Census report on May 26, 2010. The Census is the most
comprehensive analysis to date of SBHCs in the United States. It
provides a 360-degree view of the role of SBHCs in meeting the needs of
underserved children and adolescents by collecting trend data on
demographics, staffing, operations, prevention activities, clinical
services, and policies. For more information, go to www.nasbhc.org.
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EVENTS
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Family Child Care Home Association Conference
Starts Friday
The Florida Family Child Care Home Association's annual conference will
be held in Clearwater, June 25-27, 2010, at the Clearwater Beach
Sheraton Sand Key Resort. Some of the topics to be covered include:
Legislative and FCC Rules Update, School Age Activities,
Tax Information and Updates, Early Literacy, Insurance and Liability,
Curriculums for FCC Homes, and NAFCC Accreditation. Conference and
registration information can be found here.
One
Goal Summer Conference Celebrates 24 Years, Set for July 21-23
The annual One
Goal Conference is scheduled for July 21-23, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency
Tampa City Center. The conference brings together more than 1,000 early
education and care providers and leaders from around the state. It is
designed to share information on best practices in the field and to
build common frameworks of knowledge and understanding to assist in
unified planning for young children and their families. In addition to
getting up-to-date information on best practices and access to
outstanding workshops, participants can network and exchange ideas with
their peers. To learn more, or to register, go to: www.onegoalsummerconference.org.
23rd
Annual National Independent Living Conference - Growing Pains 2010
Scheduled for
Sept. 7-10, 2010, in National Harbor, MD, "Growing Pains
2010" is a must-attend event for youth service professionals,
independent living professionals and youth ages 15+. Presenters include
top leaders and experts in the field of independent living. The
national youth conference consists of special sessions dedicated to the
needs of youth who are currently in care. These include training
sessions, workshops, panel discussions and leadership/team building
activities. Click here for more information.
11th
International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma
The 11th
International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma
has been set for Sept. 12-14, 2010, in Atlanta, GA. The highly
successful conferences held every other year focus on four areas of
expertise; legal challenges in SBS cases, evidenced and creative
prevention programs and initiatives, the latest medical information and
research, and support and rehabilitation for families and victims of
shaken baby syndrome including rehabilitation and continuum of care
issues. For questions regarding the conference, please contact Danielle
Vazquez, Conference Coordinator, at (801) 627-3399 or email her at dvazquez@dontshake.org.
Fourth
Annual Kinship Care Conference
Conference dates are set
for Sept. 17-18, 2010, in Ocala. The conference will focus on raising
awareness of the complex issues faced by relative caregivers including
discipline, substance abuse, grief and loss, legal issues, mental
health, and domestic violence. Registration and information is
available on the web site: www.kidscentralinc.org.
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