In this Issue

• Army Child Care in Your Neighborhood - A Family's Experience
• Spotlight On: Family Child Care
• Annual Report
• Forum Corner
• Early Learning Coalition Briefs
• Legislative Updates
• State and National News
• Calendar of Events

State budget cuts are hurting Florida's most vulnerable and valuable resource-its children.

Read David Bundy's Editorial

Daytona Beach News Journal - Editorial
David Bundy
Florida Voice

As passionately discussed in editorials published by several Florida newspapers, including the Daytona-Beach News Journal, our state's budget continues its downward spiral with no solutions on the horizon. The budget was hammered again with the recent Revenue Estimating Conference projections: a $1.8 billion deficit in the current fiscal year and $2.2 billion deficit in 2009-10.

Now there is more bad news. Last week, the Florida Department of Children and Families was forced to announce a 3.03 percent holdback of general revenue and trust funds from current year contracts with child welfare agencies. This equates to $15.9 million in lost services to abused, neglected and abandoned children in addition to the $18.9 million cut last session. Additionally, local sheriffs who provide protective investigation of abuse and neglect reports face a 3.48 percent hold back.

Not only do additional cuts increase the risk to our state's children, they place Florida precipitously close to losing millions in federal funding by defaulting on our maintenance of effort requirement. Such a default also would cost us Florida's unique and much-needed Title IV-E waiver.

Some children can't -- and won't -- live like this. Neither can the rest of us. And the real frustration is that we don't have to.

This budget crisis can be solved if our legislators elected this November will look for viable budget options rather than telling the growing number of struggling families to tighten their belts yet again. With state revenue in a free fall, Florida can no longer afford to cut its way to a balanced budget.

As suggested to the Legislature by the advocacy group Florida's People-Florida's Promise, I did some research and easily identified revenue generating options that make sense and earn money, as well as a couple of budget reductions that make sense and save money. Certainly these ideas are not the only possible solutions to our financial crisis, but they illustrate the options available to our Legislature if they choose to demonstrate real leadership.

Revenue enhancements could provide an additional $6.6 billion annually if state legislators consider several options for generating funds such as: Adding Video Lottery to existing legal gaming facilities for a revenue of $194.5 million annually (Fiscal Impact Analysis, FL HB 1380); establishing a $1 per pack fee on cigarettes for $1.07 billion, which is also expected to reduce medical costs and discourage smoking among young people (Fiscal Impact Analysis, FL HB 299); improving Florida's per capita federal grants by 10 percent for $2.2 billion, which as a modest increase still leaves Florida $230 per capita below the national average (federal spending analysis at nemw.org); making Florida fully compliant with Streamlined Sales Tax Project for $10-20 million (Florida TaxWatch Briefings, February 2007); and, working at the federal level, as many other states are doing, to mandate remote sales tax for $3.2 billion, which also eliminates the unfair advantage out-of-state businesses have been enjoying over in-state businesses (Florida TaxWatch Briefings, February 2007).

Reducing budget inefficiencies at the state level could save $346 million annually if legislators consider discontinuing elected officials' participation in the deferred retirement program while in office for a savings of $300 million annually, and reducing the 100 percent free medical and dental care for legislators, their families and the 24,000 top state employees, to more closely match insurance coverage of the people they serve for a savings of $46 million annually.

Floridians must challenge our legislative representatives to achieve responsible solutions to Florida's budget crisis. There are tangible, quantifiable options other than across-the-board cuts. Together we must urge our elected leaders to find a formula that works for our residents.

Bundy is president/CEO of the nonprofit Children's Home Society of Florida.

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Our Children: 2008 Truth Tour is a statewide series of informational community meetings to promote citizen engagement and non-partisan candidate education on children's issues that impact state policies and decision making. The tour has made several stops throughout the state and will visit Tallahassee November 7. Plans are underway for upcoming Truth Tours in Ft. Myers and Jacksonville.

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Our Children: 2008 Truth Tour is a statewide series of informational community meetings to promote citizen engagement and non-partisan candidate education. Children's Campaign, Inc. will focus attention on the impact of state policies and decision making. The tour has made several stops throughout the state and will visit Tallahassee November 7. Plans are underway for upcoming Truth Tours in Ft. Myers and Jacksonville.

All events will feature a video presentation, first-hand accounts, a question and answer session, and materials laying bare the impact of the 2008-2009 state budget cuts to child services. All participants will be made aware and able to advocate that Florida's children must be a priority for all Florida policy makers.

Florida's children are in crisis and our state's future is in the balance. Responsible and corrective investment and action is needed. Budget cuts in the 5 Promise areas portend future declines in the health and well-being of Florida's children.

The 5 Promises are:

1. Maternal, Infant and Children's Health
2. Safety, Permanence, and Services to Children in Out-of-Home Settings
3. High Quality Pre-k, Child Care, and Early Learning
4. Safe and Enriching Before and After-School Experiences
5. Delinquency Prevention and Juvenile Justice Reform

Citizens, community leaders, and grasstops advocates will convene in town hall meetings and community briefings along with candidates for elected office. The Our Children: 2008 Truth Tour is being presented by Children's Campaign, Inc in partnership with its citizen board members, 5 Promises Leadership Council, Minority Issues Action Council, and Platform Committee members. Everyone who cares about children is encouraged to participate and take action.

Learn More about the Truth Tour

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George Sheldon was officially appointed agency secretary by Gov. Charlie Crist on September 30. Sheldon replaces long-time friend Bob Butterworth whose resignation was effective August 15.

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After several weeks as DCF's interim chief, George Sheldon was officially appointed agency secretary by Gov. Charlie Crist on Sept. 30. Sheldon replaces long-time friend Bob Butterworth whose resignation was effective Aug. 15. Sheldon was brought to the agency almost two years ago by Butterworth and said his top concern was to train case workers to make sure that families receive more information about food stamps, and mental-health and substance-abuse counseling.

Prior to arriving at DCF, Sheldon served as associate dean for student and alumni affairs at St. Thomas University in Miami. Most of his career, however, has been spent in public service, beginning in 1967 with a position at the Florida Department of State. He then held a number of positions in state government including leader of Governor-Elect Reubin Askew's transition team, and as a two-term Representative in the Florida House. As a state legislator, Sheldon served on the Committee on Health and Rehabilitative Services and was integral in the reorganization of the agency now known as the Department of Children and Families.

Article courtesy of The Florida Children's Services Council

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Leaders of the departments of Children and Families, Juvenile Justice, Health, as well as the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, signed an agreement to reduce unnecessary delays in assistance and services.

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Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp announced the designation of "champions" for Florida children who are served by the state's health and human service agencies. Five state agencies serving children and youth signed an agreement, pledging their commitment to reducing unnecessary delays in assistance and services. Leaders of the departments of Children and Families, Juvenile Justice, Health, as well as the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, signed the agreement.

The agreement is one of several recommendations to come from the Children and Youth Cabinet, created by Governor Charlie Crist in 2007 to promote collaboration and more efficient operations among state agencies and organizations that deliver child welfare services.

The agreement identifies "champions" within each agency to ensure the coordination of services and improved communication among all agencies involved in a child's care. The champions will be empowered when urgent attention is needed to address challenges to providing services. The agreement also requires each of the participating agencies to align their policies and procedures for clients receiving services from multiple agencies. This level of coordination will ensure each child receives the maximum benefit of services.

In addition, the agreement establishes local review teams from among the state agencies' local offices. The teams will meet regularly to review local procedures and to determine how best to serve clients in their communities. A team of state officials headquartered in Tallahassee, dubbed the Rapid Response Team, also will help champions reach solutions when necessary.

Read the Brief

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According to a recent analysis, more families in Florida are likely to be without child care assistance in 2008 than there were just last year. The waiting list for child care assistance grew from almost 45,000 children in February 2007 to over 47,500 children in 2008, and is expected to continue to expand.

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According to a recent analysis, more families in Florida are likely to be without child care assistance in 2008 than there were just last year. The waiting list for child care assistance grew from almost 45,000 children in February 2007 to over 47,500 children in 2008, and is expected to continue to expand. And while more families are becoming eligible, Florida expects to reduce the number of children receiving child care assistance by an estimated 2,500 to 5,000 in the coming year.

The information comes from a comprehensive analysis, State Child Care Assistance Policies 2008: Too Little Progress for Children and Families released by the National Women's Law Center (NWLC).

"As the fourth most populous state in the country, child care and school readiness funding is critical for low to moderate income families," said Phyllis Kalifeh, President and CEO of the Children's Forum. "A family earning 200 percent of the federal poverty level could pay as much as 30 to 40 percent of their wages for child care. That leaves little left over for other basic necessities such as food, clothing and housing."

The NWLC analysis compares all 50 states' child care assistance policies in 2008 to 2007 and 2001 in four policy areas: reimbursement rates for providers, income eligibility, waiting lists for assistance and copayment requirements. The analysis closely examines these policy areas because they determine the quantity and caliber of choices parents have for child care, how many low-income families who need child care assistance qualify, and how affordable child care is for families receiving assistance.

"Child care helps children, families, and communities prosper. It helps children learn and develop skills they need to succeed in school and in life. It is a basic that helps families get ahead by giving parents the support and peace of mind they need to be productive at work," said Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women's Law Center. "Yet, NWLC's analysis found that Florida is far behind where it needs to be to meet the needs of its low-income children and families," Campbell added. "We absolutely must do better, especially in these difficult economic times."

The primary source of funding for child care assistance comes to the states from the federal government - either through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. Both of these programs have been insufficiently funded; in the case of CCDBG, for example, the FY 2008 funding level is below the FY 2002 funding level after adjusting for inflation.

This has a significant impact on states' ability to fund child care programs. According to the Bush Administration, with no increase in funding, 200,000 children are expected to lose child care assistance between 2007 and 2009 nationwide. Furthermore, many of the states currently behind in their policies are now entering a period where a difficult economic and budget outlook could make things even worse. Florida is no exception.

Reimbursement Rates

The federal government recommends that states set their reimbursement rates at the 75th percentile of current market rates, which effectively allows families to access three-quarters of the child care providers in their communities. But in 2008, the monthly reimbursement rate for a four-year-old in a child care center in Miami-Dade County was $117 a month (23 percent) below the 75th percentile. Low reimbursement rates make it difficult for families to obtain high-quality child care, and they also make it harder for providers to keep their doors open, retain qualified staff or acquire the supplies necessary to promote children's learning.

Income Eligibility

A family's ability to obtain child care assistance depends on a state's income eligibility limits, including whether a state makes annual adjustments to eligibility limits for inflation so that families do not become ineligible for assistance simply because of small pay increases that barely cover the rising cost of basic living expenses. Florida's income eligibility to qualify for child care assistance - $26,400 for a family of three (150 percent of the 2008 federal poverty level) - is among the bottom quarter of states.

"High-quality child care not only helps parents work and support their families, it ensures that young children receive the early learning experiences they need to start school ready to succeed and that older children have nurturing places to go after school," said Helen Blank, NWLC Director of Leadership and Public Policy and co-author of the report. "When America supports child care, we encourage children, families and our nation to reach their full potential."

Added Kalifeh: "A good child care infrastructure keeps Florida working. It is important for our state's economy."

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Early Developments (Summer 2008), reported on a wide range of findings coming out of the National Center for Early Development and Learning (NCEDL) Multi-State Study of Pre-Kindergarten. One analysis of the findings focused on the usefulness of process versus structural measures in evaluating quality. Here is what was found...

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Early Developments (Summer 2008), reported on a wide range of findings coming out of the National Center for Early Development and Learning (NCEDL) Multi-State Study of Pre-Kindergarten. One analysis of the findings focused on the usefulness of process versus structural measures in evaluating quality. Here is what was found...

"Using data from the NCEDL study, researchers compared the benefits of policies that defined the quality of pre-kindergarten programs by either structural or process features.... Structural features included characteristics such as class size, teacher:child ratios, and levels of teacher education. Process features were defined as 'observable social and instructional interactions that children experience directly with teachers in the classroom.'

"They found that none of the recommended minimum standards of structural quality were directly related to children's development of receptive language (words they understood), expressive language (words they were able to use), rhyming, problem solving, letter naming, or behavior. Yet each dimension of process quality examined was associated with at least one area of development. Children learned best when teachers' interactions promoted conceptual development and offered feedback on children's learning. Children showed considerably larger gains in language and social development when they experienced higher quality instruction or more responsive and sensitive interactions with the teacher.

"These findings suggest that state-funded pre-kindergarten programs and policies should not rely on structural features alone to promote development. High quality interactions between teachers and children are the active ingredient through which pre-K programs foster the academic, language, and social competencies of children. In fact, the evidence suggests that when state policy only focuses on structural features, pre-kindergarten programs may fall short of their potential for facilitating children's development."

Article courtesy of Exchange Every Day

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