In this Issue
- Child Care WAGE$ Florida WORKS!
- Spotlight On: Afterschool Initiatives
- Forum Corner
- Children's Week at the Capitol Largest Turnout in Years
- Worst to First: A Campaign to Put Florida's Kids First
- Attend the One Goal Conference: Building the Future Together
- Celebrate Provider Appreciation Day May 8
- Legislative Updates
- State and National News
- Early Learning Coalition Briefs
- Calendar of Events
Children's Week at the Capitol Largest Turnout in Years
Thanks to the hard work of thousands of volunteers across the state and more than 80 statewide partners, this year's Children's Week at the Capitol had the largest turnout in years.
More than 4,000 children and families traveled to the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 31, to gather information on children's issues, meet with their legislators and advocate on behalf of Florida's children and families.
Governor Charlie Crist and Lieutenant Governor Kottkamp attended the 2nd Annual "Kids Only" Town Hall meeting where students from across the state asked important questions to the Florida Children & Youth Cabinet. Over 175 advocates and families attended the event at City Hall, which was filmed for broadcast on The Florida Channel.
At the Children's Capitol for a Day luncheon that was sponsored by Crispers, 2,500 box lunches were provided to children and families. Families also visited non-profit information booths and participated in civic education activities at the Capitol.
The Children's Week Advocacy Dinner was once again a huge highlight, drawing more than 300 partners and advocates together to listen to a fantastic slate of speakers including Lt. Governor Kottkamp, DCF Secretary George Sheldon and Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince. At the dinner, Chief Child Advocate Jim Kallinger presented Jim Mills with the 2009 Chiles Advocacy Award for his lifetime of dedication and advocacy on behalf of Florida's children and families. Mills is the former Executive Director of the Juvenile Welfare Board 
and was involved in the passage of the enabling act that allows any county in Florida to establish by referendum a special taxing district for children and family services.
The 2009 "Hanging of the Hands" was one of the most beautiful artwork displays in years. Hundreds of volunteers adorned the State Capitol Rotunda with over 100,000 brightly colored paper cut-outs of children's hands which were collected from child-care centers and schools across the state. Included in the display were special messages to legislators and the Governor asking them to not cut funding for children's programs.
A few other important notes:
- The Advocacy Training conducted by the Family Network on Disabilities along with Rep. Ari Porth and Rep. Stephen Precourt, was well attended and provided advocates with helpful tools and information about effective communication with legislators.
- Reach Out and Read Florida hosted the Legislative Reading Corner with over a dozen legislators reading and providing books to children at the Capitol.
- Comcast filmed 56 live interviews with policy makers and advocates. Governor Crist, legislative leaders, Children's Week partners and youth advocates participated in the interviews which will be broadcast on CNN Headline News and Comcast Newsmakers.
- Advocates packed the State Capitol Rotunda to watch the Children's Week Press Conference and Hanging of the Hands dedication ceremony. Bishop Timothy Whitaker, United Way of Florida President Ted Granger, Senator Nan Rich, Rep. Bill Galvano and Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp addressed the crowd. Lt. Governor Kottkamp proclaimed March 31 as "Children's Day at the Capitol" and April 5 as "Parents' & Children's Day" statewide.
- Nemours Capital Steps for Kids Program provided over 4,000 pedometers to non-profit organizations and groups across the state and tallied 8.5 million steps walked for children's issues during the 2009 Legislative Session.
*Article courtesy of Jason Zaborske, Children's Week Statewide Coordinator