URGENT ISSUES FOR GEORGIA’S CHILDREN IN 2011 Children and Youth Committee Georgia House of Representatives January 25, 2011

VOICES for Georgia’s Children Resource for Public Officials –Research issues and policies –Analyze data –Review proposed legislation and regulations Advocate for Georgia’s Children –Convenor –Educator –Lobbyist

Goals for Kids –Safe, healthy, educated, employable, connected to family and community Policy Strategies for Improving Outcomes –Support the needs of children 0-5 –Ensure access to healthcare for all kids –Intervene early in the lives of vulnerable youth

Critical Issues: Children 0-5 Georgia PreK –Preserve program quality for 84,000 children Per child allocation reduced from $4226 to $3988 Still 10,000 children on the waiting list Risk losing providers and therefore access to PreK Child Care –10,000 fewer families subsidized (CAPS) Loss of ARRA funds ($36 million) Reassignment of TANF funds ($11.5 million) –Lost $11 mil in ARRA funds for quality training Funded incentives and training for 1200 participants Challenge to respond to negative findings of FPG study

Critical Issues: Child Health Early Health –Discontinuation of Babies Born Healthy (services for pregnant women not qualified for Medicaid) $2.9 mil –No funds for Children’s 1 st (identification & referral) Healthcare Coverage –New co-payments for kids over 6 covered by PeachCare and for Katie Beckett waivers –No funds for enrollment growth in FY12 –Simplified enrollment and retention practices should increase participation

Critical Issues: Vulnerable Youth Juvenile Justice –Children’s Code Re-write – to be newly introduced in the Senate HOPE scholarships and grants – impact of budget reductions on lower and middle income students Homeless, runaway youth –Protection of providers who serve children under 18

Critical Issues: Vulnerable Youth Commercial sexual exploitation of children –Work for policy based on prevention, intervention, and education Foster Care –Administration of psychotropic drugs Informed consent Clinical review teams –Support for young people aging out of foster care

Critical Issues: State Government Lottery-funded programs –Commission to determine desired outcomes of HOPE and PreK to drive budget decisions –Annual funds for evaluation and publication of results Family Connection Partnership –Preserve non profit status –Preserve the public/private partnership

URGENT ISSUES FOR GEORGIA’S CHILDREN IN 2011 Pat Willis Executive Director January 25,