The Coalition Policy Priorities

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Georgia Birth to Five Coalition

Policy Priorities and Activities, 2009

Legislative Agenda

BUDGET:

· Support the Governor’s FY 2009 and FY2010 budget proposals for Child and Parent Services (CAPS) child care subsidies as the minimal amount pending determination of additional fund distributions from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (estimated at $82.8 million)

· Support the Governor’s FY 2010 budget proposal allocating 3,000 new slots for the Georgia PreKindergarten Program, bringing the total number of slots to 82,000

· Urge legislators to restoring funding to address cuts in the Governor’s FY 2009 and FY 2010 budget to family planning services delivered at local health departments and teen centers through the Division of Public Health.

LEGISLATIVE:

· Urge relocation of the Child and Parent Services program to Bright from the Start, the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning from the Division of Family and Children Services under the Georgia Department of Human Resources through DHR reorganization. Charge CAPS with production of an annual report.*

· Seek introduction of legislation that sets 80% participation target for Georgia PreK (including 4 year old Head Start participants) and charges DECAL with developing a plan to achieve this target within a specific time frame

· Assure that proposal(s) relating to Georgia Lottery surplus funds for the HOPE Scholarship do not automatically limit spending for Georgia PreK

· Urge the Department of Community Health to apply for a Medicaid waiver to secure additional funding for interconceptional health care for lower income women to postpone or forestall second pregnancies and assure improved birth outcomes for pregnant women.

Advocacy Agenda:

· Educate the early care and learning community, legislators and the public about the importance of home visitation services to assuring optimal outcomes for young children and their families

· Monitor the Education Begins at Home Act expected to be reintroduced in Congress; provide public education, and support proposal(s) after evaluation by the Georgia Birth to Five Coalition Home Visitation Work Group

· Identify opportunities for young children in Georgia through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act and urge leadership to leverage these resources effectively and in a timely manner.

* CAPS report to be modeled on an annual report already required for the same program in Illinois.

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