Children's movement holds 'milk' parties

DAYTONA BEACH -- Linda Merrell has been advocating for children in Volusia and Flagler counties and across Florida for more than 30 years, focusing most of her attention on health issues and services for those with developmental disabilities.

Candace Lankford was just re-elected without opposition to her third four-year term on the Volusia County School Board, where her focus has been providing quality education despite nearly $75 million in budget cuts since 2007. She's also president of the Florida School Boards Association.

Now, Merrell and Lankford are teaming up as the Volusia-Flagler chairwomen of the Children's Movement of Florida -- a new campaign to raise public awareness about how the state's children are faring and to make improving their welfare a top priority.

The group points to a long list of statistics showing Florida ranks poorly for investing in its children. They include:

• More than 18 percent of Florida children -- totaling almost 800,000 -- don't have health insurance, nearly double the national rate. Florida ranks 49th or 50th among the states, depending on the study, on that measure.
• Florida's prekindergarten program meets just four of 10 nationally recommended standards and ranks 34th among 38 states in per-student funding.
• The state's rate of child abuse is 29.6 cases per 1,000 children, more than double the national rate.

"So much is not being said about children's issues because (children) don't vote or write checks," said Lankford, who lives in DeLand.

To make up for that, Merrell said the Children's Movement brings together a nonpartisan group of concerned adults intent on educating parents and political, business and civic leaders about the needs of children who can't speak for themselves and seeing that those needs are addressed.

David Lawrence Jr., a former Miami Herald publisher who was a key player in getting Florida voters to approve a 2002 constitutional amendment establishing the state's voluntary prekindergarten program, is president and co-chair of the Children's Movement. He and 26 other influential Floridians -- including co-chair and State Board of Education member Roberto Martinez -- serve on the state steering committee.

"This is beyond child advocacy," said Merrell, who lives in Ormond Beach. "If you have healthy children, it's a foundation for a healthy community and a stronger economy."

"To my way of thinking," said Lankford, "the healthier and more secure children are when they enter our school system, the better off we all are."

To get its message out and enlist other supporters, the Children's Movement has planned 15 "milk party" rallies around Florida, including a Sept. 13 event in Daytona Beach.

While acknowledging the "milk party" theme for the rallies plays off the tea party phenomenon to some extent, Children's Movement spokesman Martin Merzer said it also makes sense on it own merits.

The rally theme "seemed to us natural and affirmative, given that we're completely focused on children and the issues that affect their health and well-being," Merzer wrote in an e-mail. "And, of course, we're providing milk and cookies at the rally, so it all seemed to come together."

Merrell emphasized the $1 million campaign is being financed by donations from foundations, individuals and businesses and the group is not advocating any new or increased taxes to improve children's services. Instead, she said the group supports "redistributing the resources we have in this state."

"I think so often these (children's) issues are set aside," Lankford said, noting that political leaders instead focus on what's best for business. "To my mind, at the end of the day, doing what is right for children is good for business."

'Milk party' rally

The Daytona Beach "milk party" rally will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at Mainland High School, 1225 W. International Speedway Blvd. The event, which is free and open to the public, will include entertainment, presentations by Children's Movement leaders and milk and cookies.

Groups wanting to schedule free bus transportation to the rally may contact Leah Shepherd, Children's Movement regional coordinator, at 407-446-4347 or leah.shepherd@childrensmovement.org

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