Crusaders for children

Grass-roots statewide children's movement is sorely needed, but faces uphill battle.

September 18, 2010

On Tuesday night, David Lawrence sounded more like a preacher than a retired newspaperman in addressing a crowd of about 500 at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando. His message was urgent.

"We are failing our children, most particularly our youngest children," he told the congregation of child advocates, activists and families. "Our state … shows up on list after list as either mediocre or miserable in all the rankings that tell us how we invest in our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. I think it's sinful."

Amen.

True, the former Miami Herald publisher was (and is) preaching to the choir. But then, building an overwhelming choir — all voicing the almost inarguable need for state leaders to make Florida's youth the state's top priority — is the righteous mission of the fledgling Children's Movement of Florida.

Leaders of the movement — dubbed the "Milk Party" as a playful riff on the Tea Party — are barnstorming Florida to spread their gospel. During a 17-stop tour they're shining a much-needed light on largely neglected children's issues, urging lawmakers to remove their blinders.

And that's why — though we're true believers in the cause — we also see a mighty steep climb to win enough converts in Tallahassee.

Just consider the state's sorry report card.

Thousands of kids lack health insurance in Florida — the state is next-to-last nationally. Low-birth weight babies and high infant mortality plague the state. Florida's child-abuse rate doubles the national average. And it's the only state to slash funding for pre-kindergarten programs two years running.

We could go on, but overall, in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual national yardstick of children's well-being, Florida slinks in at a pitiful 36th.

Florida's sorry record gave birth to the Children's Movement. Over the past 20 months, the group has researched and blueprinted its strategy. This summer, Mr. Lawrence, president and co-chair of the movement, raised $1 million in private funding.

Consciously bipartisan, the movement's shepherded by a 27-member statewide steering committee. It's well-represented by Central Floridians, including former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, Osceola County Commissioner John Quinones, and Orange County School Board Chair Bill Sublette. As the coalition grows, leaders hope to wield the kind of broad-based political muscle that moves local and state leaders to shift budget priorities in children's favor.

Generally, the movement champions a handful of basic goals: improving kids' access to health care; screening and treating special needs; improving universal pre-kindergarten education; enhancing mentoring programs; and supporting better parenting.

Paying for it all wouldn't require taxpayers digging deep in tough economic times. Organizers say it's simply a matter of reallocating tax dollars to serve Florida's youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

To hold leaders accountable, the movement is weighing some potent ideas, including legislator report cards.

"Nothing has been accomplished in the world in the way of social progress unless it was accomplished by pushing, shoving," Mr. Lawrence says, "… and if that doesn't work, some other way will."

It'll take that kind of tenacity to prod apathetic legislators. As Mr. Lawrence noted, "children are not lobbyists, and activists are not particularly effective."

And given how few candidates in our election interviews had children's issues on their radars, shifting perspectives will require some heavy lifting.

But Mr. Lawrence is hopeful. And we're keeping the faith. Given the current inattention to Florida's children, it'd be a sin if the movement stalls.

Read the full article here.