Group seeking to build on grassroots support to help kids

The Children's Movement of Florida's message is clear and simple: children need to be a priority.

On Monday on the steps of the Old Capitol, David Lawrence Jr., retired publisher of The Miami Herald, officially kicked off the campaign for the citizen-led, nonpartisan organization.

Throughout September, the group will hold 15 "Milk Party" rallies across the state in hopes to educate politicians, business leaders and parents about the dire state of children in Florida. A Tallahassee rally will be held Sept. 7 at the Leon County Civic Center.

"I am a frustrated Floridian," Lawrence said. "By almost every objective standard, Florida ranks poorly in measure after measure of how we invest in children."

Ann Davis, executive director of the Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition, understands the need for the Children's Movement because she works under the pressure of tight budgets every day. Funding for Healthy Start, which provides prenatal care to impoverished women, and Healthy Families, which works to prevent child abuse, was cut by a combined $12.6 million this past legislative session.

But Davis is energized about what the new movement could mean for organizations like Healthy Start.

"The Children's Movement is unique. It's organized statewide and has a grassroots support that will be heard," said Davis, standing outside the Capitol with the group of about 50 excited advocates.

To fund the initial phase of the movement, all money has been raised from foundations, individuals and businesses. No public funds are being used.

Lawrence said the movement is different from others because of its private resources and long-term sustainability.

Angel Trejo, a local children's advocate, is not threatened by the work of the new movement, but instead welcomes advocates to work together.

"The movement is big enough to bring everyone under one tent. We can't exclude anyone," Trejo said.

Among the issues the movement wants to address are the hundreds of thousands of children not covered by health insurance, and the state's pre-kindergarten program, which fails to meet most national standards.

"Children must be our first priority if this state is going to be a safe, secure, educated place," Lawrence said.

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