Milk party rally's goal is more money for children

A movement that aims to push children to the top of the state's agenda is bringing its milk party to Southwest Florida.

And, yes, there will be cookies along with entertainment and a call to ask lawmakers for resources.

The Children's Movement of Florida, a nonpartisan group, has been hosting statewide rallies that have garnered overflow crowds in places such as Tampa.

But some area child welfare leaders wonder if its message will garner widespread local support.

The movement is fueled by research that pits Florida near the bottom of child welfare measures.

Florida's children rank 35th in overall well-being in the country, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charity that seeks to help disadvantaged children.

The state ranks second to last in the highest percentage of uninsured children, according to The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on health care issues.

The movement's focus is on the well-being and education of young children, organizers say, as research shows most of the brain's development occurs in the first five years.

"This is a direct plea to the leaders in the state of Florida to understand that this is about Florida's future," said Kathleen Reynolds, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, who supports the movement.

Impassioning people to act on children's issues has been a challenge in Lee County. Boards overseeing the child welfare system have struggled to recruit members and local measures to pass a children's tax have failed.

Children's movement organizers pledge not to be pushing for any tax increases - just a larger slice of existing state dollars.

The Children's Network of Southwest Florida, which runs foster care locally, is familiar with that battle. This summer, it was given $2.1 million for the year by lawmakers to reduce the inequity that showed the network was receiving the lowest amount of dollars per foster child in the state.

Nadereh Salim, the network's CEO, hopes the rally will draw more local interest to children's issues.

"Unless the community is aware, they can't act or react," Salim said. "They're just thinking everything is all right."

Still, Judge James Seals, who presides over court for abused and neglected children, questions the timing for attracting local attention. A FGCU town hall meeting held by a similar group last year didn't result in visible, public action.

"It's a bad time to be in the influencing of public policy," said Seals, who plans to attend. "Right now, it's all about jobs and personal security."

• What: The Children's Movement of Florida's Southwest Florida milk party
• When: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Seacrest Country Day School, 7100 Davis Blvd., Naples

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