Movement aims to put children first in Florida

A Florida initiative backed by prominent politicos and civic leaders is aiming to make early childhood development a top state priority.

The Children's Movement of Florida is gaining steam with rallies across Florida -- including one planned for Sarasota and Manatee counties later this month -- and a first-ever gubernatorial debate in October focusing specifically on children's issues.

The movement is the brainchild of children's advocate and former Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence Jr.

The nonpartisan effort seeks to convince state leaders to shift funds and resources to programs affecting child health care and education.

Over roughly the past 20 months, Lawrence has raised $1 million in private donations and assembled a 27-member steering committee of former legislators, education and civic leaders and child advocates to push his cause.

The group says it is outrageous that Florida can back projects such as the $3 billion proposed bullet train, while falling behind other states in paying for programs that improve children's health, access to high-quality pre-kindergarten education, screening for children with special needs and mentoring.

"We are not asking for higher taxes or new taxes -- just that children and their programs get a bigger piece of the pie," said spokesman Martin Merzer, a former Herald reporter. "This is really to build grass-roots support and momentum for policy changes in the future."

Since going public on Aug. 9, the movement has drawn thousands of supporters to its "Milk Party" rallies in Pensacola, Tallahassee and Gainesville. The rallies are a play on the "Tea Party" rallies that are influencing elections across the country and include milk and cookies as a way to turn the focus to children.

A dozen more "Milk Party" rallies are planned across the state, including one in Sarasota at Riverview High School Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m.

Children's Movement is also sponsoring a televised gubernatorial debate focused entirely on early childhood development on Oct. 16 at the University of Miami.

Democrat Alex Sink has agreed to attend, while Republican Rick Scott has not yet confirmed, Merzer said.

"In general, we elect people to make these hard decisions," Merzer said. "It is our strong belief, and of the thousands following this movement, that their decision-making has been extremely flawed."

Sarasota child advocates said the grass-roots support and high-profile backing could affect change where other statewide initiatives have failed.

Janet Kahn, director of the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County, said programs like voluntary prekindergarten and Look to the Stars have helped bolster child education and health care in Sarasota.

But, she said, with the average cost for early child care as much as $175 a week, the economy is slowly erasing some of those gains.

"The state does have financial scholarships for the poorest families," Kahn said, "but a lot of hard-working families find that they have to pull their kids out of these programs."

Katie Knight, senior vice president of United Way of Sarasota County, said many new clients are former United Way donors who lost one or two incomes and have to pull their children out of preschool or other programs.

"I think there is definitely a need to shift some funds to these childhood programs, and this movement is a way to accomplish that," Knight said.

INTERESTED?

WHAT: Sarasota/Manatee Milk Party Rally.

WHY: To support the Children’s Movement of Florida’s goal to make early childhood development the state’s top priority.

WHEN: Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Riverview High School, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota.

COST: Free, open to the public.

ACTIVITIES: Appearances by local celebrities and movement leaders, video presentation, take-home gifts and milk and cookies.

INFORMATION: childrensmovementflorida.org

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