Our Opinion: Tally rally Tuesday is all about kids

Never underestimate the power of kid appeal. Just now in Florida, while grown-ups in the political playground are talking about the economy, jobs and oil, a tsunami of support is building for the issues that have to do with tomorrow's adults: today's children.

The Children's Movement of Florida is a citizen-led, nonpartisan movement aimed at drawing attention to how poorly our state invests in its youngest, most vulnerable citizens.

• Hundreds of thousands of little Floridians aren't covered by health insurance and have little or no access to health care. (That's some 10,000 children in Leon and Wakulla counties alone.) The state routinely ranks in the bottom half of states in children's health.
• Florida still doesn't meet most national standards for the high-quality prekindergarten program, which our constitution mandates must be available to all 4-year-olds. This bodes poorly for their years ahead; already far too many of Florida's third- and 10th-graders can't read at grade level.
• One in eight children have special needs, but our early screening and treatment programs are sporadically available and inconsistent in quality.

These are the findings of leaders in the Children's Movement, including one of its founders, David Lawrence Jr., after some 20 months of research and planning.

One of the things the movement is planning is its "Milk Party" rallies, whicht will be held in 15 locations around Florida this month, beginning Monday, and right here in the capital city on Tuesday, between 6 and 7 p.m. at the Civic Center.

This "milk-and-cookies" rally, part of the Children's Movement Road Tour on a bus called the Children's Express, will include appearances by children's advocates, entertainers and local celebrities and supporters. Refreshments will be, what else? Milk and cookies. And it's meant to draw attention of elected leaders who may not know how invisible children have become in our society and how urgently we must do better by them, their well-being and education, safety and their futures.

On Wednesday, the Children's Movement announced that it will host the first gubernatorial debate devoted exclusively to the needs of children. It will be Oct. 16 at the University of Miami, where President Donna Shalala is putting the clout of her institution behind this debate focusing on those areas mentioned, as well as the candidates' positions on how to improve mentoring and parenting support and information efforts.

Democratic nominee Alex Sink has stated her intention to participate; Republican nominee Rick Scott certainly needs to be there, too.

This is unquestionably a first for Florida, bringing children's issues to the forefront of political discussion. A Children's Movement rally sounds sweet and endearing, but it's as serious as any effort ever launched in this state.

Florida is a dysfunctional state for children despite all the pro-forma rhetoric about the importance of families and kids. It's time to put our money where the milk and cookies are.

Read the full article here.