2 initiatives: Learn more below
The Children's Movement of Florida is spearheading two major grassroots initiatives -- providing more of Florida's children with access to health insurance and ensuring that more children are reading at grade level by third grade -- that will need your volunteer support. Learn more about these two initiatives and how you can get involved below.
"Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another." -- Erma Bombeck
* United Way Women’s Leadership Councils and The Children’s Movement Early Literacy Initiative
Nearly a third of Florida’s public school third graders cannot read at minimally proficient levels. Research shows that children who cannot read at minimally proficient levels by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. The United Way Women’s Leadership Councils, The Children's Movement and partners from around the state are developing an early literacy initiative that will provide reading coaches to thousands of children who need help from VPK through the third grade. As a pilot project, this initiative will begin in 10 Florida communities, working with the following United Ways:
• United Way of the Big Bend Region
• United Way of Broward County
• United Way of Central Florida
• United Way of Manatee County
• United Way of Marion County
• United Way of Miami-Dade County
• United Way of Northeast Florida
• United Way of North Central Florida
• United Way of Tampa Bay
• United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties
Volunteers will be recruited through our regional committees, partner organizations and the 300,000 Floridians we communicate with weekly. John Knight, the early literacy coordinator, will be connecting partners from around Florida to implement the program and to ensure that more children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade. To learn more or to be notified when the program is launched, please contact:
John Knight, Early Literacy Coordinator for The Children’s Movement of Florida:
Email: john.knight@childrensmovementflorida.org
Mobile. 440-781-7699
* KidCare Outreach and Enrollment Initiative
Most of Florida’s 500K+ uninsured children are already eligible for Florida KidCare, our state’s health insurance program for children without private insurance, but many parents don't know that their children are eligible or may not know how to enroll in the program. The Movement will focus on enhancing already-existing KidCare outreach initiatives across Florida through targeted, grassroots enrollment and broad-based school outreach. With guidance from Florida Covering Kids and Families (FL-CKF), Nick is working with regional KidCare coalition partners and experts to identify opportunities for The Movement’s supporters and volunteers to distribute KidCare materials and/or assist in enrolling children. He also is forging relationships with the local school districts with the goal of having them agree to make KidCare outreach, enrollment and retention a priority. Interested in volunteering in or collaborating on this effort? Contact Nick today to see how you can get involved or help The Movement in these efforts.
Nick Duran, Health Care Coordinator:
Email: nick.duran@childrensmovementflorida.org
Mobile. 954-547-6165
Help Florida’s children by volunteering! If you are interested in sharing your time to help with KidCare outreach and enrollment please complete this brief survey and tell us a little about yourself. We will get back to you quickly.