Message from the Director

Governor Eases Sting of Budget Reductions
By Jim DeBeaugrine

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities ended January with some very happy news. Governor Charlie Crist heard concerns expressed by our community and vetoed the five-percent rate reduction that had passed during the recent special session. I think everyone involved in providing services to our customers was greatly relieved to hear this news.

Even with this good news, I want to make sure everyone understands that our agency did take a financial hit. We lost 175 positions, including many in Tallahassee. Thankfully, we anticipated these reductions and through careful management have been able to avoid career service layoffs. Our managers are to be commended for taking decisive and prudent action during such tough economic times.

We all should be mindful that the agency may not be as lucky during the regular legislative session beginning in March. I also want to remind everyone that our APD colleagues working at the Gulf Coast Center in Ft. Myers are being affected by the phase-down and ultimate closure of that facility. I urge our managers and other employers to consider Gulf Coast employees for future job openings. They are well trained and experienced individuals with proven track records. Their dedication and character is best evidenced by their continued focus on the well being of the people they serve despite the personal stress of ongoing phase-down activities.

This month, the agency will be paying close attention to the federal stimulus package Congress is developing to see if it may provide opportunities for APD customers. We are all staying tuned to what will be sent down from Washington, D.C.

Recently, I have noticed among many of the agency's stakeholders a true desire to come together and look for solutions to the many challenges we face. I want to keep stakeholders involved in agency planning. This is very encouraging and will serve us well as we move into the legislative session and face the next hurdle.

And finally, I wanted to share that two weeks ago I visited with consumers and their families in Gainesville (see FCC Forum story below). I enjoyed the opportunity to share with everyone what changes are being made at APD and my vision for the agency's future. Thank you for the very positive interaction.

Clicking on most photos will open a larger version.

APD Congratulates Human Relations Commission

APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine participated in a celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Gov. Charlie Crist gave the keynote address for the January 14 event at the Capitol. Tallahassee Mayor John Marks was among the speakers.

Director DeBeaugrine noted the vital work of the commission in a statement released after the event. "The Human Relations Commission is a very critical organization to the state as it does not tolerate any type of unfairness based on prejudice," DeBeaugrine stated. "People with disabilities need a level playing field when trying to enter the workforce or renting an apartment. APD appreciates the commission's important work and congratulates the commission on 40 years of truly making a difference in the lives of all Floridians."

The Florida Commission on Human Relations enforces civil rights laws and works to eliminate discrimination, including discrimination involving people with disabilities. Visit its Web site at http://fchr.state.fl.us for more information

APD Director Speaks at FARF Meeting

APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine gave a status report on the agency during the Winter Quarterly Meeting of the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (FARF). The meeting was held January 27 and 28 in Clearwater, featuring several sessions on a variety of topics.

DeBeaugrine spoke during the meeting's first session, entitled "Community Supports," on the morning of January 27. After giving an overview of APD's mission and services, he focused on the fiscal challenges faced by the agency and the options for meeting those challenges in the future. Throughout the presentation, DeBeaugrine emphasized the importance of providing high-quality services to people with developmental disabilities.

The session also included a talk by Lt. Carol Conry of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of the Attorney General. A question-and-answer segment featuring both presenters concluded the session.

FARF is a statewide association that provides advocacy, information, and networking opportunities for individuals with disabilities and the community agencies that serve them. Visit www.floridaarf.org for more information.

The Job Is in the Bag

By Melanie Mowry Etters

"A hard worker," is how Assistant Customer Service Manager Marcia Johnson describes Wendy Senical. Senical, who has a developmental disability and receives services from APD, is a full-time front service clerk at a Publix supermarket in Key West.

After four years on the job, she is still enthusiastic about it. "I like what I do. I love the people here," says Senical.

Senical's job responsibilities include bagging groceries, assisting customers to their cars, and retrieving carts from the parking lot. She has moved up from part-time work to full-time employment with benefits—an achievement she relishes.

"I am proud of myself, actually," says Senical.

Johnson says, "Wendy does a real good job. She is friendly and greets customers. She works as hard as anyone else. She does not let her disability get in the way, absolutely not. If I had about 10 more employees just like her, it would be good."

The ability for Senical to get to her job was also an important accomplishment. "It is significant that Wendy learned to use public transportation to go to and from work, and to her other appointments in town," says Support Coordinator Alan Roman.

Senical says her paycheck goes in the bank; however she does help her mother out with household expenses like electricity. The 38-year-old woman hopes to stay with Publix for her entire career, noting it is a good company to work for.

Around the State

APD Director Participates in FCC Forum

The Area 3 Family Care Council (FCC) sponsored a Family Forum on Saturday, January 24, featuring APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine. He was joined by FCC representatives and staff from APD's Area 3 office in Gainesville. An enthusiastic and attentive audience listened to DeBeaugrine present an overview of current challenges, ongoing initiatives, and future directions for services.

Over 50 people were in attendance and heard DeBeaugrine's assessment of the current state of services, as well as his vision for improvements in how services are delivered. After introducing his background and experiences in service to people with developmental disabilities, DeBeaugrine provided attendees with a vision for how future services might look.

Quoting former Assistant Secretary for Developmental Disabilities Richard LaPore, who was instrumental in developing Florida's Medicaid waiver program under the Department of Children and Families, DeBeaugrine noted that people served by the agency must be "…given real choices in home, work, personal associations, and all life decisions."

"People should be assisted in decision-making based on their preferences rather than being limited to the programs that are available to them," said DeBeaugrine, again quoting LaPore.

DeBeaugrine said that, in order to provide true choice, future agency services should include a range of service models, spanning from complete self-management of service delivery to a model similar to the current provider network.

Following his presentation, DeBeaugrine was joined by FCC chairperson Frank Carroll, council member Susan Creek, APD Area 3 Administrator Jim Smith, and APD Area 3 Waiver Coordinator Cynthia Tyson in a panel discussion. The panel responded to many pertinent questions from the audience. A reception followed during which audience members enjoyed individual discussions with DeBeaugrine and the other knowledgeable guests.

New FABA Chapter in Gainesville Area

Behavior analysts in APD's Area 3 office in Gainesville are reaching out to the community through the formation of a new local chapter of the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA). The office in Gainesville has taken the lead in organizing the new chapter, which held its organizational meeting on January 21.

Goals of the chapter include promoting the ethical, humane, and effective application of behavior analysis practice in all segments of society, including education, business, industry, and government. The local chapter plans to reach out to parents, teachers, behavior analysts, and other interested parties by providing educational forums, offering continuing education opportunities, and sponsoring a Web site linking individuals to resources and information about current best practice standards.

"Behavior Analyst Dr. Elaine Hutchison and Behavior Specialist Donna Carle have worked hard to organize the chapter and lead the first meeting," said Area 3 Administrator Jim Smith. "We have been planning this for some time and it's exciting that we'll be helping to increase the visibility of behavior analysis in North Central Florida."

Approximately 25 people participated in the meeting. Officers were elected, charter membership was established, and committees were organized to identify tasks for future meetings. Planned events include guest speakers focusing on topics related to behavior analysis applications relevant to teachers, parents, behavior analysts, and others interested parties. Continuing education opportunities will be offered for these presentations.

Chapter membership is open to those interested in learning about and supporting the field of applied behavior analysis. Contact Donna Carle at (352) 955-5786 for more information.

The Florida Association for Behavior Analysis was founded in 1980 to promote the ethical, humane, and effective application of behavior principles. Visit www.fabaworld.org to learn more about the organization.

Fort Myers Employees Make a Difference

By Linda Richardson

During the holidays, APD employees in the Area 8 office in Fort Myers collected donations for a worthy cause. On January 10, the proceeds were donated to a therapeutic horse-riding program for people with disabilities.

Special Equestrians serves children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. The Fort Myers organization owns nine horses that are trained for therapeutic riding. The Area 8 employees voted and chose this program as the one they wanted to receive their contributions.

APD employee Elaine Gage went to the 10-acre facility to present the donation. She was welcomed by Connie Balestri and Allison Spencer of Special Equestrians, who expressed great appreciation for the donation. Enough money was donated to sponsor four scholarships for a six-week riding session.

Visit www.specialequestrians.net for more information about Special Equestrians.

Training Event Held in Broward County

By Haydee Toro, Ph.D., BCBA

The Behavior Analysis Unit of APD's Area 10 office in Fort Lauderdale offered a continuing education event for behavior analysis providers. The January 16 event was held in partnership with ARC Broward, which is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a continuing education provider.

Area 10 employee Myra Duarte, M.S., BCBA, gave a workshop titled "Lasting Behavior Change in an Ever Changing World." The presentation focused on developing behavior plans that incorporate strategies for maintaining and transferring treatment gains to other situations, other people, and other times, beyond the intervention or treatment setting. This is an essential outcome of sound and effective treatment.

Approximately 40 individuals from Area 10 and surrounding areas participated in the training session, held at ARC Broward's office in Sunrise. Continuing education is a requirement of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to maintain certification.

This event was beneficial on several levels. It was a quality improvement effort on APD's part that will benefit those receiving this service. It also provided behavior analysts with continuing education hours in their geographic area without having to incur travel expenses.

Tampa Office Sponsors Financial Expo

APD's Suncoast Area office in Tampa sponsored a Financial Fitness Expo on January 31, in partnership with the National Disability Institute, WorkNet Pinellas, the United Way, and other community partners. The free event was held in the James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center in St. Petersburg.

The Financial Fitness Expo was designed to help individuals with disabilities build a better financial future. The event's organizers were very happy about its success. More than 100 individuals attended to receive valuable information on financial education, asset building, and employment.

Changes in APD Leadership

APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine announced some changes in the agency's Senior Management Team during January. Dave Robinson, Ed.D., formerly the administrator of the Area 1 office in Pensacola, was named Deputy Director for Operations, effective January 23. On the same date, Mac McCoy, a veteran of APD leadership, became Operations Officer.

In a memo, DeBeaugrine praised all the members of the team, which also includes Chief of Staff Tamara Demko, Deputy Director for Planning and Budgeting Rhonda Stodard, General Counsel John Newton, and Communications Director Melanie Etters. DeBeaugrine also expressed his high regard for Inspector General Chuck Faircloth, who serves as a key consultant to the senior management team.

"Each of these individuals was selected because of their commitment to the mission of our agency and dedication to serving the people of Florida. They share my belief that the true calling of leadership is service to others," DeBeaugrine said in the memo. "They will be dedicated to helping us improve communications and strengthen accountability. They have my complete trust and confidence."

Children and Youth Cabinet Meets

By Dana Cohen

Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell warmly welcomed attendees to the Children and Youth Cabinet meeting on January 13. The meeting was held at FSU's Innovation Park in Tallahassee. Jim DeBeaugrine, director of APD, was in attendance and serves as one of 20 members of the cabinet. The meeting was held to discuss several factors and issues dealing with adolescents in the state of Florida. Many honorable members of state government were in attendance, including Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who chaired the meeting. The vision statement of the Children and Youth Cabinet is that "All children in Florida grow up safe, healthy, educated and prepared to meet their full potential."

Many new plans have been put into action to benefit Florida's young people. The Kids Weather Survival Week at Disney began January 31. This was implemented to teach children to be better prepared for storms and natural disasters that occur in Florida each year. The main focus was to have children be prepared and able to ask their parents questions such as "Are we prepared?" or "Do we have enough batteries?" The children benefited from the various awards, contests, and games that were available to them throughout the event, while still being able to experience all this in Disney World.

One of the issues discussed among the cabinet members was children's health care. "We can all agree on one issue; make sure all children have health care," stated Sen. Nan Rich (D-Sunrise). Due to the current economic circumstances, each agency was asked by Lt. Gov. Kottkamp to provide a ballpark estimate of what services it could make available.

Three new recommendations were also set forth. These include the State of the Child Report, which recommends, "By producing a State of the Child document, opportunities are afforded for identifying important benchmark indicators for child well being throughout Florida, and facilitating alignment of programs and services." Also, the Study on Screenings, which encourages Florida to "Coordinate across agencies to share child screening information, starting with young children." Lastly, the Testimony from the Whole Child, which recommends, "The Cabinet should receive testimony from the three Whole Child Projects in Florida (Leon, Martin, and Manatee counties) with the intent of exploring opportunities for statewide implementation."

Concluding the meeting were various public presentations presented by several groups. The Florida Association of School Nurses made a presentation and shared several facts and quotes, emphasizing the need for nurses to provide health care in schools. Two of the many facts stated were that there are 23,000 mental health referrals made and more than 500,000 students with chronic diseases in Florida each year. The cabinet hopes to be able to help deal with all the various and numerous issues that face the state's children and youth. The next meeting is scheduled for March 30.

Champion Staff
Melanie Mowry Etters - Editor
Jeff Saulich - Photo Editor
Lloyd Harger - Web Development


In This Issue: APD Congratulates Human Relations Commission APD Director Speaks at FARF Meeting The Job Is in the Bag Message from the Director Governor Eases Sting of Budget Reductions By Jim DeBeaugrine The Agency for Persons with Disabilities ended January with some very happy news. Governor Charlie Crist heard concerns expressed by our community and vetoed the five-percent rate reduction that had passed during the recent special session. I think everyone involved in providing services to our customers was greatly relieved to hear this news. Even with this good news, I want to make sure everyone understands that our agency did take a financial hit. We lost 175 positions, including many in Tallahassee. Thankfully, we anticipated these reductions and through careful management have been able to avoid career service layoffs. Our managers are to be commended for taking decisive and prudent action during such tough economic times. We all should be mindful that the agency may not be as lucky during the regular legislative session beginning in March. I also want to remind everyone that our APD colleagues working at the Gulf Coast Center in Ft. Myers are being affected by the phase-down and ultimate closure of that facility. I urge our managers and other employers to consider Gulf Coast employees for future job openings. They are well trained and experienced individuals with proven track records. Their dedication and character is best evidenced by their continued focus on the well being of the people they serve despite the personal stress of ongoing phase-down activities. This month, the agency will be paying close attention to the federal stimulus package Congress is developing to see if it may provide opportunities for APD customers. We are all staying tuned to what will be sent down from Washington, D.C. Recently, I have noticed among many of the agency's stakeholders a true desire to come together and look for solutions to the many challenges we face. I want to keep stakeholders involved in agency planning. This is very encouraging and will serve us well as we move into the legislative session and face the next hurdle. And finally, I wanted to share that two weeks ago I visited with consumers and their families in Gainesville (see FCC Forum story below). I enjoyed the opportunity to share with everyone what changes are being made at APD and my vision for the agency's future. Thank you for the very positive interaction. Clicking on most photos will open a larger version. APD Congratulates Human Relations Commission APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine participated in a celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Gov. Charlie Crist gave the keynote address for the January 14 event at the Capitol. Tallahassee Mayor John Marks was among the speakers. Director DeBeaugrine noted the vital work of the commission in a statement released after the event. "The Human Relations Commission is a very critical organization to the state as it does not tolerate any type of unfairness based on prejudice," DeBeaugrine stated. "People with disabilities need a level playing field when trying to enter the workforce or renting an apartment. APD appreciates the commission's important work and congratulates the commission on 40 years of truly making a difference in the lives of all Floridians." The Florida Commission on Human Relations enforces civil rights laws and works to eliminate discrimination, including discrimination involving people with disabilities. Visit its Web site at http://fchr.state.fl.us for more information APD Director Speaks at FARF Meeting APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine gave a status report on the agency during the Winter Quarterly Meeting of the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (FARF). The meeting was held January 27 and 28 in Clearwater, featuring several sessions on a variety of topics. DeBeaugrine spoke during the meeting's first session, entitled "Community Supports," on the morning of January 27. After giving an overview of APD's mission and services, he focused on the fiscal challenges faced by the agency and the options for meeting those challenges in the future. Throughout the presentation, DeBeaugrine emphasized the importance of providing high-quality services to people with developmental disabilities. The session also included a talk by Lt. Carol Conry of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of the Attorney General. A question-and-answer segment featuring both presenters concluded the session. FARF is a statewide association that provides advocacy, information, and networking opportunities for individuals with disabilities and the community agencies that serve them. Visit www.floridaarf.org for more information. The Job Is in the Bag By Melanie Mowry Etters "A hard worker," is how Assistant Customer Service Manager Marcia Johnson describes Wendy Senical. Senical, who has a developmental disability and receives services from APD, is a full-time front service clerk at a Publix supermarket in Key West. After four years on the job, she is still enthusiastic about it. "I like what I do. I love the people here," says Senical. Senical's job responsibilities include bagging groceries, assisting customers to their cars, and retrieving carts from the parking lot. She has moved up from part-time work to full-time employment with benefits—an achievement she relishes. "I am proud of myself, actually," says Senical. Johnson says, "Wendy does a real good job. She is friendly and greets customers. She works as hard as anyone else. She does not let her disability get in the way, absolutely not. If I had about 10 more employees just like her, it would be good." The ability for Senical to get to her job was also an important accomplishment. "It is significant that Wendy learned to use public transportation to go to and from work, and to her other appointments in town," says Support Coordinator Alan Roman. Senical says her paycheck goes in the bank; however she does help her mother out with household expenses like electricity. The 38-year-old woman hopes to stay with Publix for her entire career, noting it is a good company to work for. Around the State APD Director Participates in FCC Forum The Area 3 Family Care Council (FCC) sponsored a Family Forum on Saturday, January 24, featuring APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine. He was joined by FCC representatives and staff from APD's Area 3 office in Gainesville. An enthusiastic and attentive audience listened to DeBeaugrine present an overview of current challenges, ongoing initiatives, and future directions for services. Over 50 people were in attendance and heard DeBeaugrine's assessment of the current state of services, as well as his vision for improvements in how services are delivered. After introducing his background and experiences in service to people with developmental disabilities, DeBeaugrine provided attendees with a vision for how future services might look. Quoting former Assistant Secretary for Developmental Disabilities Richard LaPore, who was instrumental in developing Florida's Medicaid waiver program under the Department of Children and Families, DeBeaugrine noted that people served by the agency must be "…given real choices in home, work, personal associations, and all life decisions." "People should be assisted in decision-making based on their preferences rather than being limited to the programs that are available to them," said DeBeaugrine, again quoting LaPore. DeBeaugrine said that, in order to provide true choice, future agency services should include a range of service models, spanning from complete self-management of service delivery to a model similar to the current provider network. Following his presentation, DeBeaugrine was joined by FCC chairperson Frank Carroll, council member Susan Creek, APD Area 3 Administrator Jim Smith, and APD Area 3 Waiver Coordinator Cynthia Tyson in a panel discussion. The panel responded to many pertinent questions from the audience. A reception followed during which audience members enjoyed individual discussions with DeBeaugrine and the other knowledgeable guests. New FABA Chapter in Gainesville Area Behavior analysts in APD's Area 3 office in Gainesville are reaching out to the community through the formation of a new local chapter of the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA). The office in Gainesville has taken the lead in organizing the new chapter, which held its organizational meeting on January 21. Goals of the chapter include promoting the ethical, humane, and effective application of behavior analysis practice in all segments of society, including education, business, industry, and government. The local chapter plans to reach out to parents, teachers, behavior analysts, and other interested parties by providing educational forums, offering continuing education opportunities, and sponsoring a Web site linking individuals to resources and information about current best practice standards. "Behavior Analyst Dr. Elaine Hutchison and Behavior Specialist Donna Carle have worked hard to organize the chapter and lead the first meeting," said Area 3 Administrator Jim Smith. "We have been planning this for some time and it's exciting that we'll be helping to increase the visibility of behavior analysis in North Central Florida." Approximately 25 people participated in the meeting. Officers were elected, charter membership was established, and committees were organized to identify tasks for future meetings. Planned events include guest speakers focusing on topics related to behavior analysis applications relevant to teachers, parents, behavior analysts, and others interested parties. Continuing education opportunities will be offered for these presentations. Chapter membership is open to those interested in learning about and supporting the field of applied behavior analysis. Contact Donna Carle at (352) 955-5786 for more information. The Florida Association for Behavior Analysis was founded in 1980 to promote the ethical, humane, and effective application of behavior principles. Visit www.fabaworld.org to learn more about the organization. Fort Myers Employees Make a Difference By Linda Richardson During the holidays, APD employees in the Area 8 office in Fort Myers collected donations for a worthy cause. On January 10, the proceeds were donated to a therapeutic horse-riding program for people with disabilities. Special Equestrians serves children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. The Fort Myers organization owns nine horses that are trained for therapeutic riding. The Area 8 employees voted and chose this program as the one they wanted to receive their contributions. APD employee Elaine Gage went to the 10-acre facility to present the donation. She was welcomed by Connie Balestri and Allison Spencer of Special Equestrians, who expressed great appreciation for the donation. Enough money was donated to sponsor four scholarships for a six-week riding session. Visit www.specialequestrians.net for more information about Special Equestrians. Training Event Held in Broward County By Haydee Toro, Ph.D., BCBA The Behavior Analysis Unit of APD's Area 10 office in Fort Lauderdale offered a continuing education event for behavior analysis providers. The January 16 event was held in partnership with ARC Broward, which is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a continuing education provider. Area 10 employee Myra Duarte, M.S., BCBA, gave a workshop titled "Lasting Behavior Change in an Ever Changing World." The presentation focused on developing behavior plans that incorporate strategies for maintaining and transferring treatment gains to other situations, other people, and other times, beyond the intervention or treatment setting. This is an essential outcome of sound and effective treatment. Approximately 40 individuals from Area 10 and surrounding areas participated in the training session, held at ARC Broward's office in Sunrise. Continuing education is a requirement of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to maintain certification. This event was beneficial on several levels. It was a quality improvement effort on APD's part that will benefit those receiving this service. It also provided behavior analysts with continuing education hours in their geographic area without having to incur travel expenses. Tampa Office Sponsors Financial Expo APD's Suncoast Area office in Tampa sponsored a Financial Fitness Expo on January 31, in partnership with the National Disability Institute, WorkNet Pinellas, the United Way, and other community partners. The free event was held in the James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center in St. Petersburg. The Financial Fitness Expo was designed to help individuals with disabilities build a better financial future. The event's organizers were very happy about its success. More than 100 individuals attended to receive valuable information on financial education, asset building, and employment. Changes in APD Leadership APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine announced some changes in the agency's Senior Management Team during January. Dave Robinson, Ed.D., formerly the administrator of the Area 1 office in Pensacola, was named Deputy Director for Operations, effective January 23. On the same date, Mac McCoy, a veteran of APD leadership, became Operations Officer. In a memo, DeBeaugrine praised all the members of the team, which also includes Chief of Staff Tamara Demko, Deputy Director for Planning and Budgeting Rhonda Stodard, General Counsel John Newton, and Communications Director Melanie Etters. DeBeaugrine also expressed his high regard for Inspector General Chuck Faircloth, who serves as a key consultant to the senior management team. "Each of these individuals was selected because of their commitment to the mission of our agency and dedication to serving the people of Florida. They share my belief that the true calling of leadership is service to others," DeBeaugrine said in the memo. "They will be dedicated to helping us improve communications and strengthen accountability. They have my complete trust and confidence." Children and Youth Cabinet Meets By Dana Cohen Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell warmly welcomed attendees to the Children and Youth Cabinet meeting on January 13. The meeting was held at FSU's Innovation Park in Tallahassee. Jim DeBeaugrine, director of APD, was in attendance and serves as one of 20 members of the cabinet. The meeting was held to discuss several factors and issues dealing with adolescents in the state of Florida. Many honorable members of state government were in attendance, including Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who chaired the meeting. The vision statement of the Children and Youth Cabinet is that "All children in Florida grow up safe, healthy, educated and prepared to meet their full potential." Many new plans have been put into action to benefit Florida's young people. The Kids Weather Survival Week at Disney began January 31. This was implemented to teach children to be better prepared for storms and natural disasters that occur in Florida each year. The main focus was to have children be prepared and able to ask their parents questions such as "Are we prepared?" or "Do we have enough batteries?" The children benefited from the various awards, contests, and games that were available to them throughout the event, while still being able to experience all this in Disney World. One of the issues discussed among the cabinet members was children's health care. "We can all agree on one issue; make sure all children have health care," stated Sen. Nan Rich (D-Sunrise). Due to the current economic circumstances, each agency was asked by Lt. Gov. Kottkamp to provide a ballpark estimate of what services it could make available. Three new recommendations were also set forth. These include the State of the Child Report, which recommends, "By producing a State of the Child document, opportunities are afforded for identifying important benchmark indicators for child well being throughout Florida, and facilitating alignment of programs and services." Also, the Study on Screenings, which encourages Florida to "Coordinate across agencies to share child screening information, starting with young children." Lastly, the Testimony from the Whole Child, which recommends, "The Cabinet should receive testimony from the three Whole Child Projects in Florida (Leon, Martin, and Manatee counties) with the intent of exploring opportunities for statewide implementation." Concluding the meeting were various public presentations presented by several groups. The Florida Association of School Nurses made a presentation and shared several facts and quotes, emphasizing the need for nurses to provide health care in schools. Two of the many facts stated were that there are 23,000 mental health referrals made and more than 500,000 students with chronic diseases in Florida each year. The cabinet hopes to be able to help deal with all the various and numerous issues that face the state's children and youth. The next meeting is scheduled for March 30. Champion Staff Melanie Mowry Etters - Editor Jeff Saulich - Photo Editor Lloyd Harger - Web Development Email Address: Subscribe Unsubscribe The Agency Supports Persons with Developmental Disabilities in Living, Learning and Working in their Community.
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