Priority #1: Foster Care

Preserve the funding of effective programs designed to prepare foster and former foster youth to mature into independent adults who contribute to society in a positive manner.

Why?

In 2007, Federal and State funds totaling nearly $27 Million were allocated for Florida's Transitional Independent Living and Road to Independence programs, both of which are designed to prepare foster and former foster youth to mature into independent adults who contribute to society in a positive manner. These programs continue to fall short of meeting the need as former foster youth struggle more than any other population with underemployment, lack of education, unwanted pregnancy, and incarceration as the following numbers tell:

• One in four will be incarcerated within the first two years after they leave the system
• Over one-fifth will become homeless after age 18
• Only 58% obtain a high school degree at age 19 in contrast to the State graduation rate of 70%
• Less than 3% earn college degrees by age 25
• Approximately 38 percent are employed 12-18 months after leaving foster care
• More than one third suffer emotional disturbances
• Between 40- 60% of young women become pregnant within 12 to 18 months after leaving foster care

(Connected by 25 Report, 2005 and Casey Family Programs Report, 2005)

Priority #2: Booster Seats

Support HB 357 by Representative Steinberg and SB 1404 by Senator Altman

Enact legislation that requires a child aged 4-7 years old to be in an age appropriate child restraint system while riding in a passenger car.

Why?

• Children who are appropriately restrained are 28% less likely to die in motor vehicle crashes
(The Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 2006)
• Children using booster seats are 59% less likely to be injured than children using seatbelts alone (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2003)
• Children in seatbelts alone are 4 to 5 times more likely to receive head injuries 
(Pediatrics, 2002)
• Children in seatbelts alone are 3 times more likely to sustain abdominal injuries.
(Annals of Surgery 2004)
• Note: Booster seats can be purchased for $11 and many organizations give them out free.

Priority #3: Girls’ Advocacy Project (GAP)

Continue funding the Girls Advocacy Project programs (within the Department of Juvenile Justice budget) in Miami-Dade, Orange and Palm Beach counties of this successful direct intervention service program for girls in Florida’s juvenile detention centers.

Why?

• Florida leads the nation in locking up girls
• Girls make up the fastest growing segment of Florida’s juvenile justice system
• Girls are sent to lock-up facilities because local intervention and treatment services are unavailable
• Girls require gender specific programming because their needs are different than boys and they are more likely to end up involved with the juvenile justice system as a means to escape abusive home environments.