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People of faith are called by that faith
to speak for all children.
April 1, 2009
BUDGET & LEGISLATION UPDATE:  
YOUR SUPPORT IS STILL REQUIRED
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1.  Senate Proposes Additional Funding for Child Victims of Prostitution and Trafficking
 
The Senate added $992,000 in the FY2010 budget to provide services for child victims of prostitution and trafficking (Item 160.7 in the Governor's Office of Children & Families).
 
The vote on the full budget has not occurred.  Therefore, these dollars are not guaranteed.
 
Next Action Step:  For both issues 1 and 2, please contact the likely members of the Budget Conference Committee today and ask them to support the additional funding proposed in Item 160.7 of the budget:
 
Rep. Mark Burkhalter
[email protected]
404.656.5072
 
Rep. Ben Harbin
[email protected]
404.463.2247

Rep. Jerry Keen
[email protected]
404.656.5052

Sen. Jack Hill
(404) 656-5038

Sen. Tommie Williams
(404) 463-5220

Sen. Chip Rogers
[email protected]
(404) 463-1378

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2.  Senate Suggests Cuts in PreK Slots for 2010
Voices for Georgia's Children reports that the Senate suggested cuts to the number of new PreK slots for 2010, from the 3,000 recommended by the Governor and endorsed by the House to only 2,500 additional slots.
 
Next Action Step:  For both issues 1 and 2, please contact the likely members of the Budget Conference Committee today and ask them to approve $12,835,888 suggested by the House to fund 3,000 additional preK slots and start-up funds necessary for new classes.:
 
Rep. Mark Burkhalter
[email protected]
404.656.5072
 
Rep. Ben Harbin
[email protected]
404.463.2247

Rep. Jerry Keen
[email protected]
404.656.5052

Sen. Jack Hill
(404) 656-5038

Sen. Tommie Williams
(404) 463-5220

Sen. Chip Rogers
[email protected]
(404) 463-1378
 
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3.  An Increase in the Tobacco (Cigarette) Tax is Needed in Georgia
 
Our legislators are reviewing the budget as we send this message to you.  We are concerned about versions of the budget that would leave Medicaid and PeachCare without enough funds to pay for health care for the large numbers of families who will need help as they lose jobs and health coverage.
 
Raising the tobacco tax by $1.00 on a pack of cigarettes will generate more than $400 million to address these needs.  We also know from other states' experiences that raising the cigarette tax reduces smoking, especially among young people, and saves lives.

Next Action Step:  Please contact your representative and your senator today and express your support for this tax. Ask them to pass the $1.00 per pack cigarette tax.
 
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Please take action on all of these issues today.  We are two days away from April 3, which is the last day of this legislative session.  

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If you do not know who your Representative and Senator are, please use the following link to find out which district you're in: 
 
Fill in the information requested.  A screen will appear that will show your Georgia Senate District and your Georgia House District.
 
Then use the following link to find your Senator:
 
and the following link to find your House Representative:
 
Note:  The links containing the list of senators and representatives in the Secretary of State Web site may not be up to date.  Please be sure to use the links provided above to find your current state senator and house representative.
 
Please take action on all of these causes today!

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4.  SR 506 Up for a Vote Today, April 1
 
To ensure that the prostitution of children stays in the forefront, Senator Renee Unterman introduced another study committee resolution. 
SR 506, "Senate Study Committee on Mental Health Continuum Care," calls for a seven-member study committee to "undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems" experienced by sexually exploited children and "investigate and examine the services available across the public and private sectors capable of recognizing and treating mental health issues in minors."
 
This resolution is being voted on by the full Senate today, April 1, along with more than 50 other bills.  It only needs to pass the full Senate to be approved.
 
What's going on under the Gold Dome?
Daily Legislative Updates
The following links take you to Web sites that provide daily updates on the legislative activity at the Capitol.  Check out these sites to find out how your legislators are addressing your needs and the needs of Georgia's children.2008 ICM newsletter banner
GPB Lawmakers
Voices for Georgia's Children
Spiritual Witness for Children
Prayer
One of the most important things faith communities can do for children is to pray for them.
 
Every child is a child of God and deserves justice and compassion. Every child deserves our prayers.
 
ICM encourages every faith community to become a spiritual witness for children. Hold a worship service in your church, synagogue, mosque or temple and invite others to join in praying for the well-being of all children.
2008 ICM newsletter bannerJOIN ICM and the effort to improve the well-being of Georgia's children. Make a tax-deductible contribution today.
 
Rev Thomas Picture
ICM presents
"Nurturing Our Children"
at its 
April 21, 2009
General Meeting
 
to be held
at Druid Hills UM Church
1200 Ponce de Leon Ave.
at 6:30 p.m.
 
The following topics
will be presented:

"Children in Foster Care"
(presenter, Tom Rawlings, Georgia Child Advocate)

"Children with Disabilities"
(presenter to be announced); and

"Prevention of Child Abuse"
(presenter DePriest Waddy, CEO, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia) 
   
Please call 770-498-2141 for more information and to RSVP for this event.
School to Prison Forum
School to Prison Pipeline Community Education Forum

Anyone with a stake in social justice for children should attend this event.  The forum will be held Saturday, April 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Adamsville Community Center at 3201 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta.  To register, call 770-648-7998 or send an e-mail to: [email protected].  For additional information, you can also go to ICM's Web site.

Mark Your Calendar
Worthwhile Events by ICM,
ICM Partners & Others
Full ICM Calendar
Saturday, April 4
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Stop the School-to-Prison Pipeline Community Education Forum, sponsored by GA State University MSW students, ACLU, ICM, Gwinnett Parent Coalition and Citizens for Better Education, will be held at Adamsville Community Center at 3201 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta.  For more information and to register, call 770-648-7998 or write to [email protected] or go to ICM's Web site
for additional information.
 
Tuesday, April 7
6:30 p.m.
ICM Advocacy Committee meeting at Frazier, Soloway & Poorack, P.C., 1800 Century Place, Suite 100, Atlanta.
 
Saturday, April 18
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Citizenship Day Naturalization Drive and Information Session sponsored by the Atlanta Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), in partnership with Catholic Charities, Inc., Refugee Resettlement & Immigration Services of Atlanta, Latin American Association, North Fulton Bar Association and Child Development Association. Questions? E-mail Chair Elizabeth L.A. Garvish at [email protected].

This is a free event.
 
Tuesday, April 21
6:30 p.m.
ICM General Membership Meeting at Druid Hills United Methodist Church, 1200 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta.
 
The following topics will be presented:
"Children in Foster Care"  (invited to present, Tom Rawlings, Georgia Child Advocate)
 
"Children with Disabilities"  (presenters to be announced); and
 
"Prevention of Child Abuse"  (presenter DePriest Waddy, CEO, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia)
 
Saturday, July 25
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
and
Sunday, July 26
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 
16th Annual Asian Cultural Experience (ACE) at the Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097.

For more information go to: www.asianculturalexperienceinga.com


 

ICM Mission and Goals

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The Interfaith Children's Movement was formed in 2001 as an intentional association of individuals and communities of faith from all religious traditions.

The Interfaith Children's Movement strives to be a voice for all Georgia children, but especially the poor and marginalized whose voices are often unheard. 
 
ICM works closely with Georgia's policy-oriented child advocacy organizatons, such as: 
  • Voices for Georgia's Children,
  • The Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory University,
  • Georgia Appleseed,
  • JUSTGeorgia,
  • Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and
  • A Future.Not a Past. (child prostitution prevention). 

These organizations set the agenda for our advocacy work for children. 

ICM's faith community members provide a megaphone to the legislature about what needs to be done for children.
Send this publication as a Web link
 
Doing what we are called to do.
 Doing what we are able to do. 
 Doing what must be done!