Men don't care what's on TV.  They only care what else is on TV.  -- Jerry Seinfeld

Researchers have found new evidence that autism begins during pregnancy and affects brain development.  Published last month, the NIH-funded study shows a disruption of the layering process during brain development.  The study was published the same day as a CDC report finding there has been a huge surge in Autism diagnoses for children over just the last two years.  During that short amount of time, the number of diagnoses has increased from 1 in 88 children to 1 in 68, a 30 percent increase.

More than 20 years ago, the Legislature made a promise to Floridians:  They pledged a portion of ad valorem taxes paid to the state to be used for affordable housing, and they created trust funds to hold the money.  If the $226 million in those trust funds are used for affordable housing next year, they will create nearly 123,000 jobs and $2.3 billion in positive economic impact in Florida.  The Senate is proposing to do just that, but the House has proposed to use only $89 million for affordable housing, leaving the remaining $137 million on the table to be used for other things.  Read more.

The earlier we detect and address developmental issues in our children, the better it is for them and for society.  Short and long term.

Florida's Early Steps System serves children birth to 36 months who have medical conditions such as Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, hearing/vision impairment, as well as children with significant developmental delays.  Each year, Early Steps helps these children achieve critical developmental milestones, starting them on a path toward success at home and at school.

Yet Florida Early Steps workers carry a caseload almost double their counterparts across the country (1:65 vs. 1:38), and Florida only provides a fraction of Pennsylvania's budget of $5,268 per child.

For next year, Governor Scott, the House and the Senate have included $3.6 million to maintain current services.  An additional infusion of $1.7 million is needed to lower caseloads to 1:55 - still far above the national average.

Technology is just a tool.  In terms of getting kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.  -- Bill Gates

April is "National 9-1-1 Education Month" and a great time to reach out to your community and educate them about Smart911 and 9-1-1 safety.  Smart911 is a free service where individuals can create a safety profile that includes any information they want 9-1-1 to have in the event of a household emergency.  Should an emergency occur and 9-1-1 is dialed from a phone associated with their household safety profile, their profile is immediately displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, providing additional information that can be used to facilitate the proper response to the correct location.

Developed in Australia in 2001, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an eight hour interactive program that trains people to understand and recognize risk factors and warning signs of mental illness and substance abuse.  Bills making their way through the Legislature would make this training available to educators, first responders and the public in order to help people facing those challenges.  Read more.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation reports that students who do not read well by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.  Yet, the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress finds that only 35 percent of fourth graders across the country are proficient in reading, and two years ago, 44 percent of Florida's third graders were not reading at grade level.

Research also shows that children participating in quality afterschool programs perform better on standardized reading and math assessments at grade level, have greater overall academic achievement, have higher grades and academic test scores, and are more engaged in school.  Although many of them want to, 20 percent of Florida's K-12 students do not participate in afterschool programs.

Recognizing that quality afterschool programs not only help kids stay safe, do better in school, enhance their social and emotional growth, and have fun, some legislative leaders are supporting increased state funding in 2014-2015 for at-risk youth in targeted areas to participate in academically oriented afterschool programs.  Research shows that this would be a good deal for those children, their working parents, and taxpayers.

Florida's afterschool system is supported by the Florida Afterschool Network, which has created a fact sheet containing compelling information on the benefits of investing in afterschool programs for our children.

In the 1970s, the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill launched a landmark early childhood intervention study known as the Carolina Abecedarian Project, and it is one of the longest running studies on the benefits of early childhood education for low-income children.  The original study revealed that early educational intervention, along with nutritional supplements, basic social services, and access to health care, produced better outcomes than interventions that took place in older, school-age children.

Recently, researchers discovered that the physical health of those who received high-quality, intensive intervention in the early years from the Abecedarian Project is more robust compared with other adults.  According to the findings, early education intervention may be effective in preventing, or at least delaying, the onset of adult disease.  The study, published in the journal Science on March 27, 2014, is part of a growing body of scientific evidence that hardship in early childhood has lifelong health implications.

Budgets Go to Conference

House Touts Budget

Speaking of Tax Cuts

Predicting Autism

Senate Supports Affordable Housing - And Jobs

Early Steps, The Most Important Steps

April is National 9-1-1 Education Month

Mental Health First Aid Moving

Targeted Afterschool

Early Education: Long-Term Health Benefits

BILLS HEARD THIS WEEK:

Veterans

Early Learning

Human Trafficking

Child Protection

UNITED WAY OF FLORIDA

CHILDREN'S WEEK

CHILDREN'S MOVEMENT OF FLORIDA

FLORIDA CHILDREN'S COUNCIL

ONLINE SUNSHINE

ADVOCACY 101

LOBBY LAW FOR NONPROFITS

FIND YOUR UNITED WAY

Important

Session Dates

March 4

April 6-11

May 2

Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

-- Dave Berry