Network Connections June, 2010

Medicaid, and the Next Frontier for Civil Rights

By Bill Bentley

The state budget crisis is quickly becoming one of the defining issues of our work. In the wake of the economic downturn, vital social programs for children face cuts as states struggle with budget shortfalls in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The most recent example is Medicaid, and its impact on children and families should states not receive this “enhanced” federal aid without our help.

As you know, states use Medicaid to provide health insurance to children from low-income families, their parents, pregnant women and individuals with disabilities. The stimulus package temporarily increased the match rate (known as FMAP) that the federal government paid for Medicaid, to help the financially burdened states. But without an extension of that bumped FMAP rate, the enhanced aid to state Medicaid funding dries up by the end of the year.

Without that federal aid, states may be forced to cut enrollment and services for low-income children. We’ve recently called attention to this issue in an FMAP action alert. Our members have also done a great job of documenting the impact, like Voices for Virginia’s Children’s budget chart showing how the state’s child services will be affected with and without the FMAP bump.

I don’t have to tell you that the ones who suffer will be your states’ most economically vulnerable children. Communities of color disproportionately depend on Medicaid and other social services, in particular.

I strongly believe that the next civil rights fight will take place around children’s issues. Voices has dedicated itself to spearheading policy on these issues, with a commitment to equity and diversity that reaches into the Member Leadership Council and all our work on education, health, poverty and safety.

Notably, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s America Healing initiative seeks to address racial disparities in new and collaborative ways. We are proud to work alongside The W.K. Kellogg Foundation in these efforts to raise the caliber of discussion of race in America.

At the same time, we recognize that policymaking is a marathon and not sprint. Building the movement for investment in children and righting wrongs will not happen overnight. But two years ago, we wouldn’t have thought we’d now be looking at comprehensive health care reform. The battle to ensure a better life for children, regardless of race or income, is underway, and it will be waged in the states. Keep up the good work, all of you on the front lines!

I welcome your thoughts,

Bill

Be Heard at a National Town Hall Meeting

What kind of nation do we want in 2025? Will we be able to educate our children, provide health coverage, generate good jobs and economic security and protect public health and safety? Will we collect enough revenues to carry out the functions of government that you believe in, or will deficits be the driving force for cuts in services?

You can be part of a national forum allowing people all over the country to weigh in on these choices.

“AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy” will engage the American public in an unprecedented national discussion about our federal budget. Thousands of Americans reflecting the demographic, geographic and political diversity of our nation will come together on June 26, 2010 for a National Town Meeting connected via satellite video, webcast, and interactive technologies to weigh in on the difficult choices involved with putting our federal budget on a sustainable path.

These discussions will occur in 19 or 20 cities across the country. Participants will spend about 6 hours on Saturday, June 26 deliberating about how to reduce the deficit in 2025 through some combination of increased revenue and/or reduced spending. By the end of the day, the choices made by the groups in each city will be tallied into a report that will be provided to the President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The AmericaSpeaks project is likely to receive a lot of public attention. It would be quite unfortunate if a disproportionate share of the participants are open only to making cuts in programs. If you live in one of the following cities, please consider signing up!

The Social Security Stories Project

Social Security is a promise made to all generations. You are invited to join the SOCIAL SECURITY STORIES PROJECT, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of Social Security, by gathering and sharing stories about how Social Security has made a meaningful difference in your life or the life of a family member or friend – as it has for one in six Americans. The Project is specifically looking for stories about children and how Social Security has helped them or their family after a tragedy or during these financially tough times.

The SOCIAL SECURITY STORIES PROJECT is an opportunity to join thousands of Americans in showing that you are part of how Social Security has transformed our country, our economy and our people. Telling your story is simple. We’re looking for stories of 400 words or less or about three minutes of video. All of the stories told as part of the Project will be posted on the website and other social networking sites.

Calling All Advocates: Advocating for Children – Strategies and Messages that Work!

Tuesday, July 20 at 2:00 pm EDT

Doug Gould, president of Douglas Gould and Company, and Meg Bostrom, founder of Public Knowledge, will present the results of a comprehensive national study on advocacy messaging that works. This innovative research, funded by the Child Advocacy 360 Foundation, points to clear directions for effective messaging that should be used when mobilizing support for children and youth. Gould and Bostrom, who first presented the early results of this research last November, will present strategic advice that can be used by your organization to help strengthen your work.

To join us on July 20, please visit: http://voicesforamericaschildren.pgimeet.com/utilities/joinLiveConference.aspx?cid=595976&sc=8635&pc=999634 and dial into the conference – 1-866-519-2800, passcode 999634.

Voices Advisory Groups at Forum

As you know, Voices has several policy advisory groups that are working on critical issues for children, from health, to child welfare, to early care and education and K-12 schools, to family economic success. On Wednesday, June 23 many advisory groups will be convening during the 2010 Voices Forum.

Even if you are not engaged with an advisory groups, you are welcome to attend to learn more.

Unfortunately, due to cost constraints, there will not be phone-in opportunities. If you have input or materials you would like to pass along for these meetings, please contact Voices’ staff.

• School Readiness will meet from 8:00 to 10 AM in the Napa 3 Room. During this meeting there will be an update provided on the Voices’ school readiness work, a discussion about state challenges and opportunities, and plans for fall retreat. Terrylynn Tyrell (Tyrell@voices.org) staffs this advisory group.
• Child Welfare will meet from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Napa 1& 2 Rooms. The agenda for this meeting includes: an update on what the network is doing on child welfare, especially around Fostering Connections; planning for the upcoming Best Practices Institute; and a report on Fostering Media Connections Project. Sheri Brady (brady@voices.org) staffs this advisory group.
• Health will meet from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in the Napa 3 Room. Jennifer Ryan from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be joining us to provide an update and timeline on health reform implementation activities. She will also have the opportunity to hear from members on opportunities and challenges in states to implement the health reform law. Carla Plaza (plaza@voices.org) staffs this advisory group.
• Family Economic Success (FES) will meet from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, room has yet to be determined. The agenda for this group will include an update on child nutrition reauthorization and creating a broader FES policy agenda for the broader network. Joanna Shoffner Scott (scott@voices.org) staffs this advisory group.
• School Success will meet from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, room has yet to be determined. The agenda for this discussion will center on federal priorities to collaborate and mobilize around , the network’s work around this issue, the mission of the group and plans and time line of activity for this group. Terrylynn Tyrell (Tyrell@voices.org) staffs this advisory group.

Join Voices Policy Advisory Groups

In order to support learning networks around policy areas, the Member Leadership Council established “Advisory Groups” that are open to all Voices member staff in the major policy areas. Please click on a link to email staff and let them know you are interested in joining the group!

School Readiness
School Success
Child Safety
Equity & Diversity
Family Economic Success
Health

Searching for Pictures

Has your organization had a special event in the last three months? If so and you have pictures, please send them along to Jenn Novesky by Wednesday, June 16 – your image might make a special appearance at Forum 2010!

Dollars and Sense

Did you know you can find RFPs notices on the Philanthropy News Digest website?

Announcing the 2011 Collaboration Prize, a national award designed to identify and showcase models of collaboration among nonprofit organizations. In 2011, the Collaboration Prize will award a total of $250,000 to the collaborations that best exemplify the impact that can result from working together. The online application process will open June 1, 2010, and close on July 16, 2010. FAQs, eligibility criteria and details about the selection process are available at: www.thecollaborationprize.org

The National Education Association launched “Speak Up for Education & Kids,” a national campaign to mobilize educators and others concerned about the budget emergency facing public education.

The U.S. Department of Education has released its federal application for Promise Neighborhoods. The program will award 20 $400,000 – $500,000 competitive planning grants to help urban, rural, and tribal communities design a Promise Neighborhoods pipeline to support children from birth through college. Applications are due June 25. A great resource to assist you in the application process is the The Promise Neighborhoods Institute.

­The White House Interagency Childhood Obesity Task Force released their report, Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity within a Generation. It provides a national road map that will help set measurable goals, benchmarks, and outcomes to help tackle the childhood obesity challenge one child, one family and one community at a time.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships program is offering an opportunity for nonprofit organizations, like Voices members, to engage local funders in a matching grant program to bring together community initiatives that offer new solutions to significant health care issues. The application deadline is June 30, 2010. For more details and to learn how to apply, please visit their website: http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=21021

Advancing Your Cause Through The People You Manage
It’s a fundamental irony of non-profit management: no social justice advocate ever dreams of being a manager, yet the most successful policy analysts, organizers, and litigators often find themselves tasked with leading a team. This book provides brief, easy-to-use tools for new and experienced managers, including:

• How Am I Doing? A Management Self-Assessment Tool
• The Three Questions All Employees Ask and Every Manager Needs to Answer
• Root Causes: Why Employees Don’t Get the Job Done
• Having Successful Staff Meetings

The Fostering Connections Resource Center, together with the Children’s Defense Fund and ChildFocus, invite you to join a free webinar on Thursday, June 17, 2010 from 2-3 PM EDT on the kinship provisions of the Fostering Connections Act. The kinship provisions support state efforts to promote family connections for children in and leaving foster care. Space is limited. Reserve your webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/349684641

News from the Network

The Florida Family Child Care Home Association will bestow two prestigious awards at their annual meeting in June: This 8,000 member organization has voted to enshrine Linda Alexionok, executive director at the Children’s Campaign, into their Advocate Hall of Fame and the Children’s Campaign will also receive their Agency Helped the Association Prosper Award.

The Rhode Island Foundation selected Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and Elizabeth Burke Bryant to receive their Community Leadership Award for commitment, innovation, and passion in promoting positive outcomes for Rhode Island children.

Last month Jack Kresnak, president/CEO for Michigan’s Children, delivered testimony at the public hearing on the State Board of Education’s “Principles to Guide Michigan’s Education System Restructuring.” Read the testimony, sign-on letter and press release.

Congratulations to Voices for Ohio’s Children, who won the Crain’s Cleveland Business Health Care Heroes Award (Advocacy Organization). To read more about the award and about the outstanding work of Voices for Ohio’s Children around health care, click here.

Children’s Alliance is hiring for positions in their Seattle Office.

2010 Voices Events

June
16: School Readiness Bi-Monthly Advisory Group Call
4:00PM EDT
contact Terrylynn Tyrell, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Policy tyrell@voices.org for more information

18: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

23-25: Forum 2010
Berkeley, CA

July
9: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

20: Calling All Advocates
2:00 p.m. EDT
“Advocating for Children – Strategies and Messages that Work!”
Doug Gould, president of Douglas Gould and Company, and Meg Bostrom, founder of Public Knowledge, will present the results of a comprehensive national study that points to clear directions for effective messaging that should be used when mobilizing support for children and youth.

23: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

August
6: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

17: Calling All Advocates
2:00 p.m. EDT
“Diversifying Your Staff and Board”
For those that may not be able to join us for this session at Forum, we will be giving an encore presentation on the ways you can diversify your staff and board.

20: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

September
10: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

14: Calling All Advocates
2:00 p.m. EDT
“The Aspen Institute Initiative on Financial Security – How to Help Children Save”

21: Calling All Advocates
2:00 p.m. EDT
“Fund Development, Part 1 of 2″

24: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

October
8: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

19: Calling All Advocates
2:00 p.m. EDT
“State Budgets: Preparing for 2011″

22: Electoral Advocacy Help Desk
2:00 PM EDT
1-866-910-4857, Passcode: 756514

November

23: Calling All Advocates
2:00 p.m. EDT
“Fund Development, Part 2 of 2″

December
7: Calling All Advocates
2:00 p.m. EDT
“Evaluating Advocacy”