Legislative Session proves pivotal for Kansas children and their families

The Legislature adjourned earlier this month after making a significant commitment to initiatives that will benefit Kansas children and their families. 

"This Legislature has made a pivotal investment in our next generation," said Shannon Cotsoradis, executive vice president and COO of Kansas Action for Children. "The action taken this Session will result in more Kansas children having access to health, education and economic opportunities. Communities across the state will benefit from these investments in our future."

HEALTH POLICY:

Legislature prioritizes children's health 

 Health Insurance for Children. Kansas policymakers took action to make children a priority in broader health reform. The Legislature passed an expansion of HealthWave - the state children's health insurance program - to provide affordable health care access to the fastest-growing group of uninsured Kansas children. Beginning in 2009, eligibility will increase to 225% of poverty and, by 2010, eligibility will increase to 250% of poverty. Families whose children are enrolled in HealthWave pay a monthly premium based upon their household income. Among the champions of the HealthWave legislation were: Senate President Stephen Morris (R-Hugoton), Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt (R-Independence), Sen. Susan Wagle (R-Wichita) and Sen. Vicki Schmidt (R-Topeka).

EDUCATION POLICY:

Legislature strengthens commitment to early childhood education, afterschool 

 Early Learning Opportunities.

The Legislature approved $11.1 million in new funding for early learning initiatives, and renewed its commitment to dedicate the Children's Initiatives Fund (CIF) dollars to programs that benefit Kansas children. Approved as the Kansas Early Childhood Block Grant, the $11.1 million will be administered by the Children's Cabinet through an RFP process for programs that are research-based and have accountability measures. The funding will improve access to such programs as Pre-Kindergarten, Early Head Start, Parents as Teachers and quality child care initiatives. At least 30 percent of the Block Grant dollars will be earmarked for infant and toddler programs. The new Block Grant was proposed by Governor Sebelius in her budget recommendations, and was championed in the Legislature by Children's Cabinet members Sen. Laura Kelly (D-Topeka) and Sen. David Wysong (R-Mission Hills) along with Senate Ways and Means Chair Dwayne Umbarger (R-Thayer).  

 Child Care Assistance. The Legislature closed a shortfall in the Child Care Assistance Program by approving $2.5 million in additional funding. The increase will allow more Kansas parents to remain in the workforce by increasing access to affordable quality child care for more than 800 additional children.

ECONOMIC POLICY:

New law stands to improve child support collections for Kansas families 

 Child Support Enforcement.

Kansas policymakers made it a little easier to ensure that families who are owed child support are more likely to receive payments. The Legislature approved a new law that allows for the use of a process that matches data between parents owing child support and citizens receiving liability insurance claims. This, in turn, facilitates the use of insurance liens to ensure that child support payments are made.

In many Kansas households child support is a vital source of income. When child support payments are not made, it places a strain on both the individual family affected and on state and federal safety net programs. In fact, researchers have estimated that if all families in need of child support had orders in place and those orders were fully enforced, assistance from safety net programs would drop by 26 percent, while food stamp costs would drop by 19 percent and Medicaid costs would drop by 5 percent. 

Expert says lack of early childhood education is expensive later 

(Salina Journal) Providing quality, early childhood education is expensive, but failing to invest in the early years of a child's development is far more costly. That's the message Michael Burke, program director of the Buffet Early Childhood Fund, delivered May 7 to business and community leaders in Salina. Burke's appearance was part of a statewide effort - funded by a grant from Kansas Action for Children and the Kansas Health Foundation - to share the impact of early learning initiatives on our state's future workforce.

"Quite often, the corrosive effects of poverty during such a critical developmental phase means young children are more at risk during the period of most substantial brain growth," said Burke. "You know what this means for your future workforce? It's not pretty."

The Buffet Fund is working to establish state-of-the-art Educare Centers across the country that will provide quality, early childhood education for low-income families. Five centers are operating now, including one in the Buffet family's hometown of Omaha, Neb.

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