Our agenda and legislative priorities

As the Florida legislature convenes for the 2010 regular session, United Way of Miami-Dade prepares to address important community needs. 

At the February board meeting, United Way of Miami-Dade approved our 2010 legislative agenda which continues to give priority support to the following three issues:

• State budget:  make strategic and not across-the-board cuts; maximize revenues to bring in all available federal funds; focus on prevention programs; use new sources of revenue.
• Local control of public and private funding:  oppose efforts to limit the ability of locally approved entities to determine the best use of resources, including restrictions on local taxation; oppose legislation that would limit the authority of local public employers to direct their employee charitable campaigns.
• Early childhood funding: protect current funding for early childhood programs and use all available federal funds; support efforts to require degreed teachers in Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) classrooms by year 2013. 

Our 2010 agenda also includes support for three additional issues:

• Youth:  support adequate and equitable program funding for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
• Background checks:  support legislation to require electronic background checks for all human services personnel who work with children and vulnerable adults.
• Financial stability:  remove the cap on the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund, a dedicated source of funding for affordable housing programs.  Ensure that all funds are used for existing affordable housing. 

Finally, the agenda includes issues to be monitored which align closely with our community impact goals and objectives.

Advocacy is one of the ways United Way works to advance the common good.  
Real and sustained community change requires more than money and it is why we engage decision-makers and policy leaders to help address the most important community needs.

It is through speaking up, educating and mobilizing public opinion about the issues that matter to us and our community, that we further our work in education, income and health. 

Look for more information on these issues, and updates on the 2010 Florida Legislative Session, in our next LIVE UNITED newsletter.  Click here to sign up.

Monitored issues:

Priority issues:

• Youth:  support legislation and funding to expand and improve afterschool programs. 
• Older Adults:  support adequate recurring state General Revenue funding for home- and community-based services such as ‘Community Care for the Elderly’.
• Health:  protect vulnerable Medicaid recipients from state cuts that limit access or cap needed benefits; continue to monitor Florida’s Medicaid Reform pilots; expand funding for Florida KidCare to cover additional eligible children.

Additional issues:

• Quality early care and education: support professional development, research-based curricula, pre- and post-VPK assessments and consolidated administration of Florida’s early learning programs. 
• Healthy children:  establish a system to ensure timely screenings and assessments for your children.
• Family supports: support evidence- and research-based home visiting programs, such as ‘Healthy Families’, that prevent child abuse and neglect; maintain adequate funding for ‘Community-based Care’ programs and services.
• Financial stability: oppose predatory financial products that reduce savings and perpetuate a cycle of poverty.