NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Update

Covenant Membership News

2010-08-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Dear Members,

The Legislature adjourned for the year on Saturday morning sometime around 5:42 AM. Below is a summary of how our 2010 legislative agenda fared. You can also follow this link to see a word version. Many thanks to Covenant Intern, Elizabeth Ireland, for putting this document together.

Best, Rob

Covenant with North Carolina's Children
2010 Legislative Agenda Wrap-up
CHILD WELFARE PRIORITIES

1. Assure the safety and health of NC's most vulnerable children by protecting existing child welfare services from further cuts.
Result? Child welfare services were significantly cut in this year's budget. State funding to counties, which enables county-level Divisions of Social Services to provide services and financial assistance to ensure the safety, self-sufficiency, and permanency for children and families, was reduced by $2.4 million dollars. NC REACH scholarships for foster children were also reduced by $1.7 million dollars, and 15 state-level positions were eliminated. Child advocacy centers also suffered a $375,000 cut, which eliminates state funding for the organizations.

2. Appropriate $2.8 million to the NC Division of Social Services for family preservation services and $6.6 million for facilitators of child and family teams.
Result? No additional funding was granted for family preservation services or child and family team facilitation.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PRIORITIES
1. Sustain funding for all early childhood programs including More at Four, Smart Start, subsidy and TEACH.

Result? Smart Start funding was cut by $5 million, which equates to a 2.5% reduction. Child care subsidies were reduced by $6 million in anticipation of savings from a new Electronic Payment System. The Electronic Payment System is not yet in place, so it is difficult to know how much, if at all, child care subsidies will save with the new system. The TEACHÒ program was not affected by this budget.

2. Support the bills developed by the Joint Legislative Task Force on Consolidation of Early Childhood Education and include expanded membership of the study committee.
Result? As recommended by the Joint Legislative Task Force on Consolidation of Early Childhood Education, special provisions of the budget create a new More at Four funding model for FY 2010-11 and move regulatory functions for More at Four private sector classrooms from the Office of Early Learning to The Division of Child Development. The legislature approved the electronic payment system, but the savings from the system were budgeted before a complete study of cost-savings could be completed. The General Assembly will also continue the work of the Task Force through the creation of a joint legislative committee that will continue to look at ways to consolidate the delivery and administration of early childhood services through the end of 2010. The new committee will include five members of the House, five members of the Senate, seven ex-officio members from the child care community, and one non-voting pediatrician. The Senate passed S 1119, which will consolidate the transcript evaluation of early childhood educators, on July 7, 2010.

ECONOMIC SECURITY PRIORITIES

1. Maintain funding for the state refundable Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Result? Funding levels for the EITC remained the same.

2. Sustain and, if possible, increase funding for the NC Housing Trust Fund, Home Protection Program, and State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project.

Result? This year's budget reduces the Home Protection Program by $2.5 million, but it is anticipated that federal funding will help with this program. The State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project and NC Housing Trust Fund were not reduced or expanded in this year's budget.

EDUCATION PRIORITIES

1. Ban the use of corporal punishment on children with disabilities.

Result? Passed! H 1682 was signed by the Governor on July 6, 2010. The bill allows parents of students with disabilities to opt out of corporal punishment when it is used in their child's school.

2. Preserve the integrity of the public school classroom and the supports and services that students need to be successful.

Result? Overall, the legislature did a very good job of preserving classroom supports and services by leaving untouched funding for the Disadvantaged Supplemental Student Fund, the Low Wealth Supplemental Funding, At-Risk Allotment, and instructional and non-instructional support personnel. However, the budget reduces instructional supplies by about $ 3.3 million, or 3.5% of the allocation. The budget also eliminates all state funding for mentoring services, which is about a $9.2 million cut.

HEALTH PRIORITIES

1. Ensure that all foods sold in NC public schools meet minimum, science-based nutrition standards.

Result? H 900, which would direct the Department of Public Instruction to review the nutritional standards for food and beverages and require food sold in schools to meet certain nutritional requirements, passed the House in 2009. The Senate Committee on Education discussed the bill on July 7, 2010, but the bill failed to move. New legislation will need to be introduced next session.

2. Protect Medicaid/Health Choice funding and raise the Health Choice enrollment cap so that all eligible children can access affordable, quality healthcare.

Result? An additional $6.5 million was allocated for NC Health Choice. This funding will allow an additional 2,750 children to enroll in Health Choice. However, we still remain far short of covering every child in the state.

JUVENILE JUSTICE PRIORITIES
1. Preserve the current $23 million allocation to county Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPCs).
Result? The legislature will continue to allocate $23 million for county JCPCs.

2. Avoid additional cuts/reductions to DJJDP facilities and personnel, which were subjected to disproportionate cuts in the 2009-10 budget.
Result? The budget removes an additional 31.5 positions throughout DJJDP. Although these positions are currently vacant, some are vacant due to previous hiring freezes mandated by the General Assembly. The budget also enacted a management flexibility cut of approximately $2.7 million. While DJJDP may decide from where to cut these funds, they still represent a loss to DJJDP.

MH/DD/SA PRIORITIES
1. Continue and expand funding for early screening and intervention for mental illness and developmental disabilities.
Result? No direct funding was eliminated for early screening and intervention for mental illness and developmental disabilities. Moreover, last year's $40 million cut for community services was restored in this year's budget. Special provisions from this budget did, however, mandate an independent assessment prior to the authorization of any enhanced mental health services. These assessments must be performed by an "independent assessment entity," yet these entities do not exist. Thus, many patients may be unable to access services because they are unable to obtain assessments. Children's outpatient mental health services were also negatively impacted in this budget, as services now require prior authorization after 16 visits instead of 26 to qualify.

2. Develop and fund a continuum of research supported, community-based services for children and adolescents to prevent harmful confinement in hospitals and detention centers.
Result? No legislative action was taken to address this agenda item.

SAFETY PRIORITIES1. Preserve current funding for proven Infant Mortality Prevention Programs.
Result? The package of infant mortality funding that advocates hoped for was funded in its entirety. The budget includes $247,000 for the Safe Sleep campaign and 17-p Progesterone education and distribution. The budget also allocates $350,000 for the NC Folic Acid Campaign, managed by the March of Dimes. The aforementioned items were all funded with money from the Health and Wellness Trust Fund. The budget also includes $325,000 for the high-risk pregnancy program at East Carolina School of Medicine. Although all the programs were funded, the infant mortality prevention funding is non-recurring, so no infant mortality prevention program funding will be automatically included in the FY 2011-12 budget.

2. Promote policies that mitigate the impact of gun violence on children and the people who serve children and families.
Result? No policies related to gun violence were addressed during the short session.

Other Covenant-related bills:

The Responsible Individuals List (S 567): passed the Senate on July 7, 2010. This bill adds additional due process protections to the Responsible Individuals List, which is a list of individuals responsible for the abuse or serious neglect of children. With the passage of this bill, the list will go back online and can be used by DHHS to inform child care institutions, child placing agencies, group home providers, and other providers of foster care, child care, or adoption services that need to determine the fitness of individuals to care for or adopt children.

Child Care Nutrition Standards (H 1726): passed the Senate on July 7, 2010. This bill requires the Child Care Commission, DHS and DCD to develop improved nutrition standards for child care facilities and recommend guidelines pertaining to physical activity for children in the facilities by December 1, 2010.

Non-profit Oversight (H 1852): Originally, this bill was intended to take 2% from state funding for non-profits and use the funding for program evaluation. An amended version of this bill authorizes the Legislative Research Commission to study how to evaluate non-profit grants most effectively and present findings during the 2011 session of the General Assembly.

Covenant Membership News

2010-06-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Budget Summary

Overview -

Last night, the Conference Committee for S897 (budget bill) released the final version of the state budget (Click here to access the money report; click here to access the special provisions). Both chambers plan to give final passage by Wednesday, 6/30.

Given the circumstances, House and Senate negotiators did a respectable job maintaining funding for important health and education priorities, though certain areas, such as Social Services, took it on the chin. At the bottom of this email is a more detailed summary of how different child-related items fared (I'll have some notes on the special provisions tomorrow).

In this final draft of the budget, legislators included an "Extraordinary Measures" provision, which instructs the executive branch on what to do if Congress fails to extend the FMAP increase and NC is faced with an increased shortfall up to $518 million. The legislature instructs the state budget director to take the following actions in this order beginning January 1st:
(1) Transfer from the Disaster Relief Reserve Fund (30,000,000)
(2) Transfer of unclaimed lottery prize money and excess receipts (35,000,000)
(3) Use of interest from all other funds (50,000,000)
(4) Use of balance in General Fund Availability (23,469,157)
(5) Reduction of Medicaid Provider rates (26,618,975)
(6) Use of funds from the Savings Reserve Fund (37,307,714)
(7) Reduction in Retirement System contributions (139,000,000)
(8) One percent (1%) Management Flexibility Reduction spread across all agencies (177,500,000)

Thus, if by January 1st, NC receives no money, then the budget director will implement all listed options. Two
of the options will have a significant impact on children and family services - reduction of Medicaid rates and the one percent flexibility cut.

Like previous proposals, this budget is very tight, meaning that there's little room for any deviation from the predictions set forth. However, there are LOTS of anticipating savings that might not materialize, which could mean significant cuts during the course of the year.

HHS
Division of Child Development
Smart Start - $5 million (2.5%) reduction. The Senate recommended a $10 million reduction, while the House recommended no reduction.

Child Care Subsidy - $23 million are replaced with federal TANF dollars. No expected impact on subsidy availability.

Electronic Payment System for Child Care Subsidy - the final report includes $6 million in anticipated savings from an electronic payment system. The payment system does not yet exist and any unrealized savings could come from subsidy dollars.

MH/DD/SA
Community Service Funds - The Conference Committee includes $40 million to restore cuts made in the last budget cycle. This is great news for a depleted system. (Over $30 million of this restoration comes from a transfer from the More at Four program, which was then backfilled with federal dollars.)

School-based Child and Family Teams - no cut

Whitaker School to PRTF - This appears as a $1.9 million cut, but it allows the Whitaker School to be Medicaid eligible.

Public Health
Positions Eliminated - The final budget eliminates 27 positions ($900,000). This will be tough for the Division to handle given that it is already stretched.

Universal Vaccine Program - The conference report eliminates the appropriation ($15,894,853) for the Universal Vaccine Program, though it includes $3 million to help purchase vaccines in advance of the 2010-11 school year. In the future, children served under the public vaccine program will be receive vaccines through private insurers.

School Health Nurses - The final budget includes $500,000 in expansion for 10 additional school health nurses.

AIDS Drug Assistance Program - The final budget includes $14,177,632 in additional funding, which will ensure that eligible individuals who are enrolled as of July 1 will be served.

Infant Mortality Prevention - The Folic Acid, 17-p Progesterone, and Safe Sleep campaigns are all funded through an allocation from the Health and Wellness Trust fund. The High-risk Clinic at ECU is also funded through an allocation from the Trust fund.

Adolescent and Teen Pregnancy Prevention - $400,000 is allocated for prevention, teen parenting, and drop-out prevention. $250,000 is allocated for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of NC.

NC Health Choice
Enrollment Growth - The final report includes $6.5 million in expanded funding for enrollment growth. It's estimated that this increased funding would cover an additional 2,750 children.

Division of Medical Assistance (DMA)
Mental Health Drug Savings - This item adds mental health drugs to a Preferred Drug List, which budget writers believe will save $10 million. Mental Health advocates are concerned that the inclusion of mental health drugs on a PDL will prevent clients from receiving the services that they need.

Prior Authorization for Children's Outpatient Services - this item requires prior authorization for children's outpatient visits at 16 visits instead of 26. This will likely mean that some kids don't get the services that they need. Budget writers estimate $933,547 in savings.

Enhanced Mental Health Changes - $41 million cut. It's unclear how this is anything different from a flexibility cut. The budget writers direct the Department to find savings through "rate and utilization management."

Division of Social Services
Position Eliminations - 15 positions eliminated, which will be tough given that the Division is already under-staffed. ($959,632)

Children's Advocacy Centers - $375,000 cut in state-funding, though the budget writers stipulate that the reduction will be offset by an allocation from the Social Services Block Grant.

NC REACH - The cut to the NC REACH scholarship program for foster youth is consistent with the House and Senate proposals - $160,507 recurring and $1,584,125 non-recurring.

Permanency Planning Match - This item is a reduction of $682,512 in state spending. It requires counties to be responsible for 25% of the match requirement for federal IV-81 funding. This is troublesome, because many of these counties are worse off than the state, especially low-income counties.

PUBLIC EDUCATION
Lottery Receipts - The conference committee decided to adopt the House's proposal to make available additional lottery funds to protect teacher jobs. $121,243,793.

More at Four - There is a $30,599,012 reduction to state More at Four state spending, but that money is being replaced by TANF emergency contingency funds.

Mentoring - All state funded mentoring programs are eliminated for this fiscal year. $9,214,190 cut for this year only.

Child and Family Support Teams - $2.5 million reduction that will be distributed by the state Board of Education to schools it deems to be implementing the programs ineffectively.

Textbooks - $2.5 million is allocated for the emergency purchase of new textbooks.

At-risk student allotment and DSSF - the final budget includes no cuts to these funds designed to support at-risk students.

JUVENILE JUSTICE
Flexibility Reserve - Though not in either the House or Senate budget, the conference committee assigned the Department with finding $2.7 million in savings. However, there was a line item in both budgets that reduced the YDC budget by $2.5 million that's not included in the final report. It appears that legislators agreed to give the Department more flexibility in finding savings.

Eliminates Positions - 31 vacant positions are eliminated saving $1,158,259. Just because these positions are vacant doesn't mean that they aren't needed.

Restores Samarkand YDC - this restoration costs $3,521,954 and increases much needed capacity for YDC placement.

Legislative Update from the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2010-06-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

In this update:

I. Budget Update
II. Conferee Recommendations
III. Corporal Punishment
IV. Non-profit funding issue
V. Meeting Reminder

BUDGET UPDATE

House and Senate Budget Conferees are now meeting to work out the differences between their respective budget proposals. Here's the timeline that was passed out at a meeting of HHS Conferees next week:

6/14 - 6/18 - Sub-committee conferees meet and make recommendations

6/21 - 6/25 - Conferee chairs meet to resolve any remaining issues (and make changes to anything that they don't like).

6/29 - House and Senate adopt conference report

At that same meeting of HHS conferees, there was also a list of rules passed out. I've pulled out a couple of the most important:

1. Conferees may include reductions not included in either the House or Senate budget.
2. Conferees may further reduce or eliminate items that are not in controversy.
3. Conferees cannot expand any items beyond the higher amount in either the House or Senate budget.

These rules essentially mean that nothing is safe, even if it is included in both the Senate and House budgets.

CONFEREE RECOMMENDATIONS

We've drafted a memo to legislators that provides guidance on items in controversy between the two chambers. Please follow this link to take a look at our recommendations.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

Good news! The House unanimously approved a bill that would allow parents of children with disabilities to opt their children out of corporal punishment. The bill also includes reporting requirements so that we know which children are receiving corporal punishment and why. The bill will now move to the Senate, where we expect a hearing in the Education Committee next week.

IMPORTANT NON-PROFIT FUNDING ISSUE

[FROM NC CENTER FOR NON-PROFITS]

Contact House Speaker Joe Hackney this week to let him know that a coalition of more than 220 nonprofits opposes the provision in H.B. 1852 that would allow state agencies to withhold up to 2% of nonprofits' grants to fund oversight.

It's important for Speaker Hackney to know that the 2% withholding provision is a problem for nonprofits and shouldn't be considered during the legislative short session. You can contact him at 919-733-3451 or Joe.Hackney@ncleg.net.

While other parts of the bill would create reasonable standards for state agency oversight, the 2% withholding provision is a problem. It will cut into the essential services that nonprofits provide. More information and talking points are available here: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103473892235&s=23407&e=001KUfahqKUnh1gJKQULlyU-MLhk6KG6Xr_SMJtSBy13LZ2Kz_PcLWFEDsqNIJ24lsrbJ6stsm6VxuIgJnVf_NADYLuHDFACItSms4rhK-rk57lRF5lcwu2z_vz65jO4oHlwjldFwKdCdUvE-Eb1jAROGeZzW0f3AWZpDiZzqwhnAU=.

MEETING REMINDER

Covenant membership meeting
Monday, 6/21, 12 pm - 2 pm
NCAE
700 S. Salisbury St, Raleigh

Covenant Membership News

2010-06-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Hi Folks,

The House Appropriations Committee approved a budget proposal this afternoon after hearing around 70 amendments. While there were no huge changes in how money would be allocated, the Committee did make some significant revisions to the budget bill. Below is a brief summary of some of those changes (and some of the changes that weren't made).

The budget bill (S897) will be heard by the full House tomorrow and Friday.

Child Care Subsidy - Last year, the Legislature included a special provision that allows recipients of child care subsidies to maintain their eligibility for six months after a job loss to allow them to find new employment or receive job training. The Senate proposal eliminates this expanded eligibility in its budget proposal and the House eliminates most of the expanded eligibility it its proposal.

Rep. Alma Adams ran an amendment to restore the expanded eligibility, but that provision failed on a voice vote. Rep. Angela Bryant ran an amendment that would have allowed those currently receiving subsidy under the expanded eligibility to continue receiving subsidy, but that amendment failed as well.

Early Childhood Task Force - Rep. Rapp ran an amendment that will include all stakeholders on the Early Childhood Consolidation Task Force that will continue to meet next year. The Task Force was originally proposed to include only legislators, so it's definitely a good thing that early childhood experts will be at the table. However, only legislators will have a vote on official recommendations.

Reinstate Woodson Wilderness Camp - The Committee voted in favor of an amendment run by Rep. Susan Fisher that restores funding for the Woodson Wilderness Camp, and transfers the reduction to the cut in DJJDP's continuation budget. Funding for Woodson was included in the Senate budget, so it will be included in the conference report.

ECU High Risk Clinic - Rep. William Wainwright ran a successful amendment to restore funding for the ECU High Risk clinic, which provides support for rural doctors treating at-risk, pregnant women. This is great, because this is the only infant mortality program not included in the Senate budget, which means that all infant mortality programs are eligible for consideration in conference committee.

Universal Vaccine Program - Rep. Bob England ran an amendment that would restore $5 million to the universal vaccine program on a non-recurring basis, so that doctors can buy sufficient amounts of vaccines in advance of the school year. This is one-time money that is meant to help the state transition away from the state-funded vaccine program in favor of a program that relies on the private insurance industry.

Healthy Children Lobby Day-We Need Your Help!

2010-05-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Hi Folks,

As you already know, we, along with Action for Children, are hosting a Healthy Children Lobby Day. Please join us on Wednesday June 9th for a day of action to promote children's health in the General Assembly. We'll call on our state leaders to maintain funding for critical children's health services, including NC Health Choice and Infant Mortality Prevention

Mark Your Calendars:

When: Wednesday, June 9, 8:30 AM-2:00 PM

Where: Legislative Portico (outside, on the back of the Legislative Building, next to the bridge)

*Refreshments will be provided.

The time is NOW to give a strong voice to these programs critical to the health of NC's children. The House's budget just cut all of the enrollment expansion for Health Choice included in the Governor's and Senate's budgets. We must speak for the eligible children and families that will not receive quality health care if Health Choice isn't given proper funding. Please help us make sure that Legislators don't forget children's health in the budget!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Join us! As someone who works full time on behalf of children, your voice at the legislature is important!

Contact your members! Please forward this to your networks and anyone who may be interested in coming to speak with legislators about these important children's health issues. Also, if you know any constituents in the counties listed below that would be willing to speak with Legislators, let us know and we can make an appointment for them. We have briefing materials and trained advocates to help everyone feel comfortable in speaking with Legislators.

We need constituents for the following counties: Anson, Buncombe, Chatham, Cleveland, Davidson, Duplin, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Nash, Orange, Richmond, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Vance, Warren, and Wilson Counties.

Please join us on June 9th for an exciting and important event! Our Legislators need to hear (repeatedly!) that we will not let them forget children's health during this time of economic hardship. If you or a representative from your organization is planning on coming, please RSVP by sending an email to our intern Margaret Stacy at margaret@nccovenant.org.

If you or someone you know wants to participate but can't get to Raleigh on the 9th, call and set up phone appointments with your legislators for June 9th or let us know and we'll set on up for you. If you wish to have a phone (or in-person) appointment set up for you, email our intern Elizabeth Ireland at elizabeth@nccovenant.org.

We look forward to seeing you on June 9th!
Thanks,
Rob, Margaret and Elizabeth

Covenant Legislative Update and Announcements

2010-05-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

May 24, 2010:
In this update:

I. Budget Update
II. Update on Legislative Agenda Items
III. Upcoming Events
IV. Change to Legislative Agenda

I. Budget Update

Following the Senate's lead, the House is expected to work very quickly to pass a budget. The timeline that they're expected to follow would have sub-committees passing out recommendations by the end of this week and a vote by the full Appropriations Committee next Tuesday. The full House would then debate and vote on the budget bill next Wednesday and Thursday.

A note on the process - please remember that if funding for an item is not included in either the Senate or House proposals, then the conference committee cannot consider including that funding in the final budget bill. In short, if it's not in the Senate proposal, it has to be in the House proposal or it's off the table.

Child Advocates, Beware! (and take action)

Last Thursday, at the House HHS Appropriations meeting, the Appropriations Committee Chairs distributed a document that had some troubling recommendations for HHS Committee members. Here are two that are particularly problematic:

1. "Consider consolidating pre-k and child development programs (More at Four and Smart Start)."
2. "Propose cuts in Medicaid and Health Choice that slow growth."

As more and more North Carolinians lose their employer-provided health care, now is the absolute wrong time to limit growth in Medicaid and Health Choice. Please follow this link to tell legislators to increase, not decrease, funding for enrollment growth in Health Choice and Medicaid.

II. Update on Legislative Agenda Items

Corporal Punishment: On Tuesday, 5/24, we expect the House Education Committee to hear a bill that would allow parents of children with disabilities to opt their children out of corporal punishment. It's possible that we might see an outright ban for some cases. The Covenant strongly supports this legislation.

School Nutrition Standards: On Tuesday, 5/24, the House Health Committee will hear a bill that would establish minimum nutrition standards for all food sold in public schools. The Covenant strongly supports this legislation.

III. Upcoming Events

House Budget Public Hearing, Monday, May 24th, 7 pm - 10 pm, McKimmon Center, NC State University. Come out to tell the House Budget Chairs what your priorities are for the state budget.

NCFAPA Lobby Day - On May 26st North Carolina Foster and Adoptive Parent Association is sponsoring a Legislative Awareness Day at the General Assembly. Please follow this link for more information.

Healthy Children Lobby Day - Wednesday, June 9. Join child advocates from across the state to urge legislators to increase funding for NC Health Choice and infant mortality prevention. More details to come.

IV. Change to Legislative Agenda

The second item on our Safety agenda now reads:

2. Promote policies that mitigate the impact of gun violence on children and the people who serve children and families.

May 18, 2010:
In this update:

I. Spending Comparison: Gov's Budget vs. Senate Budget
II. Senate Public Education Proposal
III. Revisions to Senate HHS Proposal
IV. Introduced Bills from Covenant Agenda

I. Below is a comparison of overall spending between the Governor's budget and the Senate budget proposal in our three main areas of concern:

Governor's Budget: Senate Budget:

Public Education: 7.046 billion $7.141 billion
HHS:$3.934 billion $3.915 billion
Juvenile Justice: $141.3 million $142.5 million

II. Public Education

Summary: Rather than taking the approach of the Governor and leaving the majority of cuts up to LEAs, the Senate makes lots of very deep and very specific cuts to Public Education budget. I've included a partial list of these cuts below. To see the full report, please follow this link.

More at Four - The Senate includes a recurring cut of $10 million and a one-time cut of $16,176,036 for More at Four. The one-time cut will be filled with federal dollars, so it should not impact services. Budget writers anticipate that the $10 million recurring cut will be offset partially by savings that result from new administrative efficiencies. If these savings don't materialize, then More at Four will have to absorb the full amount of the cut.

Teacher Salary - This $45 million cut is a revision of the teacher salary budget based on what teachers actually made in 2009. According the narrative in the Senate bill, no teacher's salary will be reduced as a result.

Instructional Supplies - $5 million recurring cut.

Central Office Administration - $10 million cut for LEA central office staff.

Mentoring - This item eliminates all funds ($9.2 million) for LEA mentoring programs. The cut is non-recurring, but it's always harder to get money back once it's been cut.

Instructional Support - This is $5 million (1.4%) cut for school nurses, social workers, counselors, etc.

Child and Family Support Teams - In addition to the $5 million cut for "instructional support," the Senate also proposes cutting $2.5 million from Child and Family Support Teams. This funding pays for social workers, as well.

Funding for At-risk Students - At-Risk Student Services ($1.2 million cut) and Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Funding ($1.975 million cut).

Dropout Prevention Grants - $13 million cut. This is pretty surprising given that it's a priority of the House Speaker.

Key Special Provision - The Senate also included a special provision that would allow local school districts to furlough teachers. This is very troubling.

III. HHS Adjustments

Smart Start - the proposed cut for Smart Start is doubled to $10 million.

Child Care Subsidy - the amount of subsidy money replaced with federal money is doubled to $24.756 million.

CCNC Savings - On Friday, the Senate thought that CCNC could help Medicaid save $26.7 million. On Monday, the Senate thought that CCNC could help Medicaid save $45 million. Interesting.

State Funding for Child Welfare - This is a $2.39 million cut to a variety of state funding authorizations - Foster Care/Adoption Title IV-E, Child Protective Services-State, and Child Protective Services Title IV-E.

IV. Introduced Bills

Here is a list of Covenant agenda items that have been introduced:
Early Childhood:

1. SB 1116 establishes the Joint Legislative Task Force on Consolidation of Early Childhood Education and Care. The sponsors are Blue, Jones, Preston, Purcell, and Swindell.

Education:

1. HB 1682 prohibits the use of corporal punishment for children with disabilities. Primary sponsors are Glazier, M. Alexander, Lucas and Rapp, and it was introduced on May 13.

2. SB 1138, sponsored by Foriest, Atwater, Dorsett, and Hartsell, also prohibits the use of corporal punishment for children with disabilities. The bill was introduced on May 17.

Health:

1. HB 1756 updates nutritional standards in public elementary, middle, and high schools. Primary sponsors are Insko, Rapp, Weiss and Yongue. The bill will be introduced on May 18.

Safety:

1. HB 1702 was introduced May 13. The bill, sponsored by Weiss, M. Alexander, England and Insko sets aside $1,287,000 for FY 2010-11.

$350,000 funds the March of Dimes to continue to provide outreach, educational materials, and vitamins through the NC Folic Acid Campaign to reduce the occurrence of neural tube defects. $330,000 is allocated for the East Carolina School of Medicine to continue to operate a high-risk maternity clinic to improve the birth outcomes of women in the eastern counties. $150,000 funds the Healthy Start Foundation to continue to provide education and public awareness through the Safe Sleep Campaign to reduce the occurrence of SIDS and sleep-related suffocations. $97,000 will go to the UNC School of Medicine to continue to provide education and progesterone to reduce preterm births among low-income non-Medicaid women who have already experienced at least one preterm birth. $460,000 funds the Healthy Start Foundation to continue to provide education, outreach, and the distribution of materials to reduce infant mortality by improving maternal health prior to and during pregnancy.

2. SB 1147, sponsored by Purcell, Allran, Atwater, and Forrester, would allocate the same funding for infant mortality prevention. The bill was introduced on May 17.

May 17, 2010:
Dear Members,

On Friday, the Senate released the Health and Human Services and Justice and Public Safety portions of its budget proposal. We should see the Education proposal at some point later today.

It's hard to complete an overall analysis of the budget without seeing the education section and how spending is divided among areas of state government. However, we can take a look what the Senate decided to cut and expand within Health and Human Services and Juvenile Justice, and where the Senate differs from the Governor's budget. The biggest differences appear in the Social Services budget and the Juvenile Justice budget.

To see copies of the Senate HHS budget proposal, click here. To see the Juvenile Justice proposal, click here.

(Thanks to Mandy Ableidinger at Action for Children for identifying many of the major differences between the Governor's proposal and the Senate's. Please note that all editorial commentary is mine.)

Health and Human Services
Overall spending - The Senate proposes to spend $3.946 billion on the HHS budget. That's $11 million more than the Governor's proposal.

Division of Child Development
Child Care Subsidy - $6 million reduction. Like the Governor, the Senate anticipates $6 million in cost savings from an electronic payment system that hasn't yet been implemented. At this point, it's unclear what that system even looks like. If these savings aren't found, children will be forced of child care subsidy.

Smart Start - $5.8 million reduction (or 3%), which is less than the Governor's 4% cut. HOWEVER, the Senate also proposes cutting an additional $5 million from Smart Start for health initiatives. At a time when we've lost significant infrastructure in our health outreach systems, this cut could be quite significant.

Division of MH,DD, SA
School-based Child and Family Teams - Like the Governor, the Senate cuts state funding for this program - $523,864.

Whitaker School - Like the Governor, the Senate wants to convert the Whitaker School (serves the most troubled teens in the state) to a PRTF, so that it can provide Medicaid reimbursable services. This is a good thing.

Expansion Item - Community Service Funds - The Senate proposes to restore $23 million of state funding for mental health services. Furthermore, the Senate proposes to allocate $17 million in Federal dollars to fully restore the $40 million cut from last year's budget.

Public Health
27 positions eliminated - There's no explanation of which position. It's unclear to me if the Division can absorb this right now - $900,000 cut.

Immunizations - This item cuts out all state funding for the purchasing of vaccines ($15,894,853). The Senate states that these items can be billed to health insurers. While this may be true, we know that this cut will mean that vaccines will not be as readily available and that fewer children will be vaccinated. This is a complicated issue and I'll try to provide more guidance moving forward.

Expansion - School Health Nurses - $1 million to hire an additional 20 school health nurses.

Health Choice
Expansion - Enrollment Growth - Though a couple million less than what the Governor proposed, the Senate proposes to raise the enrollment cap for Health Choice by $6.5 million. It's unclear how many spots this would open up.

Division of Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
Maternal Outreach Workers - This item transitions women receiving services through the MOW program to Maternal Care Coordinators and Children Services Coordinators. This is troubling because the MCC and CSC programs are already stretched too thin. $292,974 cut.

Children's Mental Health - Requires prior authorization for mental health services at 16 visits versus the current 26 visits. This is a cut of $933,547, which suggests to me that fewer children will receive mental health services.

Division of Social Services
15 Position Eliminations ($959,632 cut) - This will be tough for the state DSS to absorb as it is already understaffed.

Child Support Enforcement ($1,282,777 cut) - This item transitions a significant portion of child care enforcement in 28 counties to local DSS. The local DSS offices do not have the ability to absorb this new responsibility.

Child Advocacy Centers ($375,000 cut) - This item replaces recurring state dollars with a one-time appropriation of federal funds. Unclear what happens next year without recurring money.

NC REACH - $1.58 million non-recurring cut and $160,507 recurring cut. This is a program that provides scholarships to children aging out of foster care.

Child and Family Team Facilitators ($420,804 cut) - This item removes state funding for facilitators in twelve relatively impoverished counties.

Contracts for Adoption Programs ($459,156 cut) - This is troubling as we already have a very difficult time finding permanent placements for children in foster care.

Expansion - Child Welfare Collaborative Program - $239,452 increase. This programs provides assistance to social work students who make a commitment to work in county departments of social services.

Juvenile Justice
Elimination of Positions - the Senate proposes to eliminate 31 vacant positions saving a total of $1,158,829. Even though these positions are vacant, many of them are still very much needed, especially with the hit the Department took last year.

YDC Budget - This a 5% ($3,538,342) reduction based on a drop in commitments. This would be fine if YDCs were adequately funded for their previous levels of commitments.

Gov's items not included in Senate budget -
1. Elimination of Woodson Wilderness Camp ($1 million)
2. Reduction of Eckerd Wilderness Camp ($7.4 million)
3. Close Macon County multi-purpose home ($600,000)
4. Restore Samarkand YDC $3.5 million

May 17, 2010, Part 2:
Hey Folks,

I wanted to include an update on two items that I left out of the first update:

1. Funding for infant mortality prevention;
2. Youth Accountability and Involvement Office

Infant Mortality: The Senate HHS Appropriations Committee proposed using Health and Wellness Trust Fund money to continue funding infant mortality prevention programs. Funding has been proposed to support the NC Folic Acid Campaign, Safe Sleep education campaign, and 17P distribution at the rates we encouraged ($350,000; $150,000; $97,000).

Although funding for the Healthy Start Foundation has not been specifically mentioned, no lump sum reductions or administrative cuts have been proposed, which is a good sign. We still hope that legislators will be able to find $330,000 for the ECU High-Risk Clinic, but funding has not yet been proposed.

The HHS Appropriations Committee will meet today to vote on these funding allocations.

Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office: The Senate makes no cuts or transfers to the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office, which is great news! In the Governor's budget, the Office was dismantled, so we're very grateful that it is left intact in the Senate proposal.

Best, Rob

Covenant Membership News

2010-05-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Hey Folks,

Below is our 2010 Legislative Agenda. Please follow this link (https://ssl.capwiz.com/cwncc/attachments/1_2010_leg_agenda.pdf) to access a formatted PDF version.

Preamble:

Despite facing profound challenges stemming from the recession, North Carolina's children and families have the ability to bounce back and grow strong, so long as we pull together and maintain investments in public structures like education, public safety, and health services. Now is not the time to be short-sighted or overly-cautious--our state's leaders must play an active role in supporting our children, families and communities to ensure long-term success and stability.

Child Welfare

1. Assure the safety and health of North Carolina's most vulnerable children by protecting existing child welfare services from further cuts.

2. Appropriate $2.8 million to the NC Division of Social Services for family preservation services and $6.6 million for facilitators of child and family teams.

Early Childhood

1. Sustain funding for all early childhood education programs including Smart Start, More at Four, subsidy and TEACCH®.

2. Support the bills developed by the Joint Legislative Task Force on Consolidation of Early Childhood Education and include expanded membership of the study committee.

Economic Security

1. Maintain funding for the state refundable Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

2. Sustain and, if possible, increase funding for the NC Housing Trust Fund, Home Protection Program, and State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project.

Education

1. Ban the use of corporal punishment on children with disabilities.

2. Preserve the integrity of the public school classroom and the services and supports that students and teachers need to be successful.

Health

1. Ensure that all foods sold in NC public schools meet minimum, science-based nutrition standards.

2. Protect Medicaid/Health Choice funding and raise the Health Choice enrollment cap so all eligible children can access affordable, quality healthcare.

Juvenile Justice

1. Preserve the current $23 million allocation to county Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPCs).

2. Avoid additional cuts/reductions to DJJDP facilities and personnel, which were subjected to disproportionate cuts in the 2009 -2010 budget.

MH/DD/SA

1. Continue and expand funding for early screening and intervention for mental illness and developmental disabilities.

2. Develop and fund a continuum of research supported, community-based services for children and adolescents to prevent harmful confinement in hospitals and detention centers.

Safety

1. Preserve current funding for proven Infant Mortality Prevention Programs.

2. Recognizing that 63 percent of intimate partner violence child homicides are firearm related, prevent passage of Senate Bill 928 (Castle Doctrine).

Covenant Membership News

2010-04-13T09:21:00.001-07:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

HHS Budget Report

At today's HHS Appropriations meeting, the Department provided legislators with a list of potential cuts to meet anticipated spending reduction requirements. To be clear, the cuts in this list are brutal and represent a large-scale retreat from the investments that we have made in our children and families.

The Department presented three different scenarios - one would cut $144 million, the next $150 million, and the last $154 million. These three numbers are supposed to represent 3%, 5%, and 7% reduction scenarios, but the dollar amounts don't align with those percentages.

In fact, the HHS sub-committee has been instructed to cut 5%, which equals $216 million. This means that an additional $60 million in HHS cuts will be necessary on top of what was presented today.

Below, I've pulled out some key proposed cuts from the presentation today.You can also follow this link to see the entire cut list. If you have concerns about any of your specific programs, please let me know.

Division of Central Administration

Housing Finance Assistance Program - this program provides housing to people with extremely low-incomes who have disabilities. $561,000 non-recurring cut.
Community Health Grants - this cut means that community health centers entering the third year of their contract will not automatically get that money, but will have to submit another grant. In simpler terms, HHS is proposing to eliminate the third year of current contracts. $300,000 recurring cut.

Division of Child Development

Child Care Subsidy - I'm not sure how this one works; seems like the state is robbing Peter (the counties) to pay Paul, but here is what the Department says. DCD would reduce county services support allocations from 5% to 4%; funds from this reduction would free up about $3.277 million in state appropriations from the subsidy services budget. An additional $1.125 million of actual cuts would be implemented to realize the full reduction amount of $4.4 million. In all, the Department projects that 249 fewer slots would be available.
Smart Start - This one is simple. Reduce the Smart Start allocation by either 3%, 5%, or 7%. The corresponding money amount for each of those scenarios is $5.8 million, $9.7 million, and $13.5 million.

Office of Education Services

Reduce Residential Services by One Night / Week - this would reduce the number of nights a week that a student could stay at the school from four to five. This has already been happening during the current fiscal year due to the Gov's withholding of 5% of the approved budget. $561,558 recurring cut.

Division of Public Health

NC Universal Vaccines for Children Initiative - this program would eliminate all funds for our state vaccine program and replace them a "Childhood Immunization Account" that would be supposedly funded by private insurance providers. I don't believe the insurance industry has agreed to this yet. $6.4 million.

Division of Social Services

Child Support Enforcement Consolidation and Reduction - the Department is proposing the elimination of 33 positions (20 filled and 13 vacant). Reductions would also be found in operating accounts. $1.58 recurring cut.
Funding Authorization to Counties - $358,529 cut to Foster Care/Adoption IV-E; $959,998 cut to Child Protective Services-State; and, $1.072 million cut to Child Protective Services IV-E. These cuts have already been in effect during the current fiscal year following the Governor's required 5% reduction reserve for the Division (though these line item cuts are more like 16%).
Child Advocacy Centers - Eliminate all state funding for child advocacy centers. $375,000 recurring cut.
NCREACH - NCREACH is a scholarship program for children in foster care. This proposed cut would eliminate the entire state appropriation and replace it with Escheat funds. This means that the Division will probably not promote this program among foster youth. $3.168 million recurring cut.
Permanency Planning - this reduction would transfer 25% of the federal participation requirement to the counties. The problem with this is that the counties have no money, which means that they might not meet the match, which then means that federal money would not be drawn down. $682,512 recurring cut.
School-based Child and Family Teams - 12 counties currently receive state money to help fund school-based child and family team facilitators. This item would eliminate that state funding. $420,804 recurring cut. (similar cut in Division of MH/DD/SA budget below)

Division of Medical Assistance

Children under 21 were exempted from all cuts to optional Medicaid services, so I'm not going to outline them here. For a full description of the Medicaid cuts, see the attached document.

Division of Services for the Blind, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing

Merge Special Assistance for the Blind Program with Special Assistance Program. $287,807 recurring cut.

Division of MH/DD/SA

School-based Child and Family Teams - this cut takes care of the other state-funding that was removed from the Social Services budget. $438,611
Counties Pay Portion of LME Systems Management Cost - this item creates a tiered payment system, which requires counties with the smallest LMEs to pay the highest percentage of the non-federal management costs. This is a pretty heavy-handed attempt to get LMEs large enough to participate in the 1915 waiver. $10.305 million recurring cut.

Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities

Close Whitaker School - turn Whitaker into a PRTF, which would then be Medicaid eligible. $969,233 recurring cut.
Close Wright School - $1.272 million recurring cut.

Covenant Membership News

2010-04-09T06:15:00.000-07:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children
Hi folks,

I wanted to pass along this information about an upcoming training opportunity. See below for details.

1915 b/c Medicaid Waiver Training

by Open Minds

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Village Inn Hotel, Golf & Conference Center, Clemmons, NC

We invite you to attend a unique learning opportunity with Dr. John Talbot, Executive Vice President and Senior Associate from Open Minds to discover the potential impact of the 1915 b/c Medicaid Waiver in North Carolina. Dr. Talbot is a national expert and state consultant on Federal Medicaid waivers and served as the President of the Colorado Care Management, a network of agencies that received national recognition for demonstrated measurable superior clinical outcomes under a Federal waiver.

Attendees will learn about
1) examples of highly effective 1915 b/c waivers in other states;
2) challenges other states have experienced in implementing the 1915 b/c waivers;
3) the potential impact of the waiver across the mental health, juvenile justice and social service systems in NC and
4) how key stakeholders can prepare for this change.

Registration is open to members and non-members of CFSA-NC. Seating is limited so early registration is encouraged.

To register, please complete a separate form for each registrant which can be found here.
This training is open to members and non-members of CFSA-NC so please share with others as appropriate.

Hope you can make it. Enjoy your weekend!
Thanks,
Rob Thompson

Covenant with NC's Children News

2010-03-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

The Census Makes Sense for Us

The 10-question Census form arrives in mailboxes in mid-March. Encouraging people to fill out and return the form will have a big effect on North Carolina, including the level of government funding we receive for amultitude of programs serving children. More than one third of thehouseholds in NC did not return the form in the 2000 Census, which led to an undercount and lose of our fair share of funds in some areas. "Hard tocount" populations, according to the Census, include people with low incomes or education levels, renters, and immigrants.

The Covenant With NC's Children is teaming up with other nonprofits todistribute informational cards about the importance of filling out theCensus. More than 500,000 cards have already gone out to churches, community centers, barber/beauty shops, food banks, counseling programs, service agencies, etc. You can get a supply of the FREE cards to distribute through your programs or other means to people in your community. Maybe you could ask a couple of churches to include them as bulletin inserts during the first half of March.

Here is what the card looks like, front and back (8.5 x 3.6 inches):

http://www.democracy-nc.org/downloads/CensusCardEnglish.pdf

Cards are also available in Spanish. To receive quantities of these freecards (from 100 to 10,000), please send your name, full mailing address andfull street address (for UPS), your phone number and email address, and thequantity of cards desired, to Bob Hall, Democracy North Carolina athttps://foghorn.appcomm.net:2096/horde/imp/message.php?index=1# or 919-489-1931.

(PLEASE SHARE THIS OFFER WITH OTHERS.)

Thank you!

Rob Thompson
Executive Director

Covenant Membership News

2010-03-02T04:56:00.000-08:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee MemberOriginally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

CALL CONGRESS: VOTE YES FOR H.R. 4247, PREVENTING HARMFUL RESTRAINT & SECLUSION IN SCHOOLS BILL!

Bill moving to House Floor; Call on Monday or Tuesday. Please forward.This week, the entire House of Representatives will vote on legislation (H.R. 4247) that will stop schools from restraining children, confining them in seclusion rooms, and using aversive interventions to harm them. Call your Congressional Representative on Monday or Tuesday and ask them to VOTE YES to H.R. 4247. Also tell them to vote against any amendments that will weaken the bill. Dial 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904) and ask for your Representative's office. (See instructions below.) Get your friends and family to call, too!

WHY VOTE FOR H.R. 4247?

H.R. 4247) is a bill that will stop schools from restraining children, confining them in seclusion rooms, and using aversive interventions to harm them. A Government Accountability Office study found hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and death from restraint and seclusion in public and private schools over the last two decades. Examples included a 7 year old who died after being held face down for hours by school staff; 5 year olds allegedly being tied to chairs with bungee cords and duct tape by their teacher and suffering broken arms and bloody noses; and a 13 year old who hanged himself in a seclusion room after prolonged confinement. The majority of students in the GAO study had disabilities.

H.R. 4247 will create a minimum level of protection for schoolchildren that all states must meet or exceed. Currently, almost half of all states have no laws or laws with little protection for children. H.R. 4247 will prohibit restraint and locked seclusion of schoolchildren unless there is an imminent risk of physical injury that less restrictive interventions would not stop. It will forbid using these abusive techniques as punishment and behavior modification, and to deal with educational disruption and the like. Positive behavioral interventions are the appropriate ways to deal with disruptive behavior. H.R. 4247 is designed to encourage schools to use positive interventions and de-escalation, instead of abusive tactics. The bill prohibits schools from using mechanical and chemical restraints or restraints the impede breathing. H.R. 4247 prohibits including restraint and seclusion in IEPs as a planned intervention. The bill bans aversives that harm health and safety, such as using electric shock and denying children food and water or forcing foul substances into their mouths and eyes.

H.R. 4247 will protect all students, whether in private or public school. Many children with disabilities are placed in private schools by school districts and they should not lose vital health and safety protections. Other parents choose to send their children to private school for religious or other reasons; they should not be forced to give up protections from abuse.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CALLING CONGRESS ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY:

Call and ask your Representative to VOTE FOR H.R. 4247, to prevent harmful restraint and seclusion in schools. Also, tell your Representative to vote against any amendments that would weaken the bill. Tell them to pass the bill intact. The full House of Representatives will vote on the bill this week, so call on Monday or Tuesday.

Telephone/TTY: Call your Congressional Representative and Senators at 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904). This is the switchboard, so you will need to know your Representative's name. When you are connected, ask for the aide who handles education or disability. If you get voicemail, please leave a message. If you cannot reach this aide, tell the person answering the phone that you want the Congressional Representative to vote for the bill. Again, tell them your city or town so they know they represent you. So, take two minutes and begin your day with a call to Congress!

You can also find local numbers and direct dial numbers on your Representative's webpage at http://www.house.gov/Email: If you can call, it is extremely important to do so. But if you cannot (due to a disability, inability to use the phone during working hours, etc.), send an email on Monday. Go to http://www.house.gov/writerep for the House of Representatives. Calls have a much greater impact. Since Congress is voting on the bill this week, please call on Monday or Tuesday if you can!

Find Out Who Your Congressional Representative is: If you do not know who your Congressional Representative is, go to http://www.house.gov/ and put your zip code into the box in the upper left corner. (You usually only need your five digit zip code.) If you have already contacted Congress about this bill, please do it again. This time, you are asking him/her to vote with the entire House of Representatives to support H.R. 4247.

For more information, see http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/12/preventing-harmful-restraint-a.shtmland http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/02/myth-vs-fact-preventing-harmfu.shtml

PLEASE FORWARD AND SHARE THIS ALERT BROADLY!!!

Division 16, APA Announcement

2010-02-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

Dear NC School Psychology colleagues & students,

Trainers of School Psychologists yesterday received this exciting announcement from Bonnie Nastasi, the President of Division 16:

The Division of School Psychology was able to successfully negotiate the following language, passed by the APA's Council of Representatives (CoR) today 2/20/2010. This language acknowledges that State Education Agencies credential and title practitioners who work in the schools (that may or may not hold a doctoral degree) and acknowledges that State Boards of Psychology credentials practitioners for independent practice (where a doctoral degree is required).

Nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent (cite relevant state education authority or statutory provisions) from credentialing individuals to provide school psychological services in those settings that are under the purview of the state education agency. Such individuals shall be restricted in their practice and the use of the title so conferred, which must include the word "school", to employment within those settings. This provision is not intended to restrict the activities of licensed psychologists.

We are proud of the leadership of our CoR representatives, Cindy Carlson, Frank Worrell, Beth Doll and MLA Task Force Liaisons, Deborah Tharinger, Randy Kamphaus and Tammy Hughes, as well as the support from Steve DeMers from ASPPB on behalf of the school psychology community.

Sincerely,
Bonnie K. Nastasi, PhDPresident, Division 16, APA

Call to Ban Prone Restraints in NC Schools

2010-02-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Attached is a letter from Disability Rights calling on Congress and NC's school districts to ban the use of prone restraints on students. See below for more context on this important issue.

If you are interested in signing on (Letter of Support) in support, please contact Kristine Sullivan at (919) 856-2195 or kristine.sullivan@disabilityrightsnc.org by February 12th.

Best, Rob

ISSUE BACKGROUND

In the past year, dangerous seclusion and restraint practices in public schools have become issues of national concern. In an upcoming report, Disability Rights NC (DRNC) is calling upon each of North Carolina's school systems to adopt a ban on prone restraint and implement Positive Behavior Supports. In the report, DRNC also includes information on important federal legislation that would ban the use of any restraint position (including prone restraint) that interferes with a student's breathing. The bill, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247 and S. 2860), was drafted in collaboration with both student advocacy groups and associations of educators.

Disability Rights NC supports this federal legislation, which would impose stricter standards than what currently exists under NC law. Greater protections are particularly important for students with disabilities in North Carolina, who, as DRNC has discovered, are subjected to the routine and frequent use of prone restraint.

DRNC would appreciate your support in calling for a ban on prone restraint in North Carolina's public schools. Attached please find a letter from Vicki Smith, DRNC Executive Director, and a draft letter that will be sent to all of the NC school districts with a copy of our report. Let's stop the use of prone restraint before a North Carolina student dies.

If your organization would like to sign on in support, please contact Kristine Sullivan at (919) 856-2195 or kristine.sullivan@disabilityrightsnc.org by February 12th. Please contact DRNC if you have any questions, and feel free to share this with other organizations.

Together NC Coalition Meeting Announcement

2010-02-05T11:16:00.001-08:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Last year, we came together and formed Together NC to ensure that North Carolina elected officials took a responsible and balanced approach to addressing our economic crisis, and we made a difference - legislators included nearly $1 billion in new revenue in their final budget to sustain vital public programs.

Our current situation demands more coordinated action. With the economy struggling to recover and a tenuous state budget situation, we must come together again.

Join us for a day of conversation, education, skill-building and engagement around the state of the economy and its impact on North Carolina's children, families, and communities.

Together NC Forum: Charting a Path Forward for 2010 and Beyond

Thursday, March 18th
10 AM- 4:30PM
Marbles Kids MuseumRaleigh, NC

The agenda for the day includes:
A coalition meeting to determine a plan of action for Together NC in 2010 and beyond. We will be sending organizations a pre-assessment tool to help us plan for this portion of the day. We ask that all Together NC organizations make an effort to participate in this decision-making process even if you are unable to send a representative to the forum.
A luncheon featuring Dean Baker, a nationally-prominent economist and co-director of CEPR (https://www.cepr.net/), and Jon Shure from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (https://www.cbpp.org/). Dean and Jon will give us an update on the economic outlook for the US, prospects for economic recovery, and the continued impact the recession is having on states' abilities to meet the needs of their residents. The luncheon is part of NC Policy Watch's Crucial Conversation series.
A training on messaging around the economy and budget- both developing a common message for Together NC and helping organizations develop an effective message about your own budget priorities. (Jon Shure is confirmed, Patrick Bressette from Demos has been invited)
The forum is open to all current and prospective members of the Together NC Coalition. Please feel free to invite new organizations to join us for the day.

To RSVP- Email togethernc10@gmail.com with the following information:
Name of your organization
Number of people from your organization you expect to attend with their names and contact information
Whether or not you plan to attend for the full-day or just part of the day. Be sure to indicate whether or not each attendant will be present for lunch.
A more detailed agenda and the pre-assessment survey will be sent out over the next few weeks.

If you have any questions about the forum or Together NC, please contact Rob Thompson (rob@nccovenant.org or 919.866.3280) or Meg Wiehe (meg@ncjustice.org or 919.856.3192).

Directions to Marbles Kids Museum: http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/directions

For more information on Together NC: http://www.togethernc.org/

Legislative Updates from the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2010-02-04T07:20:00.000-08:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

In this update:

I. State Budget Update
II. Child Poverty Issues for Legislature
III. Meetings with Congressional Delegation
IV. Juvenile Justice Meeting Reminder

I. State Budget Update

Some good news - thanks to the unanticipated success of a corporate tax compliance initiative, we're $30 million ahead of projected revenues for the year! But, without this windfall we would be $240 million under projections, due to slower than expected economic growth and persistent unemployment and underemployment.It's still quite likely that revenues fall under projections by the end of they fiscal year.

Even though the revenue picture is passable, we're spending more than anticipated. Medicaid is running a $250 million deficit largely due to rapid enrollment growth and a spike in utilization. It's also unclear how much money we'll need to pump into the state employee retirement plan and state employee health plan to keep them solvent. The Governor may need to use the remainder of our rainy day fund plus other fund balances to prevent more cuts for the current fiscal year.

As for next year's budget, it looks like we'll be dealing with many of the same problems with underperforming revenues, unrealized savings, and enrollment growth in key state services like Medicaid. However, if the Governor spends down all fund balances to fill this year's shortfall, it's likely that we'll be dealing with another round of painful cuts for next year.

II. Child Poverty Issues

At their next meeting, the Poverty and Economic Recovery Committee will focus on child poverty issues. Because the Covenant's members represent a wealth of diverse perspectives on child poverty, I wanted to see if any of y'all had perspectives on child poverty that might overlooked. If you have thoughts about what this Committee should discuss, please let me know and I will pass that on to legislative staff and Committee members.

III. Meetings with the Congressional Delegation

Mandy Ableidinger from Action for Children is setting up a series of meetings with NC's congressional delegation for the week of Feb. 15th, and we are looking for local groups and citizens to attend these meetings with her. If you are interested, please email Mandy at mandy@ncchild.org.

Here are the issues we are planning to discuss - health care reform, TANF reauthorization, Early Learning Challenge Grants, Juvenile Justice and Delinquincy Prevention Reauthorization Act, and one or two others. Mandy will be glad to brief you and send you materials on these issues if you are interested in attending a meeting.

IV. Juvenile Justice Workgroup Meeting Reminder

Thursday, February 4th @ 3pm

Participate via Phone:
Call in number: 1-866-210-1669
Passcode 2109520

Attend in Person: Action for Children. 1300 St. Mary's Street, Suite 500, Raleigh, NC 27605

Legislative Updates from the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2010-01-04T06:57:00.000-08:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Happy 2010, Covenant Members!

The advent of a new year (and a new decade) is a good opportunity to reflect on the past and to look to the future. I've written up a short end of the year report below. As always, please send me any thoughts or feedback - mailto:rob@nccovenant.org.

2009 - End of Year Report
2009 was an extremely difficult year for North Carolina's children and families. The 'Great Recession' has left us with nearly 20% of the workforce unable to find adequate employment (unemployment + underemployment) and more than 20% of our state's children living in poverty. The brutal economic conditions have also resulted in a dramatic decrease in revenues, which has decimated much of our health and human services infrastructure.

Despite these brutal economic conditions, the Covenant and our allies were able to achieve some significant public policy victories. Below is a partial list of Covenant agenda items that were implemented during the 2009 legislative session:

Raising Revenue
The Covenant, along with the NC Budget and Tax Center, created and led the Together NC Coalition ( http://www.togethernc.org/), which was composed of over 100 service providers and advocates from each corner of the state. Through town hall meetings, phonebanks, press events, and rallies, we pressured the legislature to raise nearly $1 billion in new revenue to offset some of the worst cuts to child and family programs.

Bullying Bill
Working with a dedicated coalition of advocates, the Covenant helped to pass the School Violence Prevention Act. The new law requires all school districts to adopt an anti-bullying policy that explicitly extends protections to those students most likely to be targeted by bullying and harassment.

Smoking Ban
Holy Cow...it is now illegal to smoke in any bar or restaurant in North Carolina! This is a major public health victory, and will ensure that kids and their parents can eat, recreate and work in smoke-free environments. Major kudos to the NC Alliance for Health, the Cancer Society and the Heart Association!

Sex Education
The Covenant also played a supporting role in passing the Healthy Youth Act, which replaces ineffective abstinence-only sex education with a comprehensive sex education program.

Building the Covenant
In addition to our programmatic achievements, we also were able to strengthen the Covenant in 2009, thereby laying the groundwork for more profound social change in the future.

In 2009, we:

-Launched a new web-site and began using a new logo ( http://www.nccovenant.org/).
-Raised $35,000 in new foundation grants from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the Triangle Community Foundation.
-Convened three fundraising events (special thanks to Jennifer Mahan, Covenant Board Chair and chef extraordinaire!).
-Recruited and retained member organizations from Hendersonville to Wilmington and all points in between.

Looking forward to 2010
Like 2009, we expect 2010 to be another tough year for our children and families. Unemployment will likely remain high and revenues haven't yet begun to recover, leaving the state less able to provide a safety net and other vital services. Once again, the Covenant will need to play a leading role in the fight to push lawmakers to take a balanced approach - an approach that involves new revenue in addition to spending cuts - to the state budget.

We will also work closely with Action for Children NC to end the unfair and ineffective policy of prosecuting all 16- and 17-year olds as adults; we'll continue our ongoing efforts to ban corporal punishment in public schools; and, we'll work to implement 'paid sick days' legislation so that parents can take care of their sick children.

Most importantly, with your continued support and involvement, we can continue to present a unified voice for children in North Carolina. Thanks for all you did in 2009 and all you will do in 2010.
Sincerely,

Rob Thompson
Executive Director

Legislative Updates from the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2009-11-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Dear Covenant Members,

The pace of various study commissions has really picked up over the last month as deadlines approach, vacations end, and appointments have finally been made. The purpose of these task forces and commissions is to study an issue and make recommendations back to the full Legislature by next session. Below are some summaries of where these groups are at in their deliberations. I also included some good news(!) and announcements. Cheers, Rob

Children and Youth Study Commission

This Commission met Thursday, 11/19 for the first time since last interim. The meeting was devoted to a discussion of a proposed ban on shackling children as they are transported to and from involuntary mental health commitment hearings. Last session, the Covenant supported H656, which would have banned this practice. In some parts of the state, these children are shackled about the legs, waist, and arms, which humiliates them and exacerbates their preexisting mental health problems.

During the meeting, Commission members heard from Deborah Whitfield of Council for Children's Rights (Covenant member) and Eddie Caldwell of the NC Sheriffs' Association. Whitfield presented a strong case for banning shackling, while Caldwell made far-fetched comparisons to extreme cases involving adults, not children. Most questions from commission members had to do with potential logistical issues around implementing the ban. Members of the commission did express a strong interest in exploring the idea of doing video conferences for these hearings, which would eliminate this issue all together. The Commission did not make any recommendations at this meeting.

The Commission will meet again in November (11/30, 10 am, 415 LOB) and twice in December. The Commission will begin a discussion about how best to support the children of inmates at the next meeting. Follow this link to see a list of Commission members: http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=Non-Standing_677

Joint Senate and House Finance Committee Meetings

The Senate and House Finance Committees met twice in November with the goal of coming up with recommendations for modernizing North Carolina's revenue system.

Thus far, the Committee meetings have largely been educational, with a series of presentations by academics and legislative staff. The focus has been on the need to broaden the base of the sales tax to include a greater percentage of statewide consumption. While we generally support this idea, it's becoming apparent that many legislators and lobbyists see sales tax reform as a way to cut corporate and individual income taxes. The Covenant would strongly oppose any efforts to do this.

It's unclear when legislators will begin a serious conversation about what to do here in NC. The next meeting is on Tuesday, 12/1 from 10 am to 4 pm. (Also, Together NC will be hosting a revenue modernization workshop on Wednesday, 12/2 from 1:30 - 3:30 at NCAE).

As you all know, the Covenant has been co-leading the Together NC coalition ( http://www.togethernc.org/) to ensure that NC has adequate revenues to fund the important services that support children and families. Modernizing our revenue system is an important part of this effort.

Youth Accountability Task Force

At the end of last session, the Legislature created a commission to study how best to move 16- and 17-year olds into the juvenile justice system (though that policy change is still yet to pass). At the first meeting of this task force, members and attendees were educated on adolescent brain development, the respective roles of the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections, and the evolution of juvenile justice policy in NC over the past century. Task Force members also heard a presentation from a Connecticut legislator about their recent success about changing the age of juvenile jurisdiction in that state.

The next meeting of the task force will be on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 10 am to 3 pm at the NC Judicial Center. Follow this link to see a list of Task Force members: http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=Non-Standing_6432

Early Childhood Consolidation Study Commission

This Commission hasn't met yet. Their charge is to examine how best (of if) to consolidate early childhood programs, such as Smart Start, More at Four, and Child Care subsidies. It looks like the first meeting of this group will happen sometime in early December. Here are the members:

House: Rep. Ray Rapp (co-chair), Rep. Glazier, Rep. Insko
Senate: Sen. Dan Blue (co-chair), Sen. Purcell, Sen. Swindell
Governor: Stephanie Fanjul, John Pruitte, Olson Huff

Good news in the world of mental health and developmental disabilities?

Yep, it's true. Last Friday, 11/19, Leza Wainwright (director of the division of MH/DD/SA) informed LMEs that an additional 1175 CAP-MR/DD slots are immediately available (225 for the comprehensive waiver and 950 for tier one (partial) waiver). This is great news. The CAP-MR/DD program allows people living with serious disabilities to receive community-based services so that they don't have to move into an institution.

Announcements

Join Together NC for a Tax Modernization Workshop in Raleigh
This year, North Carolina's state government faced the first of what will be several large revenue shortfalls, jeopardizing the programs and services that support our families and communities. While the severe economic downturn is largely to blame for this shortfall, it has also highlighted our inadequate and outdated revenue system, which overreacted to the recession leaving us in a deep financial hole.

To ensure that we can maintain and build upon public programs, like education, health care, housing assistance, job training and so many others, we MUST create a stable, fair and adequate revenue system.
This year's massive state revenue shortfall created a unique opportunity for tax modernization. The House and Senate finance committees have come together and will be meeting over the next several months to craft recommendations for updating our state tax system, starting with the sales tax.

Please join us for a presentation and discussion on why strengthening North Carolina's tax system is critical to preserving public investments in our families and communities and how we can fix it. The presentation will focus on our state and local sales tax.

Wednesday, December 2nd 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm NCAE Auditorium 700 South Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601

Upcoming Legislative Meetings:

Children and Youth Study Commission - 11/30, 10 am, 415 LOB, Raleigh
Senate/House Finance Committees - 12/1, 10 am, 643 LOB Raleigh
Youth Accountability Task Force - 12/10, 10 am, NC Judicial Center, Raleigh

Legislative Updates from The Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2009-11-03T06:24:00.000-08:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Covenant Update - November 2, 2009

I. Impact of budget cuts
II. Finance Committee Meeting
III. Covenant Meeting, Roadshow and Revenue Workshop

I. IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been in touch with many of you to find out how budget cuts are impacting the children and families that you serve. I hope to develop a comprehensive report over the next couple of months that outlines the full impact of these cuts on NC's children. In the meantime, here's a sampling of what I've found so far:

-Level III/IV Residential Homes

Due to budget cuts to level III and IV residential homes, 40% of these extremely troubled children and youth have been discharged. Unfortunately, these kids were in residential treatment for a reason, and in most cases, families and communities don't have the ability or resources to facilitate a healthy and safe transition. If not properly treated, many of these children have the potential to hurt other kids or themselves.

Furthermore, due to cuts to Therapeutic Foster Care rates (which is where most of these kids have been referred), we've decreased our ability to absorb these children back into the community.

-Rape Crisis Centers

Rape Crisis Centers actually didn't get cut in the state budget, but have been nearly overwhelmed by the increased demand for services caused by cuts to the mental health system. Specifically, many victims of sexual abuse received mental health services through Community Support, but now that many of those services are unavailable, they are turning to one of 64 crisis centers across the state. For these crisis centers to function effectively, they must have adequate resources and training to work with the population they serve.

-Perinatal Programs

In the early 1980s, North Carolina had the worst infant mortality rate in the country. To fix this problem, we implemented a number of programs and improved our mortality rate. Unfortunely, the severe cuts in the HHS budget threaten to undermine the progress we have made. Several services that support the health of infants have already been cut, or are slated to be cut later this year. The Perinatal Outreach Program, which leads regional initiatives to improve infant care among providers, is completely eliminated (and with only five days notice). Also, the 1-800-FOR-BABY number, which provided information and referral services for parents and providers, was eliminated, despite taking 40,000 calls / year.

Fortunately, cuts to Maternity Care Coordination have been reduced from 38% to 19%, which allows us to at least keep that program up and running.

-Childhood Vaccines

Currently, the state buys vaccines and distributes them to physicians to ensure that all children are protected from common, but very harmful viruses. Unfortunately, the Legislature has cut $4.5 million out of this $19 million program, and the most recent round of administrative cuts could add to that total. While the specific ramifications on combination vaccines and vaccine schedules are very complicated, the end result of this cut is not: more kids will get sick.

II. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Tomorrow, Nov. 3, the Senate and House Finance Committees will meet to begin discussing tax modernization. These meetings are a result of a session compromise between the Senate and the House in which the Senate agreed to postpone their demand for modernization so long as the House agreed to work on the issue during the interim. We expect Tuesday's meeting to be the first of several between now and May when the Legislature reconvenes.

We hope that this meeting is the beginning of a process that will lead to a fairer, more stable and more adequate revenue system. To ensure sufficient funds for investments in NC's kids and families, we must fix this broken system. We also know that this will be 'an uphill swim,' as a friend of mine recently put it.

As we saw last session, there are major policy differences between the two chambers. Generally speaking, the House is not sold on broadening the sales tax base to include services. The Senate, however, would like to broaden sales tax base, but would also like to reduce our reliance on the progressive income tax. (Again, this is very general - many Senators and House members don't fit this mold.) Together NC will work with (or against) both chambers to implement a good plan. In the upcoming weeks, we'll be putting out more information about components of a good plan. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us with questions.

If you'd like to attend tomorrow, the meeting begins at 10 am in room 643 of the Legislative Office Building.

III. ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEXT COVENANT MEETING -
Monday, 11/16 - 12 pm - 3 pm. We'll be going a bit longer than usual because we'll get to enjoy a Legislative Briefing from the United Way and the Justice Center for the last two hours (see below).
NCAE, 700 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh

LEGISLATIVE BRIEFINGS
Get ready for 2010 at a legislative briefing by local legislators and staff from the NC Budget & Tax Center, NC Justice Center and United Way of North Carolina. They will discuss top issues in state public policy such as:
Impacts of current economic conditions on working families and the state budget
Updates on key public efforts that support low-income workers and their families, such as the EITC, child-care subsidies, children's health insurance and affordable housing
Discussion of implementation and use of federal economic recovery funds

City/Date/Time: Fayetteville November 10 8 am-10:30 am
Host: United Way of Cumberland County
Location: Fayetteville State Rudolph Jones Student Center Room 235 - Olivia Chavis Conference Room
RSVP: Ashley Smith 910-438-1179 mailto:acsmith@unitedway-cc.org

City/Date/Time: Durham November 12 8:30 - 10:30 am
Host: United Way of the Greater Triangle

Location: Durham County Cooperative Extension 721 Foster Street

RSVP: Nate Goetz mailto:ngoetz@unitedwaytriangle.org919-463-5002

City/Date/Time: Raleigh November 16 1 pm - 3 pm
Host: NC Justice Center Covenant for NC Children United Way of NC
Location: NCAE Headquarters 700 South Salisbury Street
RSVP: http://www.unitywaync.org/calendar

City/Date/Time: Wilmington November 17 9 am - 11:30 am
Host: Cape Fear Area United Way
Location: Warwick Center at UNC Wilmington
RSVP: mailto:liveunited@cfauw.org

City/Date/Time: Rocky Mount November 18 9 am - 11:30 am
Host: United Way Tar River Region
Location: RBC Bank Campus 1515 Centura Hwy. Bldg #2
RSVP: Annette Mills (252) 937-2213, x-102 mailto:annettemills@

City/Date/Time: Hickory November 30 2 pm - 4 pm
Host: United Way of Catawba County
Location: Catawba Valley Community College Dunbar Bldg, Rm 345
RSVP: http://www.unitywaync.org/calendar

City/Date/Time: Asheville December 1 8:30 - 10:30 am
Host: United Way of Asheville and Buncombe Co.
Location: AB Tech Enka Campus Haynes Building
RSVP: mailto:Ron.Katz@unitedwayabc.org(828) 255-0696

City/Date/Time: Triad Area December 8 8:30 - 11:00 am
Host: United Way of Greater Greensboro
Location: Girl Scouts Tarheel Triad Council 8818 W. Market St., Colfax
RSVP: http://www.unitedwaync.org/calendar

"HATS OFF TO THE KIDS!" CELEBRATION
Our Children's Place invites you to help celebrate its support for the children of incarcerated women in North Carolinas.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Carolina Inn • Old Well Room • 211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill
Tickets $25; RSVP to (919) 843-2670 by Friday, November 20, 2009
Guest speaker: Ashley Lucas Doin' Time: Through the Visiting Glass

Announcements from the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2009-10-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Council For Children's Rights Announces Creation of
The Larry King Center for Building Children's Futures

Charlotte, NC - The Council for Children's Rights announced the creation of The Larry King Center for Building Children's Futures as a part of its mission and work during a special luncheon celebrating 30 years of service to children in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.

"The Center for Building Children's Futures is dedicated to supporting effective action for children in our community by meeting three key strategic needs," said Council For Children's Rights Executive Director Brett Loftis, who identified these needs as:

Research and Evaluation
Strategic and Community Planning
Public Policy Impact

"While the Council for Children's Rights will continue our advocacy work on behalf of individual children, The Larry King Center for Building Children's Futures will be a resource for the community at a strategic level - maximizing the effectiveness and impact of work being done for children by providers, agencies and funders," continued Loftis.

"We know that creating access to health and mental health care, reducing the incidence and impact of abuse and neglect and providing access to early care and education are critical needs for our children, but we've lacked shared infrastructure and capacity to meet these needs long-term. The core role of the Center was the long-time vision of Larry King, a tireless advocate for children, and the Center is named in his honor on behalf of the work that he did and inspired," said Loftis.

The Council For Children's Rights has received funding to create The Larry King Center for Building Children's Futures from the Bank of America Foundation, the Duke Endowment, Foundation For The Carolinas and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Wachovia Foundation (Wachovia is a Wells Fargo Company.)

For more information, go to http://www.cfcrights.org/.

Triangle MomsRising social - 10/25
(Note - Triangle MomsRising is a new member of the Covenant. For more info on MomsRising, check out their website - http://www.momsrising.org/.)

We welcome you to join Triangle MomsRising for a social on Oct. 25! We have met many new faces through this summer's visits to our representatives to advocate for health care reform. We would love to see you again, as well as meet those of you who would like to become involved, but haven't had the opportunity yet to participate in a "live" event. When: Sunday, October 25, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Where: The social will be centrally located in the Triangle to accommodate families throughout the area. We will meet at Davis Drive Park, 1610 Davis Drive Cary, NC 27512. What: We will meet at a playground to play, eat snacks, and decorate onesies with family friendly messages to display at upcoming events in the legislature. We will informally answer any of your questions about Triangle Momsrising, and are open to your ideas about areas of focus for the future. We are still a new group and are just emerging with a voice of our own. We are also one of only two local chapters in the country endorsed by National Momsrising, and they are providing us with the guidance and resources to reach our goals. Why: If you are interested in becoming involved, but either 1) don't have much free time 2) feel intimidated by the idea of lobbying for family-friendly policies in the legislature, come and check us out! We are all very busy (some of us work full-time outside the home, others of us work full-time as a parent, and some of us are attempting the crazy balancing act between the two), but each of us is free to commit however much or little time we choose to-- no guilt attached! And, the vast majority of us had no lobbying/legistlative experience before learning all we need to know as a Triangle Momrising member. Join us-- together we can achieve so much more than each of us acting alone, whether it be related to health care reform, paid sick days for all workers, early childhood education, getting toxins out of our children's environments, and so much more! All are welcome! Please RSVP to mailto:TriangleChapter@MomsRising.org.

2009 Annual Conference December 14, 2009

NC SCHOOL COMMUNITY HEALTH ALLIANCE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

"School Health Centers and Adolescents: Surviving and Thriving In Difficult Years"

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Daniel P. Krowchuk, MD Department of Pediatrics Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Held at the Historic Carolina Inn
211 Pittsboro Street Chapel Hill, NC 1-800-962-8519

Produced in conjunction with the NC Adolescent Health Summit at the same location the following day.
Registration Information at http://www.ncscha.org/

Legislative Updates from The Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2009-10-01T06:00:00.001-07:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

In this update:

-CASE MANAGEMENT UPDATE
-COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROVIDER DEFINITION
-TOGETHER NC AND TAX MODERNIZATION
-ANNOUNCEMENTS
-STEP UP AND ACT FOR CHILDREN - 2009
-2009 MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
-STATE GRANT-REPORTING SYSTEM CHANGES

I hope everyone is doing well. Don't forget about the food-filled Covenant fundraisers!

1. 10/20 - NOFO at the Pig. 10% of all purchases will go to the Covenant, so this would be a good time to bring friends that like to drink and eat a lot.
2. 10/24 and 11/14 - Home-cooked meals by Jennifer Mahan, Covenant Board Chair and professionally-trained chef. Email Jennifer at mailto:Jennifer.mahan@mha-nc.orgif you're interested in attending.

CASE MANAGEMENT

As I reported in the last update, Medicaid is considering consolidating its case management services to meet budget targets that were mandated by the legislature. Last week, DMA released a proposed plan that would reduce case management costs. The following is a link to a powerpoint presentation that outlines the DMA plan: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/provider/budgetinitiative/CaseMgtMeetingPresent092409.pdf.

At this point, it's unclear what the repercussions of such a plan would be. Here's how HHS characterized the cost-savings in the plan:

-Limiting the number of units of case management that may be billed in any given month for a recipient.
-Allowing only one case management provider to bill for an individual recipient in any given month.
-Implementing further rate reductions (beyond the rate reductions specifically mandated by the General Assembly).
-Implementing administrative changes to reduce the burden on providers, including paperwork reduction and reducing or eliminating requirements around Prior Authorization (PA) (not an exhaustive list).

Our biggest concern is that any attempt to consolidate specialty case management services (MH/DD/SA, Maternal Health, etc) would result in a serious decline in the quality of health care for these populations. At the bottom of this email, I've pasted a letter the Covenant sent to HHS regarding this issue. DMA will be accepting feedback through 10/5, so if you've got something to say, please say it now. When the Covenant's cadre of experts digest the plan a bit more, I'll send out another update.

COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROVIDER DEFINITION

HHS is sending a proposal to CMS (federal Medicaid) that would require all service providers to meet new criteria to be eligible for Medicaid payments. This could drastically reduce the number of service providers in the state in all areas of health care and mental health, which would be extremely damaging to our very fragile provider-infrastructure. The new comprehensive service provider criteria would require all providers to have an accountant with five-years of experience, to provide three 'enhanced' services, and to have a full-time psychiatrist on staff.

It's unclear as to why DHHS is doing this now. A cynical person might say that it's being driven by the small number of large service providers that would benefit from such a provider definition. As soon as we know more, I'll send out an update.

TOGETHER NC AND REVENUE MODERNIZATION

Meg Gray (Budget and Tax Center) and I did the first of several revenue modernization workshops in Asheville last week. Our goal is to educate Together NC partners on why revenue reform is so important to public programs and what that reform should look like. In the next couple of months, we'll be holding workshops in Rocky Mount, Charlotte, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Raleigh, and a couple other place TBD.

If you would like a separate presentation for your group or organization, please let me know - mailto:rob@nccovenant.org.

Also, we still expect a joint Senate and House effort to take place this fall with the goal of putting together a revenue modernization plan.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Step up and Act for Children 2009

Child advocates across the country are planning nonpartisan events on Capitol steps the first week in October to call on federal elected officials to make children's issues a higher priority. Action for Children and partners will be calling on our leaders to commit to increased investments in children's health and early education.

Where: Old Capitol building, southside (outside), downtown Raleigh (where Fayetteville St. dead ends into Morgan St.)
When: Monday, October 5, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Who: Children's performance groups (11:15-12) will include: * Hunter Elementary show choir * Hunter Elementary advanced orchestra Press event speakers (12-12:30) will include: * Marian F. Earls, M.D., President, North Carolina Pediatric Society * Stephanie Fanjul, President of the N.C. Partnership for Children, Inc (Smart Start) * Worth Hill, Durham County Sheriff * Felicia Willems, mother and advocate for children

2009 Make a Difference Day

SaySo (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out) are participating in the 2009 Make A Difference Day Campaign (MADD). MADD is Saturday, October 24, 2009. This year's theme is "Give a Child a Smile", which is the suitcase project that we have had great success with in previous years. The goal is to collect 2,500 suitcases/duffel bags for children in substitute care throughout North Carolina. If you would like to help with this year's campaign, please contact Lauren Zingraff, SaySo Program Coordinator at mailto:lauren.zingraff@ilrinc.comor 1-800-820-0001. We need your help to meet our goal of collecting 2,500 suitcases by October 24, 2009. Thank you as always for your continued support of SaySo. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

State Grant-reporting Changes
Some of y'all have experienced problems with this change. Here's a notice from the Philanthropy Journal:
RALEIGH, N.C. - As of Aug. 31, responsibility for state grants reporting has been transferred to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management.

The function previously was handled by the Office of the State Auditor.

To simplify reporting for nonprofits receiving state funds, the Office of State Budget and Management plans to create a new web portal for online reporting and information.

In the meantime, the online Grants Information Center will be unavailable through the end of September.
Grantees that are scheduled to report before Sept. 30 will receive an extension through Oct. 30. For assistance or information, contact the Office of State Budget and Management at mailto:ncgrants@osbm.nc.govor call 919.807.4795.

Best, Rob

Letter to HHS re case management

9/9/09

To whom it may concern,

I am writing on behalf of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children to express our concern with the potential consolidation of certain case management services. The Covenant is a coalition of over 70 service providers, advocacy organizations, and civic groups working to implement public policy that benefits children.

We understand that the Division of Medical Assistance has been required by the legislature to find unprecedented savings within case management, but we believe that many case management services provided by state agencies are too complex to consolidate and too important to lose. Specifically, we are concerned that child and maternal health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities and mental health as well as other populations and illnesses demand specific areas of expertise and an understanding of systems of care beyond the medical infrastructure. As an organization that represents North Carolina's children and families, we feel strongly that the aforementioned case management services should not be consolidated.

While the Division might save money upfront by consolidating case management in these areas, it will doubtlessly incur even greater costs when serious conditions go undiagnosed and unmanaged, and when individuals lose financial benefits or become homeless. Most importantly, the loss of these crucial case management services will lead to greater human suffering, especially when combined with the drastic cuts to other child and family programs across DHHS. We urge you to find a solution that maintains these invaluable case management services.

Thank you for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions - mailto:rob@nccovenant.orgor 919.866.3280.

Sincerely,

Rob Thompson
Executive Director
Covenant with North Carolina's Children

The Covenant with North Carolina's Children - Fundraising Opportunities

2009-09-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

Save the Date!

The Covenant will be holding four fundraisers over the next three months, and all of them involve delicious food!

DINNERS BY JENNIFER

On Sept. 19, Oct. 24, and Nov. 14, Jennifer Mahan, Covenant Board Chair and professionally-trained chef, will host homemade dinners where you can come fill your belly and support great advocacy for the price of a night out. To reserve a space, email Jennifer . (For the Sept. 19 dinner, please rsvp by COB Tuesday, 9/15). For more information on these dinners, scroll to the bottom of the email.

NOFO AT THE PIG

On Tuesday, October 20, Covenant staff and board members will be serving meals and drinks at the cute and tasty Nofo at the Pig . A percentage of all sales from the evening will go to support the Covenant.
Check out our Community Calendar for more information.

MORE ON JENNIFER'S DINNERS...

From September to November Jennifer Mahan is hosting a series of fundraising dinners to support The Covenant with North Carolina's Children, a non-profit advocacy group ( http://www.nccovenant.org/). Jennifer has more than a decade of professional cooking, baking and retail food experience and continues to expand her culinary skills at home. For the price of a night out, you'll have a chance to enjoy a great meal and benefit great advocacy.

The September 19th kick-off dinner is "Flavors of Asia," a selection of some of Jennifer's favorite dishes influenced by the fresh flavors of China, Thailand, Laos, and Singapore. Dishes will feature lime, sesame, curry, Thai basil, ginger and all the other fresh flavors of the land and sea from appetizer to dessert along with a selection of wine and Asian beer.

The October 24th Dinner is "Flavors of Italy," a five course dinner featuring Jennifer's grandmother's "dumpling style" ravioli with a Northern Italy twist, the infamous Italian boned stuffed chicken (an Easter favorite!) plus some new antipasti, contorni, dolci, and a selection of wines to complement the dishes.

The November 14th dinner is "Flavors of the Spice Trail," with dishes spanning the globe from Morocco to the Middle East to India featuring exotic spices and flavors to tempt your taste buds. Take a culinary world tour from starters to main course to dessert, along with a selection of beverages. Price: $40 donation per person to The Covenant with NC's Children or the Covenant with NC's Children Education Fund (tax-deductible as the law allows) Seating is limited! Please contact mailto:jennifer.mahan@mha-nc.orgto RSVP . We ask that cash or check payment accompany RSVP within one week to secure your seat. All dinners will take place in Jennifer's home in Apex, NC. Dress is casual. Directions will be sent when donation and RSVP are confirmed. Some, but not all, dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Please send a message with your request to Jennifer at the above address.

Legislative Updates from The Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2009-09-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

The Covenant with North Carolina’s Children is a coalition of over 60 civic groups, professional associations, advocacy organizations and service providers who have formed a covenant by promising together to advance public policy to benefit children in North Carolina and to put children and youth first in our public and private lives. NCSPA is a part of this coalition and the Legislative Committee would like to share with you some of the updates provided to us by this organization.

Legislative Update: 9/3/09

I. BUDGET CUTS
II. CASE MANAGEMENT UPDATE
III. CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE TEAM
IV. EARLY CHILDHOOD UPDATE
V. PROGRAM EVALUATION OF CHILD AND YOUTH PROGRAMS
VI. TOGETHER NC UPDATE
VII. COVENANT CALENDAR
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENT

BUDGET CUTS

As you are all aware, numerous child and family programs had their funding slashed in the new state budget. We'll be monitoring what kind of impacts these cuts have in communities around North Carolina. Additionally, the legislature charged DHHS to find hundreds of millions of dollars in unspecified cuts, so we'll also keep a close on eye on where and how the Department chooses to cut costs.

Please let us know what is going on in your community and your area of work, so that we can help to create and implement solutions (or at least mitigate the damage). Below are some repercussions from the new budget that we are already experiencing.

CASE MANAGEMENT

The new budget requires Medicaid to cut case management services by over $40 million this fiscal year and over $70 million in the next fiscal year. The legislature justified this cut by citing the fact that many people have multiple case managers and that these services could be provided more efficiently by one case manager working across service areas. While this makes sense superficially, it's proving to be extremely problematic.

Many case management services - such as child and maternal care, HIV/AIDS, mental health and substance abuse - require specific expertise and direct involvement in the care of patients. Consolidating these services would result in a dramatic reduction in the quality of care. While nothing has been decided, it appears that the Division of Medical Assistance plans to include these services in the consolidation. Stakeholders within DHHS are currently meeting to try to resolve the situation, and we expect to have a final answer within a couple of weeks.

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE TEAM

We learned earlier this week that WakeMed has eliminated the Child Sexual Abuse Team, citing budget restraints. The Child Sexual Abuse Team evaluates potential victims of sexual abuse to ensure proper treatment. More on this to come when we find out more.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

This is a pretty big deal - it appears that the federal government will not allow the state to use money from the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) to supplant state funding for child care quality initiatives. Translated into English, this means that the state cannot use this specific pot of federal dollars (CCDF) to replace state funding of child care quality projects, including the TEACH program. Unfortunately, that's exactly what we did in the new state budget. It is my understanding that this jeopardizes the entirety of federal CCDF dollars, which fund large portions of our early childhood infrastructure. DHHS is currently working to figure out a solution, and I'll keep you updated as the situation progresses.

Additionally, we are monitoring the nine person task force to study consolidating early childhood programs, including Smart Start and More at Four. This task force will include three Senators, three House members, and three members appointed by the Governor. We learned yesterday that Stephanie Fanjul, Executive Director of the NC Partnership for Children, will be one of the Governor's appointees. As soon as other appointments are made and meetings are set, we'll let you know.

TOGETHER NC UPDATE

Here's an abbreviated version of the most recent Together NC update:

TOGETHER NC COALITION MEETINGS

Through the fall, Meg and I, along with other Together NC organizers, will be traveling across the state to conduct local Together NC meetings. We plan to work with local partners on creating an appropriate agenda, but two primary goals include: 1. Gathering feedback on this summer's coalition efforts; 2. Educating the staff, board, and constituent groups on what revenue reform looks like and why it's important to progressive causes.

These meetings will likely begin in late September and continue through November. We'll send out a specific list of locations as we finalize the events.

Lastly, if you have any board, membership, or constituent meetings where you'd like a speaker, please let us know and we'll do our best to get someone there. We'd love the opportunity to talk about challenges and opportunities around our state's budget and fiscal outlook.

BRAC

The governor convened her Budget Reform and Accountability Commission (BRAC) for the first time last week. The Commission's goal is to consolidate and streamline state services to achieve cost savings while at the same protecting the core mission of state services and programs. We will begin discussions this fall with Together NC partners about how we want to participate in and influence BRAC recommendations.

COVENANT CALENDAR

As I'm sure everyone has seen, the Covenant launched a new website in August - http://www.nccovenant.org/. Whoo hoo!

A exciting feature of the website is a community calendar where Covenant members can go to check out upcoming events and to publicize their own events. We've already got a few events posted, but we'd sure love to have more. To see the calendar, go to http://www.nccovenant.org/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&view=calendar&Itemid=37.

2010-2011 Budget Summary Provided by NC Covenant for the Children

2009-08-07T07:28:00.001-07:00

Below is a summary of key child and family budget items. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these cuts or if you have a question about a program that you do not see on this list. Also, this summary does not cover the special provisions in the budget bill, which have a significant impact on how these cuts will be implemented.
For a line-by-line summary of the HHS, Public Education, and Juvenile Justice budgets, go to Action for Children's website, www.ncchild.org .

BIG PICTURE -

In both public education and health and human services, the legislature leaves massive cuts to be made by state and local administrators. In some ways, this is good, because these administrators often have a better understanding of which cuts will do the least damage. On the other hand, legislators could be putting these folks in an impossible place - assigning them with so much money to make up that they cannot keep up basic operations. What we know is that lots of specific cuts will come out over the next several months as state and local officials are forced to make these decisions.

Also, large amounts of nonrecurring revenue, mostly federal stimulus money, is used to pay for recurring expenses. This means that when the stimulus money runs out after 2011, we'll have a large structural deficit waiting for us. It's hard to fault legislators for doing this given the severity of the budget shortfall, but it will be an issue we'll have to deal with down the road.

FY10 Departmental Budget Changes:

Public Education: 10% overall budget cut

Juvenile Justice: 16% overall budget cut

Health and Human Services: 30% overall budget cut
-Blind, Deaf / Hard of Hearing Services: 25% budget cut
-Child Development: 16% budget cut
-Medical Assistance (Medicaid): 37% budget cut
-MH/DD/SA: 19% budget cut
-Public Health: 17% budget cut
-Social Services: 12% budget cut
-Health Choice: 12% budget EXPANSION!

PUBLIC EDUCATION

LEA Adjustment - this one is very important. The legislature chose NOT to mandate increased class size and in fact requires LEAs to keep K-3 class size at current levels. However, they are leaving the LEAs with the unpleasant task of administering huge cuts in their districts. It's inevitable that this cut will result in fewer teachers, teachers' assistants, and classroom resources. FY10 ($225 million); FY11 ($304,774,366) recurring

Textbooks - the legislature phases in a complete moratorium on new textbook adoptions by FY11. FY10 ($47,977,278) nonrecurring; FY11 ($115,410,044) nonrecurring

Central Office Administration - this line item cuts funding to LEAs for district staff. FY10 and FY11 ($14,613,199) recurring

More at Four - this is only half of what we thought it could be, so good news here. FY10 and FY11 ($5 million) recurring

Support for struggling students - this line item eliminates funding for children who score low on certain state tests. FY10 and FY11 ($38,339,798) recurring

Literacy Coaches - eliminates funding for all literacy coaches. FY10 and FY11 ($12,034,400) recurring

Funding Reductions to non-profit support organizations - FY10 ($4,594,519); FY11 ($6,702,953) recurring

Dropout Prevention Grants - This allocation creates a competitive grant program for projects that address dropout prevention. FY10 and FY11 $13,000,000 recurring (yep, that's right, an increase!)

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Division of Child Development

Child Care Subsidies - damaging reduction to child care subsidies. FY10 and FY11 ($15,186,301) recurring

Smart Start - I thought this was going to be worse. FY10 ($15,965,000); FY11 ($16,330,000) recurring

MH/DD/SA

Eliminates 350 positions within the Division (unclear which ones). FY10 and FY11 ($12,858,290) recurring

CAP/MR-DD Reduction - FY10 and FY11 ($16,000,000) recurring

State Funded Services - this line item reduces funding for services provided by LMEs. FY10 and FY11 ($40,000,000) recurring

Crisis Services - this line item provides funding for inpatient capacity at community hospitals. FY10 and FY11 $12,000,000 recurring (another increase!)

Public Health

AIDS Drug Assistance - reduces funds to purchase AIDS drugs. FY10 and FY11 ($3,074,119) nonrecurring

Contracts - the legislature eliminates funding for the collection and analysis of data concerning infants and children, and it reduces funding for three contracts that have "unobligated funds." They do not specify which contracts.

More Contracts - Reduces the appropriation for public health contracts that: do not meet the Division's core mission; do not provide a direct service; have had unobligated funds in the past; have failed to meet past goals. FY10 and FY11 ($4,010,072) recurring

Infant mortality, birth defects, and teen pregnancy prevention - the legislature allocates an additional $1.4 million to these efforts. (all nonrecurring)

Health Choice - Provides funds to increase enrollment by 7% in FY10 and 3% in FY11 - $17,096,952 and $21,942,732, respectively. The legislature also imposes co-pays for prescription drugs and non-emergency hospital visits.

Division of Social Services

Work First - cash assistance for struggling families is reduced. FY10 and FY11 ($7,178,459) recurring

Child Advocacy Centers funding reduction - FY10 and FY11 ($200,000) recurring

Foster Care and Adoption assistance - the line item says this reduction reflects greater federal funding, but there is no specific replacement. FY10 ($2,840,235) nonrecurring and FY11 ($1,452,537) nonrecurring

State Aid to Counties - FY10 and FY11 ($5,473,985) nonrecurring

Eliminates funding for child support offices - FY11 ($4,082,811)

Child Welfare Collaborative - $900,000 increase for FY10!

Medicaid

Provider Rate Reductions - These rate reductions will be administered at the discretion of the Secretary. FY10 ($76,440,896) recurring and FY11 ($82,261,586) recurring.

Community Support reduction - FY10 ($65,000,000) and FY11 ($97,500,000), both recurring.

Level III and IV group homes - this cut is significantly less than what was in the most recent House budget. FY10 ($15,860,960) recurring and FY11 ($22,554,622).

Consolidate Case Management - FY10 ($41,029,684) recurring and FY11 ($72,907,230) recurring.

Freeze CAP slots - FY10 ($6,646,956) recurring and FY11 ($7,274,842) recurring.

JUVENILE JUSTICE

Eliminates the Center for the Prevention of School Violence - FY10 and FY11 ($481,225) recurring

Eliminate funding for the Governor's 1 on 1 program - FY10 and FY11 ($1,645,545) recurring

Eliminate Support our Students program - FY10 and FY11 ($6,627,532) recurring

No additional funding for Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils

Samarkand YDC is closed; Dobbs stays open

ANOTHER BUDGET UPDATE FROM THE COVENANT

2009-06-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Early Saturday morning, the House passed its budget proposal, which included a $784 million revenue package that will mitigate some of the worst cuts. The original revenue package would have generated about $940 million, but members of the House Finance Committee voted to eliminate additional taxes on tobacco products, beer, and wine. The final revenue package includes the following: an expanded sales tax base that will include more services; a quarter cent increase in the sales tax rate; two additional top income tax brackets; the elimination of some corporate loopholes; and, an increased liquor tax.

Below are some key restorations that came as a result of the revenue package:

Education:

-Maintains K-3 classroom sizes at current levels
-Low wealth funds for counties
-At risk student funding

Division of Child Development:

-Cuts in child care rates were fully restored
-The Smart Start cut was reduced from $25 million to $5 million

Health Choice:

-The proposed enrollment freeze is lifted
-The ER co-pay is eliminated

DSS:

-Funding for Child Advocacy Centers is fully restored
-State aid to counties for work-first is fully restored
-Foster care and adoption assistance is fully restored

Public Health:

-Early hearing program - fully restored
-2 nd dose of the chicken pox vaccine - fully restored
-Oral health program - fully restored
-Public health contracts - $5 million of $10.5 million cut restored

Medicaid:

-Provider reimbursement rate - rate is reduced by 3% instead of 5.5%
-PT/OT/ST - fully restored
-Adult optical and dental - fully restored
-Orthotics and prosthetics - fully restored

Mental Health:

-MH/DD/SA state funded services are fully restored ($50 million cut proposed)
-CAP/MR-DD state supplemental funds - cut reduced from $16 million to $8 million

Covenant Legislative Updates:

H88 - Healthy Youth Act (Sex-ed)

A group of Senators have come up with a piece of compromise legislation that limits parental choice and diminishes the comprehensive program. The bill was pulled off of the floor last week, and is scheduled to be heard this Tuesday.

H442 - Parental Involvement in School Discipline (corporal punishment)

The Senate Education Committee passed the bill last week. It was a contentious hearing with a very close vote. The bill was debated on the floor of the Senate, but due to opposition from all Republicans and some Democrats, the bill was not voted on. It is now scheduled to be heard on 6/24.

S526 / H548 - School Violence Prevention Act (Bullying Bill)

The House Judiciary I Committee will hear the bill this Tuesday with a floor vote later in the week. We don't expect the Committee vote to be a problem, but we know that the vote on the House floor will be extremely close.

OTHER COVENANT AGENDA BILLS

H177, Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act (Paid sick-days) has now been heard in both the Senate and House Commerce Committees, which is a great step forward for this needed policy. We hope to get a study bill on this issue by the end of session.

H656 / S666 - MH Proceedings / No Restraint - This bill would prevent the shackling of youth during MH hearings. It's been referred to the House Judiciary II Committee and the Senate Judiciary I Committee. Unclear where this will go.

H783 - Study Comm. / Youth Aging Out of Foster Care (Adams, M. Alexander, Earle, Wiley). This bill passed out of the Juvenile Justice Committee last week and will move the House Rules Committee.

H804, an Act to Amend the Personal Education Plan Statute, passed the House the week before last. In short, this legislation would facilitate greater parental involvement in the education of their children. Thanks to Angella Dunston at the NC Justice Center for her work getting this bill passed.

H1414 - Youth Accountability Act

This bill would raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 16 to 18, so that the state doesn't automatically prosecute 16 and 17 year-olds as adults (we're the only state in the country that still does this).

Unclear when this bill will come back up.

PASSED BILLS

Senate Passes Due Process / Suspension Bill

H218 / S737 - Parental and Student Educational Involvement Act (Due process for long-term suspensions and expulsions).

Yea! The bill has now passed both chambers and is headed to the Governor's desk. Kudos to the ACLU and others for their great work on this bill.

Financial Literacy Bill Passes Both Chambers

H817 / S1019, Establish NC Financial Literacy Council, have passed their respective chambers and seem likely to become law very soon. Kudos to Action for Children for its leadership on this issue.

Anti-Smoking Bill Wins Final Passage

The House voted to approve the Senate's version of the secondhand smoking bill, which would ban smoking in all restaurants and bars across the state. This is a great victory for the health of children and families in North Carolina. The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law on Tuesday morning. Cheers to the NC Alliance for Health, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association for the hard (and smart) work on this bill.

Legislative Updates from The Covenant with North Carolina's Children

2009-06-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

The Covenant with North Carolina’s Children is a coalition of over 60 civic groups, professional associations, advocacy organizations and service providers who have formed a covenant by promising together to advance public policy to benefit children in North Carolina and to put children and youth first in our public and private lives. NCSPA is a part of this coalition and the Legislative Committee would like to share with you some of the updates provided to us by this organization.

Legislative Update - 6/8/09

BUDGET UPDATE

The House still hasn't included a revenue package in their budget, but momentum is moving in the right direction. It's fair to say that the Covenant and our allies have had a good bit to do with this change of course. Last Thursday, at the Durham Together NC Town Hall meeting, State Rep. Paul Luebke had this to say:

"Let me say first of all that because of events like this and events that have been happening around the state, and generally just a barrage of emails that have been coming in to members of the General Assembly, there is a growing consensus now that revenue must be raised. This was really not the case even 10 days ago."

If a revenue package is approved, we expect it to include a small increase in the tobacco tax, an increase in the liquor tax, a temporary increase in the sales tax, and an additional top income tax bracket. The package would raise about $1 billion, which will mitigate some of the worst cuts, but this budget will still be painful. It's also unclear as to whether or not the House will approve a revenue package before they pass the crazy, draconian budget proposal currently on the table.

Your legislators still need to hear from you! They are going to be flooded with emails telling them not to raise revenue, so we need to keep up the pressure. Click on the link below to tell your House member to take a balanced solution to the state budget:

http://capwiz.com/cwncc/issues/alert/?alertid=13453506

BUDGET CUTS

Action for Children has put together three extremely helpful documents that show the Governor's, Senate's, and House's proposed budget cuts side-by-side. To take a look, follow the links below:

HHS
http://www.ncchild.org/action/images/stories/PDFs/Budget/Long%20Session%202009-10%20HHS%206_5_09.pdf

EDUCATION
http://www.ncchild.org/action/images/stories/PDFs/Budget/Long%20Session%202009-10%20Public%20Education_6_5_09.pdf

JUVENILE JUSTICE
http://www.ncchild.org/action/images/stories/PDFs/Budget/Long%20Session%202009-10%20Juvenile%20Justice%206_5_09.pdf

ON THE MOVE

H88 - Healthy Youth Act (Sex-ed)

A group of Senators have come up with a piece of compromise legislation that limits parental choice and diminishes the comprehensive program. Bad. Please encourage your Senator to move a sound, comprehensive sexual education bill - http://eqfed.org/campaign/hya3(action alert courtesy of Equality NC).

H1414 - Youth Accountability Act

This bill would raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 16 to 18, so that the state doesn't automatically prosecute 16 and 17 year-olds as adults (we're the only state in the country that still does this).

This bill will be heard in the full Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, June 10 - we expect a close vote.

H442 - Parental Involvement in School Discipline (corporal punishment)

The full House passed this bill by a whopping 91-24 vote. The Senate Education Committee should here the bill on Tuesday, 6/10.

S526 / H548 - School Violence Prevention Act (Bullying Bill)

The House Education Committee approved the Bullying Bill last week with no harmful amendments. We expect that Judiciary I will take up the bill this week with a possible floor vote by Thursday.

OTHER COVENANT AGENDA BILLS

H177, Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act (Paid sick-days) didn't pass the House, but we think we might be able to get a study commission on the issue.

UPDATED - H539 - Merge Smart Start / More at Four (NOTE - this is not a Covenant agenda bill, but it is extremely important to the future of early childhood care in the state). It doesn't look like this will happen on the House side in the budget process. While they've proposed a large cut to More at Four, they don't seem intent on merging the programs. However, we don't know what will happen when the House and Senate start on their budget negotiations.

H656 / S666 - MH Proceedings / No Restraint - This bill would prevent the shackling of youth during MH hearings. It's been referred to the House Judiciary II Committee and the Senate Judiciary I Committee.

H783 - Study Comm. / Youth Aging Out of Foster Care (Adams, M. Alexander, Earle, Wiley). This bill passed out of the Juvenile Justice Committee last week and will move the House Rules Committee.

H804, an Act to Amend the Personal Education Plan Statute, passed the House the week before last. In short, this legislation would facilitate greater parental involvement in the education of their children. Thanks to Angella Dunston at the NC Justice Center for her work getting this bill passed.

PASSED BILLS

Senate Passes Due Process / Suspension Bill

H218 / S737 - Parental and Student Educational Involvement Act (Due process for long-term suspensions and expulsions).

Yea! The bill has now passed both chambers and is headed to the Governor's desk. Kudos to the ACLU and others for their great work on this bill.

Financial Literacy Bill Passes Both Chambers

H817 / S1019, Establish NC Financial Literacy Council, have passed their respective chambers and seem likely to become law very soon. Kudos to Action for Children for its leadership on this issue.

Anti-Smoking Bill Wins Final Passage

The House voted to approve the Senate's version of the secondhand smoking bill, which would ban smoking in all restaurants and bars across the state. This is a great victory for the health of children and families in North Carolina. The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law on Tuesday morning. Cheers to the NC Alliance for Health, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association for the hard (and smart) work on this bill.

Legislative Update - 6/10/09

The House Finance Committee just passed merged the revenue proposal and the appropriations bill. So, we now have a budget bill that is ready for a House floor vote tomorrow.

Follow the link below to see the legislation:

http://www.ncleg.net/sessions/2009/budget/2009/S202-ASVxf-21.pdf

Go to page 25 to see what cuts were restored as a result of the tax package, which totaled around $900 million.

To be clear, this debate is not over. HOUSE MEMBERS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY MUST RAISE REVENUE. PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW! http://capwiz.com/cwncc/issues/alert/?alertid=13453506

NCSPA Newsletter Article

2009-02-19T10:14:00.000-08:00

The legislature convened 12:00 Noon, on January 28th. Our Lobbyist, Steve Shaber talked to Representatives Rick Glazier, Doug Youngue, and Maggie Jeffus, who all have shown us support in the past. While we are not sure exactly who will sponsor our bill this session, we plan on reintroducing the bill in conjunction with NCAE. The bill, an act to establish a salary schedule rate increase for certified personnel of the public school who are paid on the advanced degree (sixth year) or doctorate degree salary schedule, will be pursued despite the projected 2 billion dollar state budget shortfall. We are staying positive, while recognizing that this will be a difficult year not only for state institutions, but also for those of us who are paid by those institutions. Stay tuned, and read our Legislative Blog, accessible through the NCSPA website to obtain the most up to date information as the 2009 legislative session gets underway.

In other news, the legislative and public policy committee needs your help. If you are interested in making contacts with your legislators or being involved in the exciting changes facing our profession, please contact Chris Tufts, ctufts@wcpss.net. As a profession, we have a great deal to offer our legislators, who are concerned about the future and welfare of the students in our schools. They want to hear from us on issues that we know about.

2008-12-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

Passed along to you from the newsletter: From the Ground Up
The Newsletter of the NC Education and Law Project, NC Justice Center
www.ncjustice.org
____________________________________________________________________________________

Dec. 15, 2008

Greetings, parents, advocates, and education partners.

It has been a decade since education officials in North Carolina vowed to close, or at least significantly narrow, the achievement gap that exists between minority students and their white peers. It hasn't happened yet. Eight years ago, federal officials promised to rally around all students, particularly those most likely to fail, by increasing standards of accountability for states, school districts, and schools. Yet, their underfunded No Child Left Behind Act has done as much to undermine disadvantaged students as help them. Now, everyone from Beverly Perdue to Barack Obama are pledging to raise the high school graduation rate.

They will struggle to succeed until more education policy makers recognize that low retention rates are a symptom of the same unsolved problems of the past. The public school system is failing to engage poor and minority students.

A study released recently by the Education Trust and the University of Pennsylvania, indicates that disparities in teacher quality are at least partly to blame. According to the report, low-income high-school students and students of color in the United States are about twice as likely to be enrolled in core academic classes taught by teachers who possess neither certification in the subject they have been assigned to teach nor an academic major in that subject. Read the entire report: http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/Press+Room/CoreProblems.

Get the facts about graduation rates
The Alliance for Excellent Education has released Understanding High School Graduation Rates, a series of one-page reports about what the the drop out crisis looks like in each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia. The report reveals graduation gaps between demographic groups in most states, discrepancies in graduation rates reported by government and independent sources, and the high economic costs of dropouts to individuals and society. Click [here] to access graduation and dropout statistics for North Carolina.

Education coalition to meet in January
North Carolina Community Advocates for Revitalizing Education (NCCARE) will meet Jan. 10 at the Justice Center's office in Raleigh. If you are a parent, youth development professional, or advocate for public school students and would like to network with other education advocates from around the state, please join us. For more information about joining NCCARE or attending the January meeting, please call Beth Jacobs at 919.861.2064 or email beth@ncjustince.org

Site designed to help students navigate road to diplomas
The value of a North Carolina high school diploma is rising. The state continues to increase standards so that most students who graduate from high school leave with the credentials it takes to get into community colleges, colleges, and universities. Unfortunately for students, the policy changes regarding diploma pathways are being phased in over the course of the next few years creating confusion for parents and students. Many young people are unsure about what courses, credits and projects are required to receive a diploma. The Department of Public Instruction recently created a page on its Web site to answer some of those questions. For more information about the ever changing graduation requirements go to www.dpi.state.nc.us/gradrequirements/ .

Representative of Obama/Biden Campaign to Speak to NC Children's Coalition

2008-10-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

From The Covenant with North Carolina's Children:

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) will be speaking with North Carolina child advocates, Covenant with North Carolina ’s Children members and the public as a representative from the Obama/Biden campaign. This is a great opportunity to educate a Presidential Candidate’s policy committee on important child and family issues that need to be addressed at the Federal level.

The forum is open to the public and The Covenant encourages individuals, families, advocates, community organizations, professionals, and anyone concerned with children and families to attend.

Date: Monday, October 20th Time: 11 a.m.

Where: North Carolina Association of Educators

Spread the word and plan to attend! Please come with QUESTIONS!

For directions to 700 South Salisbury Street , Raleigh , NC visit www.ncae.org or go to http://www.ncae.org/cms/Directions+to+NCAE/1

Focus on Graduation

2008-09-09T06:41:00.000-07:00

From Thursday, September 9th NC Justice News

GRADUATION RATE: Smart Policies Can Keep Kids in School

State Superintendent June Atkinson kicked off "Graduation Awareness Week" yesterday with a proclamation from Governor Mike Easley and a Call to Action to raise the state's graduation rate. Only about 70% of North Carolina high school students graduate in four years.
Superintendent Atkinson says this campaign will "underscore the activities that schools, families and community groups must take to help all students stay in school to graduate." But there are numerous steps state policymakers can take to help students graduate. One would be to revise North Carolina's retention policy, which results in tens of thousands of students not being promoted to the next grade each year, increasing the chances they will drop out. Revising suspension policies to keep more students in class would also be a big step toward getting more children to graduation day.

Interested in working to improve public education in North Carolina? NC Community Advocates for Revitalizing Education (NCCARE) is a statewide coalition of parents, teachers and community leaders dedicated to ensuring that every student in North Carolina receives a sound basic education.

For more information, contact Beth Jacobs at mailto:beth@ncjustice.org

Justice Center: From the Ground Up - Corporal Punishment + A Call for Higher Grad Rates
Public Schools of North Carolina: The Message - Graduate!
Hickory Daily Record: Get Ready for Graduation
Rocky Mount Telegram: Easley to Students: Graduate

Traditional School Year Begins!

2008-08-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Those of you on year-round schedules may not be feeling the tingles at this point, but many of us who work on the traditional calendar are gearing up for another exciting school year. As the school supplies are getting organized and packed up, and this school year's trendy outfits are filling closets at home, and as families prepare to send their children to schools across the state-- school psychologists have other things on their minds in addition to supplies and fashion. We're thinking about how to better manage our time this year, how to find some way to do some mental health work amidst all the special education referrals, thinking about ways to help our schools implement RTI, and, once again, looking forward to the exciting changes occurring in our profession.

As you take some time before the students return-- or if you are on a year-round schedule, take some time when you have it--- think about ways that you can advocate for our roles in the schools. Think about any changes you would like to see happen in your schools. Would you like a greater role in developing interventions? Would you like to make yourself available for workshops and in-services to help educate your school staff on behavior management, RTI, various presentations of mood disorders....? How would you go about trying to change how things have been done in the past? Would it be appropriate to sit down with your principal and propose changes? Maybe a meeting with specific teachers? Do you need to compile some data and reading to distribute, to get staff excited about a topic? Would a needs survey help give you an idea of what your school may require your help in? How about district-level change? All school districts are different. Do you know who to talk to if you see an area that needs attention? Is change possible in that area? Who holds the power and control to make change happen? Have you developed a relationship with that person? Remember to check the Legislative/Public Policy link on the NCSPA website to get resources to help you advocate for yourself, your profession, and the children you work for.

Speaking of relationships- remember, it is always good practice to keep in touch with your legislators so that they know you are available for questions regarding psychology in the schools. Let them know what that means. Remind them of what you do. A link to the NC General Assembly web page is in the left column of this blog.

We are still working on the 5% and 10% raises. The more our legislators know about us, and the more they understand the vital role we play in the schools, the more likely it is that they will advocate for our professions. They would be happy to hear from you. Email, written letters and phone calls are all appropriate ways to contact your legislator.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Fall Conference in Charlotte. The Legislative and Public Policy Committee will be featuring Teresa Smith of DPI as a speaker. Teresa will be giving an informative report on the latest news impacting the work of Student Support Services personnel on Monday, October 6th, 1:45- 3:15 PM. She is a very good speaker, and you are sure to enjoy spending time with her!

Last, but not least, a great big CONGRATULATIONS to Carol Vatz, who retired from Wake County Public School System this year!!! She has been an incredibly valuable staff member with a mental library of knowledge and a great talent for sharing it. Her contributions in working with colleagues and students, as well as advocating for our profession and children will be remembered and frequently referenced as we ponder: "What Would Carol Do?" The chartreuse rubber bracelets with the reminder "WWCD" will be distributed for a $100. donation to the Carol V. Retirement Fund at the Fall Conference. (just kidding)

Please feel free to contact Chris Tufts ctufts@wcpss.net, or Carol Vatz bcvatz@gmail.com, if you have any questions or input regarding Legislative and Public Policy work for NCSPA.

Lobbyist's Update on Raises

2008-06-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

I hate to have to report that our attempt to increase salaries for school psychologists and others with the "six year" masters degree or doctorate failed this session. We had hopes for the Senate, but without success.

We know some Senators -- notably Vernon Malone and Tony Rand -- were very interested in our issue. But budget talks are a mystery cloaked in a puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, and when the Senate budget came out of its cocoon, what little new money was available for education went for More at Four and the UNC system. Across-the-board teacher salary increases were way below what the Governor wanted.

We have had encouragement for the coming session, which starts in February. Sen. Rand urges us to try again. Rep. Rick Glazier, who received NCSPA's public service award for 2005, has promised to work hard on this issue in 2009.

Conventional wisdom, or maybe it's folklore, says a new bill usually takes 4 years to go through the General Assembly. Let the conventional wisdom be true.

Thanks to Carol Vatz, Chris Tufts and Sarah Greene, who worked hard on this. Thanks also to those of you who sent in stories of your work with children. They were very effective. Finally, thanks to NCAE and its lobbyist on this issue, Marge Foreman, who worked hard.

Steve Shaber

House Budget

2008-06-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

Excerpt: June 2008 From the Ground Up Newsletter
http://www.ncjustice.org/

2008 Legislative Session Moving Full Speed Ahead!

Last week, the NC House approved its budget proposal. The $21.3 billion budget included $11 billion for total education spending, $7.7 billion of which would go for K-12 public education. The House included a 3% salary increase for teachers and administrators and a salary increase of 2.75% or $1100, whichever is greater, for all other state employees. Other items worth noting in the House budget include:

K-12 Public Education
· $15 million in one-time money for dropout prevention grants
· $70 million in ABC bonus funds
· $6.2 million more for children with disabilities
· $3.2 million more for academically gifted students
· $3.4 million to expand Learn and Earn high school programs
· $45 million for diesel fuel costs for school buses
· $23 million to expand More at Four by 4,200 slots
· $6 million more for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund (DSSF)
· $2.9 million more for the Low-Wealth Supplemental Fund
· $500,000 for Communities in Schools' at-risk youth programs
· $1 million expansion for Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC)
· $10 million for gang prevention and intervention.

The budget will now go to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees, which will make adjustments to the House budget. Then the full Senate Appropriations Committee will vote on the Senate version. If there are items up for debate, a Conference Committee made up of House and Senate members will create a final version, which the two bodies will adopt and send to the governor to be signed or vetoed. Senate members have already expressed their intentions of increasing the pay raise for teachers and funding for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund (DSSF).

The General Assembly has a proposed deadline of early July to finalize the budget and wrap up the entire 2008 session.

Update on the 5% and 10% raises

2008-06-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

Our lobbyist, Steve Shaber, reports that the money for our raises is not in the House budget. Ordinarily, the fact that the House has omitted it would not mean anything with regard to the Senate, because the Senate typically has no role in the House version of the budget. But the subcommittees are meeting jointly (i.e., the House and Senate members are meeting together in a single meeting) to a greater degree than in the past, and the Senate seems to have had some input into the House budget this year -- which is unique. The House version of the budget goes to the floor today for what's known as "second reading." It will be debated all day and probably into the evening. Eventually it will pass. Tomorrow (Thursday) it will have its "third reading," which is the final vote in the House. There will probably be some debate, but certainly less.

After the budget passes third reading in the House, it will go to the Senate, which may rewrite it as much as it likes. Given the extent to which the Senate seems to have been included in the House budget process so far, the Senate may stick more closely to the House budget than it usually does. It is unclear, however, the extent to which the house and senate agree at this point.

Nevertheless, it appears that we may still be alive in the mind of the Senate. Regardless, Senator Rand may still be able to put our money in the Senate version of the budget. If it is in the Senate budget, but not in the House, then it will go to conference committee to be worked out.

Note:
Governor Easley wanted a 7% raise for teachers. The House gives 3%.
Governor Easley wanted 1.5% plus bonus for state employees. The House gives 2.75% or $1,100, whichever is greater.

Dropout Prevention Forum

2008-06-02T05:06:00.000-07:00

From:
http://campaign-archive.com/?u=5a8d71688e2ed0ea815d2aebc&id=yLyXM7R5Jw&e=%5bUNIQID%5d

Staying in School, Preparing for Life: Prevention in North Carolina 's Rural Communities is a Rural Roundtable discussion with state leaders on dropout prevention. On Friday, June 6, 2008 8:45 a.m. to Noon, find out what North Carolinians can do at the community and state levels to confront this crisis and help our children stay in school and succeed. For every 100 students entering ninth grade in North Carolina , only 70 graduate four years later. That means 30 lack what state Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee calls "the bare minimum for economic survival." Rural communities, whose resources are already stretched thin, need creative, practical strategies to help students reach their potential and survive in the global economy.

Go to the above link to learn more.

Thank you for the letters!

2008-05-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

Over 20 of you responded with incredible and compelling stories to share with our legislators. Our lobbyist, Steve Shaber, and NCAE lobbyist, Marge Foreman went to the legislature to talk with Senator Rand today. They had a very positive meeting.Your personal stories were greatly appreciated and did make a difference. We also had a very supportive colleague from Dare County, Mitchell Bateman, contact his friend Senator Basnight's office today, in support of the bill. Special thanks to Mr. Bateman!

Stay tuned in the coming days- we hope to have good news!

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Lobbyist Update

2008-05-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

The General Assembly returned to town on Tuesday for the "short session" to adjust the budget for the coming fiscal year, 2008-09.

The Legislature has set a very fast timetable for the session. Any new spending bills had to go to the Legislative staff for drafting by Friday, May 16, and ours did -- see below. All spending bills will have to be introduced by Tuesday, May 27.

The House appropriations subcommittees plan to act on their respective parts of the budget by Friday, May 30. The House plans to finish its version of the budget by Friday, June 6.

Then the Senate takes over. It plans to do all its sub-committee work by Friday, June 13. It plans to pass its version of the budget by June 20.

The House and Senate intend to work out all their differences and finish the budget by June 27.
Pigs will fly on June 28. Hell freezes the following day.

Kidding aside, Rep. Ray Rapp and Sen. Vernon Malone have each, separately, asked the Legislature's staff to prepare a bill that would give school psychologists and others with "six year" degrees and PhD's percentage bonuses instead of the flat dollar bonuses that have been in place for so many years. These two bills will be introduced as soon as possible, and in plenty of time to be considered during this short session, however short and fast it may be.

Steve Shaber
NCSPA Lobbyist

Dropout Prevention Exerpt: April 2008 From the Ground Up Newsletter

2008-05-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

www.ncjustice.org
Dropout Prevention Commission Agrees to More Funding to Combat Problem

The Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation began the process of finalizing its list of recommendations for the upcoming 2008 session. When the committee met last week, there was a great deal of discussion about raising the dropout age as well as the need to allocate additional funding for dropout prevention grants. The entire General Assembly will receive the commission’s report and have a chance to accept or decline the recommendations when the session begins in May. Highlights of the report include the following:

The State Board of Education and the State Board of Community Colleges are to create a system to identify students who have dropped out of high school and enrolled in a community college GED or adult education program.
The NC General Assembly will appropriate $2,700,000 to hire dropout prevention coordinators for high schools that have a four-year graduation rate of less than 65%.
The Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation will continue until 2010 and will present a final report on recommendations and proposed legislation before the 2011 legislative session.
The Committee will meet again on April 29th to finalize the list of recommendations.

Mattie C. Stewart Foundation Partners with NC To Decrease Dropout Rate

The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, along with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Executive Women International, has partnered with the Winston-Salem, Durham, Edgecombe, and New Hanover school districts to unveil a powerful new documentary to address the alarming national dropout crisis. The film, appropriately titled Inside Out , is one tool that NC educators and communities can use to combat the high dropout rate in the state. The documentary, which shares the life stories of inmates in the Alabama Prison System, is the brainchild of Shelly Stewart, a former homeless student who later became a successful business man.

Throughout the film, the inmates provide words of wisdom and a message of encouragement to potential dropouts. Each inmate echoes the importance of not only completing high school but also of making wise decisions that will prevent them from ending up in the prison system.

Viewings will be held in Edgecombe, New Hanover and Durham counties in April and May. For more information about the film and the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation visit their website http://www.mattiecstewart.org/.

Fitzsimon File Summarizes Impact of Legislative Budget Numbers

2008-05-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

By Chris Fitzsimon

"The numbers Wednesday morning brought good news and bad news to the pundits, politicos and policy advocates poring over them, trying to understand what happened and looking for information to help them predict what will happen next..."

Read on: http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=preview_message&fn=Link&t=1&ssid=6663&id=jvoxygz1htmg8w6hizo066m5pxa45&id2=1sr4z6otou57u0hob5ldvp2wa74ui

NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Launches its New Blog

2008-04-22T08:23:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the first post of our Legislative and Public Policy Update blog! First, let us introduce ourselves. Chris Tufts and Carol Vatz co-chair the NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee. We work closely with NCSPA's lobbyist, Steve Shaber. Here is a quick summary of what we've been doing lately. Feel free to comment and ask questions!

Carol, Marge Foreman (lobbyist for NCAE) and Steve met with Rep. Michaux to discuss a bill to provide percentage pay increases (5 and 10) for specialist and doctoral level educators. Chris, Marge and Steve met with Sen. Swindell to discuss facts about the bill. Rep. Rapp has agreed to introduce a bill if needed. Steve has also talked to Sen. Rand. Steve and Marge are working hard to contact all of the representatives and senators whom they feel are key to getting this approved. There is no real opposition and most legislators easily see this as an equity issue. The short session will begin in May. We believe we are getting closer to having equity pay be a reality!

Chris, Carol, Sarah Greene (NCSPA President) and Laurie Bober (NCSPA President Elect) met with Teresa Smith (Student Support Services) at DPI. The group discussed Teresa's role as well as expressing an interest in collaborating with her more in the future. The possibility of getting a full-time school psychologist position at DPI was also a topic of discussion. We advocated for including “school psychologist” in the job description of a possible full time position opening at DPI. We also discussed the Performance Appraisal Instrument (PAI) for school psychologists. Development and revision of the instrument is a long circumscribed process. Teresa expressed an interest in obtaining articles from school psychologists for her Student Support Services newsletter. A form for submission will be available on the NCSPA website.

Steve will monitor the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee meetings in light of our agenda and contact Chris and Carol as issues that we are interested in appear.

A School Based Mental Health Summit will take place in Raleigh on May 16th. We will give you a summary following the meeting.

Carol and Chris are working on the Legislative and Public Policy Fall Conference workshop presentation.