Priorities for New Hampshire Children | 2015 NH CAN 2015 Partners Advocacy Partners American Federation of Teachers- NH, Appalachian Mountain Teen Project, Bi-State Primary Care, Cedarcrest Center for Children, Child and Family Services of NH, Conservation Law Foundation, Disabilities Rights Center, Early Learning NH, Endowment for Health, Every Child Matters, Family Assistance Advisory Council, Family Support NH, Lamprey Health Care, League of Women Voters of NH, Manchester Community Health Center, Mountain View Counseling, NAMI- NH, National Association of Social Workers, National Education Association- NH, New Futures, NFI North, NH Afterschool Network (SERESC), NH Association for the Education of Young Children, NH Children’s Trust, NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, NH Community Loan Fund, NH Council For Youth with Chronic Conditions NH Civil Liberties Union, NH Dental Society, NH Developmental Disabilities Council, NH Fiscal Policy Institute, NH Legal Assistance, NH Oral Health Coalition, NH Partners in Service (NHPS), NH Pediatric Society, NH School Administrators Association, Richie McFarland Children's Center, Southern NH Services Area Health Education Center (AHEC), The Alliance for Better Child Care, The Grapevine Family and Community Resource Center, United Way - Greater Seacoast, United Way- Massachusetts Bay & NH CAN Steering Committee Ellen Fineberg, Chair NH Kids Count Jeff McLynch NH Fiscal Policy Institute John DeJoie, NH CAN Coordinator NH Kids Count Karen E. Cusano NFI North, Inc Keith Kuenning Child and Family Services Lynn Stanley NH Afterschool Network Dr. Mark Joyce NH School Administrators Association Michael Skibbie Disabilities Rights Center Scott McGilvray National Education Association- NH Merrimack Valley. The New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network (NH CAN), a 17 year-old partnership of child-serving organizations, develops the only annual legislative agenda focused solely on kids. Led by NH Kids Count, the NH CAN coalition engages its members in lively debate on issues of the day. We work alongside lawmakers to promote policies that improve life for all Granite State children. NH Kid’s Count appreciates support throughout the year from: New Hampshire Kids Count is dedicated to improving the lives of all children by advocating for public initiatives that make a real difference. We ensure that laws, policies, and programs in the Granite State are effective and improve kids' lives. Two Delta Drive, Concord, NH 03301 (603) 225-2264 nhkidscount.org Promote Workforce Development through Afterschool Learning Lynn Stanley, NH Afterschool Network Research shows that afterschool programs can foster better work habits, improve academic performance, and lead to fewer school absences. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum in afterschool programs have been shown to increase the likelihood of students taking higher level STEM classes in the upper grades. Therefore, when new legislation related to workforce development or STEM is introduced, it should include afterschool and summer learning programs as a viable strategy for educating our youth to become contributing adults. This is an Education Priority. Support Educational Opportunities for All Children Dr. Mark V. Joyce , NH School Administrator’s Association Scott McGilvray, National Education Association- NH Laura Hainey, American Federation of Teachers- NH Over the past six years, the Legislature has fulfilled its mandate to define, create, cost and fund public education in New Hampshire’s schools. New Hampshire needs to support full funding of all schools to protect all children's right to a quality public education. Our state legislators should oppose legislation that will weaken our state's constitutional obligation or the public education system. This is an Education Priority. Create The NH Educator Equity Plan Laura Hainey, American Federation of Teachers The NH Department of Education must update its Educator Equity Plan by April 2015. The revised plan will focus on low-income and minority communities to ensure that schools have effective teachers and services in place. The Department of Education should solicit a diverse group of stakeholders including advocates, state agency personnel, and community members to ensure that the new plan reflects the requirements of these constituents. This is an Education Priority. Protect Students’ Online Privacy Devon Chaffee, New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union More schools are requiring students to turn over their social media account access information and submit to monitoring by schools administrators. New Hampshire should ensure that its privacy laws and school policies keep pace with technology by prohibiting this practice unless there is substantiated cause. In 2014, HB 1200 sought to prohibit schools from requiring students to disclose their online IDs and passwords. This bill was thwarted in conference committee. A new effort convening diverse stakeholders will bring forward additional perspectives and legislative possibilities to address this need. This is an Education Priority. Priorities for NH Children by NH CAN: 2015 Utilize Community Health Workers to Improve Access to Services Ensure Community Based Prevention Services Strengthen Homeowners Property Tax Relief Program Paula Smith, Southern NH Area Health Education Center Kris McCracken, Manchester Community Health Center Keryn Bernard- Kriegl, NH Children’s Trust Kristen Vance, The Grapevine Family & Community Resource Center Karen Welford, Family Support NH Jeff McLynch, NH Fiscal Policy Institute Community Health Workers (CHWs) connect people to needed services and help bridge the gap between medical care, behavioral health, social services, and the community. First steps include bringing people together to share information about Community Health Workers, and ensuring a common language and understanding about the roles of CHWs in health, behavioral health and social service settings. Next steps involve a legislative strategy to include CHWs as authorized service providers under Medicaid and the NH Health Plan. This is a Health and Wellness Priority. Reduce Childhood Lead Poisoning The creation of Designated Family Resource Centers of Quality which welcomes all children and families would have a positive impact on New Hampshire’s communities. Amending existing legislation (Chapter 126- M- Wellness and Primary Prevention Council) can build a system of Family Resource Centers of Quality around the state. Steps include developing the amendment language, recruiting sponsors, educating members of the legislature, and testifying during the legislative process. Let’s work together to ensure a vital and productive society built on a foundation of healthy child development. This is a Safety Priority. Tom Irwin, Conservation Law Foundation Each year, hundreds of New Hampshire children are found to have elevated lead levels in their blood. Because even small amounts of lead can cause children to suffer permanent, irreversible adverse health effects, it is essential that lead poisonings be prevented. NH must use both legislative and community education to address the ongoing threat of childhood lead poisoning. Strategies include encouraging prevention approaches; aligning NH’s blood lead level standard with nationally accepted standards; generating needed resources to support poisoning prevention efforts; and greatly improving NH’s screening rates. This is a Health and Wellness Priority. Strengthen the Juvenile Justice System Keith Kuenning, Child and Family Services New Hampshire enhanced the state’s juvenile justice system through Children in Need of Services (CHINS) legislation in 2013 and the Juvenile Justice Modernization bill in 2014. HB 1624, the Juvenile Justice Modernization bill, changed the age of majority from 17 to 18 years thereby safeguarding the rights of juveniles as well as their rehabilitation, among other changes. In order to help these young adults find their way into productive lives, the NH Legislature must ensure that HB 1624 is implemented as passed. This is a Safety Priority. 279,716 17 YEARS OF WORKING TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR NH’S KIDS Educate Legislators about TANF, Food Stamps and EBT Cards MaryLou Beaver, Family Assistance Avisory Council; Every Child Matters NH Over the last eight years, there were more than 20 legislative initiatives dealing with the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or Food Stamps), and Electronic Benefits (EBT) cards. During the same time period NH’s child poverty rate has increased, the need for Food Stamp assistance skyrocketed, yet funding for support programs like TANF was cut. Investing in low-income families to ensure they have the basic necessities to raise healthy, productive children is an investment in our state’s future. Educating our policy makers and our citizens about these programs will benefit all Granite State children. This is an Economic Security Priority. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN NH Priorities for NH Children by NH CAN: 2015 New Hampshire’s state and local tax system imposes greater responsibilities on low- and moderate-income families than on more affluent ones. This situation arises, in part, because, unlike many states that count heavily on property taxes, New Hampshire does not make widespread use of homestead exemptions. It instead relies on a relatively modest Low- and Moderate-Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief Program to mitigate the impact of such taxes. Unfortunately, the number of taxpayers participating in this program has declined sharply in recent years. New Hampshire should strengthen this program by updating key income and property thresholds for inflation, enabling thousands more Granite Staters to benefit and increasing the amount of relief available. This is an Economic Security Priority. Investing in Our Children, Investing in Our Future NH CAN Steering Committee New Hampshire’s biennial budget is one of the chief means by which the state invests in its children, builds healthy and vibrant communities, and maintains the Granite State’s quality of life. Flaws in New Hampshire’s tax system as well as recent policy changes have helped to leave state revenues below their pre-recession levels, impairing New Hampshire’s capacity to provide education, health, and other services critical to child well-being. New Hampshire needs to explore incremental reforms to our tax system, making it more equitable and sustainable, to fuel our future growth and development. This is an Overarching Priority. 102 SUCCESSFUL PRIORITIES INCLUDING CHINS MODERNIZATION – KINDERGARTEN – BULLYING REDUCTION – MEDICAID EXPANSION
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