"Step Up For Kids": Coalition Demands Presidential Candidates Focus on Children's Issues
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September 17, 2008
Florida - The numbers are staggering; almost one child in four in Florida is living in poverty and without adequate health care. These statistics have prompted the "Step up for Kids" coalition, which includes 30 child advocacy groups nationwide, to ask for people to become the voice for a generation too young to speak for themselves.
Michael Petit, executive director of Every Child Matters, says these issues have been ignored by the presidential candidates, and there is no issue more important than protecting our children.
"Strong children are the essential building block of a strong nation, and America's kids and families are waiting to hear from Senator McCain and Senator Obama that help is on the way."
Nearly 150,000 children in Florida are abused, and almost half of the state's children do not have access to early education.
Mark Pudlow of the Florida Education Association believes it's a matter of spending priorities.
"Florida ranks near the bottom in school spending, social spending, spending on children and the like, but we rank near the top in spending on law enforcement and corrections."
UNICEF recently ranked the United States nearly dead last among developed nations in overall child well-being. Florida ranked in the bottom half of all states in issues involving children, and 48th in terms of the high number of uninsured and incarcerated children.
Advocates are calling for a focus on children's issues in the upcoming presidential debates, and a kid-friendly budget, submitted in January, by the new president.
More information is available online at www.everychildmatters.org.