The Children First movement grew out of a 1995 Task Force on School and Youth Violence. The task force found that there were a variety of good programs designed to help young people throughout our state; there simply was not enough money to appropriately fund and replicate them.
The Children First movement began to take hold after a meeting with the Alabama Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. The juvenile judges were asked to identify gaps in services where no funding existed, or services that were inadequately funded, thereby preventing them from meeting the needs of the children who came before them.
With the idea of funding these direly needed services by an increase in the State's tobacco tax, the Children First legislative initiative was born. Hundreds of child advocates, including judges, juvenile probation officers, childcare workers, doctors, foster parents, social workers, teachers, etc., were poised to assist in this monumental effort. The legislation failed, but no one gave up. We continued our fight for Alabama children and our bill was amended to provide for a revenue source from the tobacco settlement. This legislation passed, the Children First Trust Fund was created, and history was made!
Success: While the novel approach to increase Alabama's extraordinarily low cigarette tax to generate much-needed funds for children was never passed by the Legislature, by 1999 Children First had gained enough statewide recognition and acceptance that it was included in legislation mandating that up to the first $60 million per year sent to Alabama from the National Tobacco Settlement be designated specifically for the Children First Trust Fund. It is important to note that our Foundation does not receive a penny of that money. All of it goes to children, foster parents, the Juvenile Justice System, mental health services, children's health insurance, child death review teams, and many other child care providers and agencies serving the needs of children in our state.
Current Status: There was a slow start of tobacco settlement funds coming into Alabama, but the Children First Trust Fund is now completing its seventh year of full funding. Thus far, we have worked hard— with satisfaction—to see many needed services, changes, and protections provided, one child at a time. It is our hope and our mission to see that the additional funds serve more and more children so that we can turn around a generation of neglect and show more positive and specific results.
Broadening our efforts: Now that the Trust Fund is funded, the Children First movement is focusing on intensifying our efforts in the Legislature for three general purposes. First, to insure that as many dollars as possible receive absolute appropriations through the Children First Trust Fund. Second, to make sure that those funds are spent properly and that the programs they are funding are accountable and successful. Third, to broaden our efforts to help bring attention to, sponsor and support legislation addressing other issues that are of vital importance to children.
The Children First staff and Board of Directors are working tirelessly in monitoring the funds and programs that Children First Trust Fund has helped to fund. In addition, we work to identify and draft other pieces of legislation that advocate for vital changes for the benefit of children in Alabama.
In addition, we have contracted with the Franklin Resources Group to intensify our leadership and presence in the political arena.
