Securing as much funding as possible for the Children First Trust Fund. For more information about the Children First Trust Fund - click here.
The Children First Trust Fund (CFTF) is designed to provide needed funding to twelve state agencies in Alabama. The agencies use CFTF dollars to fund new and innovative programs aimed at prevention. The CFTF funds come from the National Tobacco Settlement and must be appropriated each year. The twelve state agencies that receive CFTF dollars are:
1. Department of Human Resources
2. Department of Youth Services
3. Department of Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention (Children’s Trust Fund)
4. Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation
5. Department of Public Health
6. Multiple Needs Office
7. Department of Juvenile Probation Services/AOC
8. Department of Rehabilitation Services
9. ABC Board
10. Department of Forensic Sciences
11. Medicaid Agency
12. Department of Education
In 2010, the funds from the Children First Trust Fund provided over 1,000,000 critically needed services to Alabama's children and families
Protection of funding for the state agencies that provide services to children and families. Specifically the agencies listed above.
Raise Revenue for the state by increasing tobacco taxes to slightly below the national average ($1.46/pack of cigarettes). Currently, the state is in desperate need for some sort of revenue measure to give relief to the General Fund budget which funds numerous state agencies that effect the well-being of Alabama's children and families.It has been estimated that this tax would generate $215 million dollars annually. The legislation calls for 44 1/2 % of the dollars generated through this tax to go to General Fund and 44 1/2% of the dollars to go to the Children First Trust Fund with the remaining 11% going to cancer research and tobacco cessation. This would give immediate relief to the General Fund budget and would generate $98 million dollars for the Children First Trust Fund. These CFTF dollars would help twelve state agencies offer the programs and services needed for children while at the same time allowing for some of the General Fund dollars they use to currently support that action to be freed for other uses. Children First feels strongly that as our state budgets struggle we cannot allow funding for children's programs to be cut and this revenue measure can insure that does not happen.
HB6/SB 28 - Legislation which lowers the mandatory school age from 7 to 6 years of age. Research has consistently proven that the earlier a child begins school the better equipped they are to perform academically and adjust socially; and, enrolling a child in school by 6 (first grade) will help to ensure he/she is ready for the challenges of second grade where they should be able to read simple sentences. Specifically, Alabama teachers report that children who do not enter school until they are 7 tend to experience more challenges academically and struggle with peer involvement.
This initiative has been endorsed by The AL Dept of Education, The AL Assoc of School Boards, AL Education Assoc, AL Dept of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Business Council of Alabama, Children First Foundation, Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools and the School Superintendents of Alabama.
HB 100/SB 240 - Legislation designed to enhance the effectiveness of the recent Juvenile Code Reform Act. Children First played a large role in the recent revamping of Alabama's juvenile code. This bill is designed to clarify some jurisdiction issues surrounding the juvenile courts.
HB 69 - Legislation designed to expedite the adoption process
This list will be changing throughout the session. Please visit this page often to stay informed regarding our agenda.
