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The Child Abuse Roundtable Coalition’s legislative agenda reflects policies aimed at protecting and assisting Missouri’s abused and neglected children and to prevent future cases of child abuse and neglect among Missouri’s children.
Legislative priorities of the Kansas City Child Abuse Roundtable Coalition for the 2010 Session of the Missouri General Assembly are as follows:
1. State Budget:
We support maintenance of 2009 funding levels for children’s services. When families experience tough economic times, it is essential that state government sustain programs that provide critical services to children, the most vulnerable of Missourians.
Our budget-related priorities for 2010 preserve state funding to:
* Maintain statewide accreditation of the Department of Social Services Children's Division in order to adequately manage foster children's caseloads and train workers in best practices.
* Support services to foster and adopted children, including financial help to families who care for these children, assistance to adoption resource centers, and strong programs to prevent and treat child abuse.
* Help eligible families with child care expenses by maintaining state general revenue for child care assistance and child care provider reimbursement rates, while utilizing federal stimulus funding to improve the affordability and quality of child care programs.
2. Policy Legislation:
We support prevention of child abuse and neglect through policies that strengthen safety of children in their homes, child-care programs, schools and foster care.
Our policy priorities for 2010:
*Expand home visitation programs that have been proven to be successful in eliminating child abuse.
*Protect children while in the care of others by creating a comprehensive statewide process for national background screenings on all individuals who work, volunteer or reside with children in state-regulated programs.
*Strengthen policies to encourage placement and adoption of siblings together.
*Increase collaboration among children’s agencies to improve policies governing child welfare practice.
Click Here to Endorse the Legislative Priorities!
Your name will be added to our list of concerned Missourians and will be presented to our State Senators and Representatives.
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