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Latest News
Great Work on Juvenile Code Rewrite Continues, How You Can Help
Last Wednesday, February 15 the Child Protection and Public Safety Act (SB 127/HB 641), aka the Juvenile Code Rewrite, was unanimously passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. We should all take a moment to savor this accomplishment as it’s been a long time coming. (The juvenile code...
Child Advocates Storm Capitol on JUSTGeorgia/CASA Day 2012
On Tuesday I had the privilege of spending the day with child advocates from all over the state at the JUSTGeorgia/CASA Day at the Capitol. Over 200 JUSTGeorgia coalition members, CASA volunteers, youth advocates, and others came together to tell their legislators that now is the time to pass the...
Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice calls for juvenile justice reform. We have the answer!
Yesterday, the AJC covered Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Carol Hunstein’s address to Georgia lawmakers, which encouraged implementation of the recommendations that came out of the Governor’s Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform. As child advocates, we are especially happy that...
State of the Judiciary Address Urges Change in Juvenile Justice System
Wednesday, Chief Supreme Court Justice Carol W. Hunstein delivered the State of the Judiciary address. Throughout the address, I just kept thinking, “I couldn’t have said it better myself!” That said, here follows that portion of the speech urging change in the juvenile justice system. ...
Is it good for kids? What lawmakers should be asking this legislative session.
As many of you know, last week was the first week of the 2012 Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly. A few bills passed out of the Senate and out of various committees. Already, the political wheels are turning quickly, as some people jockey for position and some – most...
Children’s Code Rewrite at Forefront of Legislative Session for Many Advocates
Today marks the first day of Georgia’s 2012 legislative session and the Children’s Code Rewrite (HB 641/SB 127) is in the forefront of many child advocates’ minds.
The Children’s Code Rewrite was first introduced in April 2009 as a Senate bill, then in April 2011 as a House bill, and has...
Top 10 Issues for the GA Children’s Advocacy Network (GA-CAN!) in 2012
Our annual pre-legislative session breakfast for the Georgia Children’s Advocacy Network (GA-CAN!) makes me happy. This year, it took place on January 4 and included several speakers and an open discussion about our individual legislative priorities for 2012. Putting 35+ smart child advocates...
Recap of the GA-CAN! Pre-Legislative Session Breakfast on 1/4/12
This week, Voices for Georgia’s Children hosted its eighth annual pre-legislative session breakfast for the Georgia Children’s Advocacy Network (GA-CAN!). More than 35 GA-CAN! members representing a variety of advocacy organizations attended the event, which included presentations on...
Georgia Receives $4.9 Million CHIPRA Bonus
The State of Georgia, by way of the Department of Community Health, received a $4,965,887 performance bonus from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 28, 2011, in recognition of its progress in getting more children covered by health insurance in 2011.
The Children’s...
The Early Learning Challenge Grant – Wasted Time?
As many of you may have heard, Friday, our state did not win one of the nine highly competitive, federal Early Learning Challenge grants. Hundreds and hundreds of hours were spent by government officials from a breadth of agencies, child advocates and experts, and even a few elected officials...
