Voices follows bills that can affect children and families as they work their way through the legislative process. Every week during legislative session, we publish the legislative update, which you’ll find below.
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Some days at the capitol are like being involuntarily forced into a high-stakes game of team trivia, except without the sticky bar table, the dude with the microphone, a tire-sized serving of chili cheese fries or a chance for free tickets to Dragoncon. The barrage of questions starts upon arrival: How many hours will you park? (Is “infinity” an answer?) What made the metal detector beep? (Answer: Keys. Sorry. Phone. Sorry. Laptop. Sorry. Thermos with carrot juice. Sorry. Thermos with coffee. Sorry. Thermos with chicken soup. Sorry. Small toaster oven. Sorry…) What’s in committee today? What’s on the House floor? Why did she vote that way? Who’s giving away hot dogs? Where did you get that amendment? Why is the Senate in recess? What’s that press conference about? Did the 67th sports betting bill drop yet? Is that a congressman or an insurance salesman (or both)? Why are all those people wearing purple? Questions ultimately degrade into the likes of: Does anybody have a band-aid? Where is my phone? Why doesn’t the soap dispenser work? Who’s got some ibuprofen? What is that smell? Does anyone know anyone who can let my dog out? When will they ever vote? Are we too old to change careers? Why is it dark outside? My team of advocates, allies, and acquaintances (team moniker = “The Peanut Gallery Gallery” – PGG for short) usually scores pretty well – I’d say in the top ten out of fifty – but we usually don’t have much to show for it, except for maybe a lapel pin and if we are lucky, one of those teeny-tiny bags of Georgia peanuts that are scattered around the cap (hence the moniker). More than likely, we can count on “winning” a laugh or two, a blister, perhaps a free medical screening of some sort in room 216, and the opportunity to compete again the next legislative day. Call me a sucker, but I come back every time.
This past week was loaded up with pursuits that were not so “trivial”, so scan the bills below to see what is moving and what is new. And please take action on the home visiting action alert below as soon as you can.
And if your team can answer this question without cheating, we will email you one of those little bags of peanuts: Who is this Legislative Update from?
— Polly
The 2 Minute Advocacy Ask: Home Visiting
The Ask:
Ask members of the House Appropriations Health Subcommittee to include $2 Million in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget to fund Home Visiting pilots for new mothers and infants in 12 high needs counties.
The Why:
- This program will provide home visiting in at risk/underserved rural communities during pregnancy and early childhood to improve birth outcomes, reduce preterm deliveries, and decrease infant and maternal mortality/morbidity.
- Home visiting programs can:
- Increase healthy pregnancies,
- improve parenting skills,
- improve child health and development,
- strengthen family connectedness to community support, and
- reduce child abuse and neglect.
- This pilot will provide a full spectrum of services to support families during this time, including:
- Clinical Services for pregnant and postpartum women like blood pressure checks, temperature, weight, assessment of pregnancy warning signs, etc.
- Support for mother/infant bonding, lactation support, postpartum depression screening and link to services, feeding assessment and weight checks for baby, assessment of safe sleep practices and education as indicated, age-appropriate infant development screening assessments, etc.
- Link to resources and services as indicated including health care and care coordination with primary provider, Children 1st, WIC, SNAP/TANF, Medicaid, behavioral health services, infant items (car seats, clothing, etc.), dental services, domestic violence community resources, etc.
- This pilot will be conducted in the following counties: Coffee, Atkinson, Clinch, Jeff Davis, Evans, Candler, Toombs, Bulloch, Habersham, Stephens, Franklin, Hart, and Banks
- Learn more about Home Visiting with Voices Home Visiting Factsheet
The Message:
Dear Representative ______________,
Please include $2 Million in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for the Department of Public Health to fund Home Visiting pilots for new mothers and infants in 12 high needs counties. This program will provide home visiting in at risk/underserved rural communities during pregnancy and early childhood to improve birth outcomes, reduce preterm deliveries, and decrease infant and maternal mortality and morbidity. What’s more, home visiting has been shown to improve parenting skills, improve child health and development, and reduce child abuse and neglect. Thank you for your consideration and for your service to the children and families of our great state.
The How:
Calendar Highlights
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for these events:
Tuesday’s starting Jan. 24: Talk Justice Tuesdays, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Wednesday, Feb. 22: Georgia ACT Housing Day at the Capitol, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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