This week the House of Representatives will vote on legislation to reauthorize the Farm Bill. (for more, see this article: https://www.rollcall.com/…/farm-bill-gets-two-days-house-ru… )
The House proposal threatens deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and would impose unnecessarily strict work requirements on SNAP participants. Other important public health provisions are also in jeopardy, such as key conservation programs and laws that protect the public from the harmful effects of pesticides. Also, several amendments are expected to be introduced that will weaken school meal regulations. Here is a link to a nice PDF infographic fact sheet on SNAP in Kansas:
http://www.kpha.us/reso…/Documents/snap_factsheet_kansas.pdf
#HandsOffSNAP #ProtectSNAP #SNAPWorks
CCDF Comment Period Information
The Child Care and Development Fund State Plan update is available at the link below (DCF website) for public comment. There will be public comment hearing in Topeka June 6th. Comments may also be emailed by June 11th to ccdfstateplan@ks.gov
Two items highlighted by KAC regarding the new state plan are below.
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First, the state should consider using child care funding to subsidize the cost of fingerprint-based background checks for providers. These new fingerprint-based checks are an important step to reduce the likelihood of abuse and neglect of children in child care, and Kansas can support providers by offsetting the additional cost of these new requirements.
· Second, Kansas should do more to help families afford child care. The child care assistance program helps families afford the cost of child care tuition so that parents can work while children are in safe early learning settings. The number of children participating in the program fell by more than half in the last decade; child care assistance served fewer than 9,000 Kansas children in March 2018.
SNAP Facts and Numbers
Kansas children are among those most positively impacted by the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). According to the Kansas Department of Children and Families, the average monthly number of kids receiving benefits in 2017 exceeded 112,000.
Proposed Farm Bill Puts Kansas Families at Risk of Increased Hunger
Excerpt from the article:
"The federal Farm Bill proposal recently passed by the House Agriculture Committee would increase hunger throughout Kansas and the nation through its many changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It also forces other states to replicate some of Kansas’ failed policies on SNAP and other poverty-reduction programs, based on flawed studies about Kansas’ experience with similar proposals."
KHSA/OHS/OCC Annual Meeting for 3/27 has been cancelled
With so many events happening in a short period of time--Advocacy Day, APM, Community Assessment, Planned Language training and the NHSA Annual Conference--we have decided to cancel the 3/27 KHSA/OHS/OCC Annual Meeting in Wichita. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Open KHSA Board Positions
KHSA has five open positions on our board. To nominate yourself or someone else, please see our board nomination form and job description.
Reach Out And Read (ROAR) Infographic
A nice 2-page infographic from ROAR on the skills and stages of development from 1-5 years.
Kansas Foster Care System Overwhelmed
The most vulnerable children of all need help. Read more here: http://kcur.org/post/kansas-foster-care-system-overwhelmed-even-more-kids-flood#stream/0
Early Learning Advocacy Day at the Capitol
KHSA is hosting an Early Learning Advocacy Day at the Capitol on March 28, 2018.
This is an opportunity for Head Start parents and Early Learning Champions to share their stories and interests with Kansa policy makers.
Time: 9:00 - 3:00
Location: State Capitol Visitor Center Classroom
Lunch will be provided. Max of 40 attendees
We are working with a team of parents to devise the agenda for the morning.
**You are responsible for scheduling your visits with your senators and representatives. Please schedle your visits ahead of March 28.**
9:00 - 11:00 Preparation Workshop - advocacy prep and issue updates
11:00 - 2:00 Visits with your Representative and Senator - PLEASE SCHEDULE YOUR VISITS AHEAD OF TIME
2:00 Report back to Classroom with the results from your visits
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-learning-advocacy-day-at-the-capitol-tickets-42947827107
