2019 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Protection of the Children First Trust Fund

In the next legislative session, the General Fund should be in good shape and the Children First monies should be safe. Nevertheless, we must continue to remind our legislators that as they look for revenue to offset the cost of government, the Children First Trust Fund must remain intact. It is a highly accountable fund that has to report exactly how many children and families are served by its dollars each year. No other budget in Alabama upholds those strict standards.

Advocate for Sufficient Funding for Agencies that Serve Children

The twelve state agencies that benefit from the Children First Trust Fund are also funded by either the General Fund or the Education Trust Fund. As budgets in Alabama become tighter, it is important to continue to educate lawmakers on what proposed cuts could do to the well-being of Alabama’s children.

Juvenile Justice Reform

In 2019, Juvenile Justice Reform is still a high priority. We are still working with state leaders, advocates and policymakers met to review the current state of Alabama’s juvenile justice system. We are supporting legislation to reform he Juvenile Justice System to protect ALabama’s children.

Continue to Advocate for Full Funding of the Medicaid Program

Children First continues to advocate for increased Medicaid funding. Currently, over 585,000 of Alabama's children depend on Medicaid for their healthcare needs. We will continue to educate the public and our lawmakers about who a Medicaid recipient in Alabama really is and to advocate for full funding for the Medicaid Agency through the #IamMedicaid campaign.

Monitor Possible Funding Need for the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)

CHIP, called the All Kids Program, in Alabama currently serves over 80,000 children. All Kids provides insurance for children whose parents do not meet the poverty threshold required to qualify for Medicaid. These identified families pay a small insurance premium in order to receive services. For the past several years, the federal government has fully funded this program. We will be closely monitoring the situation at the federal level so we can advocate appropriately for any needed funding at the state level.