2006 Florida Children's Summit
Compilation of Commitment Issues
| Click here to see the Summit recommendations for this issue. |
Ensure that all children, regardless of national origin, live in families that have the opportunity to gain adequate income, housing, support and access to higher education.
Communities throughout Florida are breaking down barriers that inhibit family participation in income support programs (e.g., Earned Income Tax Credit, Medicaid, KidCare, food stamps and others) and creating comprehensive family support strategies that move families out of poverty. Using community education efforts such as the Prosperity Campaign, and linking to financial literacy, home-buying, credit counseling and savings programs, families are beginning to enhance income and build assets. There are, however, families in Florida that cannot access these support systems. In particular, immigrant children and families face extraordinary barriers to accessing higher education, health care, housing, job opportunities and other essential human service needs.