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Hello Child Advocates!
Ten members of the House and Senate Education Committees will make important decisions impacting Minnesota children and they need to hear from you!
The House and Senate passed their Omnibus Education Finance and Policy bills last month. Now the two bodies will compare, or “conference,” the bills (House File 630, Senate File 453 and Senate File 978) and agree on one final Omnibus Education Finance and Policy bill.
Both bills contain several policies focused on improving the well-being and school success of Minnesota children. However, the Senate Education Policy bill (SF 978) has one provision to address the healthy development of young homeless children that is not currently included in the House K-12 Education Finance and Policy bill. Please help us ensure this important policy is included in the final Education Policy and Finance bill.
Please note there are two different messages to Conference Committee members depending on whether they are a Representative or a Senator.
If your REPRESENTATIVE is a member of the Conference Committee, please contact him or her today or tomorrow and:
1. THANK him or her for working to improve the well-being and school success of Minnesota children.
2. URGE him or her to adopt the Senate’s provision to ensure that agencies serving homeless children and their families are represented on Interagency
Early Intervention Committees (IEICs). These local committees help find infants and toddlers with disabilities in the communities they serve and then refer children for a voluntary screening to determine if they are eligible for Part C/Early Intervention services. Homeless children are at high risk for developmental delay due to multiple risk factors. According to a recent national study, more than half (54%) of homeless preschoolers had a major developmental delay and delays in more than one area. Requiring IEICs to include representation from providers serving homeless families will help ensure that the developmental needs of homeless children are addressed. Part C/Early Intervention services (e.g., speech and language, nutrition, physical therapy, family counseling and training, etc.) are focused on helping babies and toddlers learn the skills that young children typically develop during the first three years of life – skills such as, crawling, walking, learning, talking, listening, playing, eating and dressing.
3. ENCOURAGE him or her to also adopt the Senate’s provision requiring the Minnesota Department of Education to collect data on the number of homeless infants and toddlers accessing Part C/Early Intervention services and annually report the information to the legislature.
4. EXPLAIN to him or her that these policies can help change the trajectory of many young homeless children’s lives and help place them on the path to school success.
5. THANK him or her for working to improve the well-being of Minnesota children who are homeless!
House Conference Committee Members
*Please note, the list of cities following a legislators’ name may not be exhaustive.
Rep. Kathy Brynaert (19B)
Mankato
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651-296-3248
Rep. Carlos Mariani (65B)
St. Paul
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651-296-9714
Rep. Paul Marquart (4B)
Dilworth
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651-296-6829
Rep. Will Morgan (56B)
Burnsville
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651-296-5387
Rep. Dean Urdahl (18A)
Grove City
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651-296-4344
If your SENATOR is a member of the Conference Committee, please contact him or her today or tomorrow and:
1. THANK him or her for working to improve the well-being and school success of Minnesota children, especially young homeless children. Thank him or her for two specific provisions: First, the provision ensuring that agencies serving homeless children and their families are represented on Interagency Early Intervention Committees (IEICs). These local committees help find infants and toddlers with disabilities in the communities they serve and then refer children for a voluntary screening to determine if they are eligible for Part C/Early Intervention services. Homeless children are at high risk for developmental delay due to multiple risk factors. According to a recent national study, more than half (54%) of homeless preschoolers had a major developmental delay and delays in more than one area. Requiring IEICs to include representation from providers serving homeless families will help ensure that the developmental needs of homeless children are addressed. Second, the provision requiring the Minnesota Department of Education to collect data on the number of homeless infants and toddlers accessing Part C/Early Intervention services and annually report the information to the legislature.
2. EXPLAIN to him or her that these policies can help change the trajectory of many young homeless children’s lives and help place them on the path to school success.
3. THANK him or her for working to improve the well-being of Minnesota children who are homeless!
Senate Conference Committee Members
Sen. Kevin Dahle (20)
Northfield
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651-296-1279
Sen. Alice Johnson (37)
Spring Lake Park
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651-296-2556
Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (1)
Plummer
www.senate.mn/senatorstumpfemail
651-296-8660
Sen. Patricia Torres Ray (63)
Minneapolis
www.senate.mn/senatortorresrayemail
651-296-4274
Sen. Charles Wiger (43)
Maplewood
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651-296-6820
If you don’t know if your legislator is a member of the Conference Committee, click here to find out who represents you.
http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/
Thank you for speaking up for children! Your voice makes a difference!
If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Henry-Blythe at
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or 612-375-9644 #19.
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