"We are called to collaborate in service and to unite in a common cause wherever a brother or sister is unattended, forgotten, neglected or suffering in any way; wherever human rights are endangered or human dignity offended. . . " Pope John Paul II (September II, 1987 address to Jewish leaders in Miami)

   During the past year our state has directed its attention to funding its enormous growth needs. In this process, the human needs of these unattended, forgotten, neglected and suffering brothers and sisters can be overlooked. Thousands of Florida families are unable to find adequate shelter or access health care. A growing number of teenage parents and intact families are joining the ranks of the poor. Many elderly poor and disabled are on waiting lists for services. In addition, there are distressingly large numbers of families with members who are in need of treatment for mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse. Now there is a great increase in the number of AIDS victims and their families who are desperately in need of support.

Who is on Public Assistance?1    213,736        43%      Children under working age      87,055        18%      Mothers/grandmothers caring for children      77,599        16%      Elderly poor    115,507        23%      Mentally or physically disabled    493,897      100%     Total Persons receiving state cash assistance

AVERAGE SIZE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FAMILY2 SINGLE PARENT (FEMALE) 1.7 CHILDREN

   AFDC - The AFDC program is the state cash assistance program for poor children. Only single parent families may qualify and the eligibility levels are very restrictive. To qualify, a family of three (mother with two children), must have an income less than the current payment level of $2 75 per month. The average length of time on AFDC in Florida is 29 months.³

   Although there is an Unemployment Parent Program which would assist two parent families authorized by Florida law, it is not funded.

STATE ACTION NEEDED - CASH ASSISTANCE
1 .Incremental increases in the AFDC payment level to reach 100% of the poverty level.
2.Retention of existing benefits to unwed mothers and f i rst appl icants, wh ich were cut i n the Governor's proposed 1988 budget.
3.Expansion of the AFDC program to cover unemployed parents.
4.Full funding of the Title IV Temporary Housing Emergency Assistance Program.

   Families with members who are disabled or mentally ill are finding it more and more difficult to access services. There are long waiting lists for residential care and treatment programs. There has been alarming growth in the numbers of families with members who have need of substance abuse treatment. The "crack" cocaine epidemic has our prisons overflowing. Over 500 special needs children are listed on Florida's adoption exchange, awaiting adoptive families.

ACTION NEEDED:

1.  Funding for the community services waiting lists for the disabled and mentally ill and for substance abuse treatment programs.
2.  Adequate funding of the maintenance adoption subsidy and the Black Adoption Project.

   Over-arching all of the other needs of families is the critical need for affordable housing. Over two million Floridians are paying too much of their income for housing or living in substandard conditions. Many Florida families are unable to find affordable housing and are doubling up with relatives. With the arrival of 300,000 new residents annually, this problem will become much more severe. There are growing numbers of homeless families on the streets of Florida.¹

By far the most cost-effective means of meeting the needs of the elderly poor is to provide the necessary services, allowing them to remain in their own homes. To avoid unnecessary and costly institutionalization in nursing homes, Florida must expand its in-home services and its community-based group care facilities.

ACTION NEEDED:
1. State funding of the full cost of care for the elderly and disabled poor in Adult Congregate Living Facilities (ACLFS) and adult foster homes.
2. Use of a 1 0% set-aside of the documentary stamp on real estate for affordable housing programs.
3. Coordination of both state and federal funds for programs for the homeless; full funding of the Department of HRS' Housing Assistance program as well as funding for the homeless coalitions at the state and local levels.

   The second most critical need of poor families in Florida is access to affordable health care. During the last two legislative sessions, efforts have been made to expand the state program of indigent health care through expansions of primary health care at the county health units as well as expansions of the Medicaid program. Medicaid coverage should be extended to the maximum allowed under federal regulations. Of particular concern is the lack of adequate health care for migrant families in our state. Living under deplorable housing conditions and exposure to toxic pesticides in the fields make migrant children especially vulnerable.   Another cause for growing alarm in our state is the escalating numbers of AIDS victims and their families.

ACTION NEEDED:
1. Funding of Department of HRS' budget request for needed primary care and Medicaid expansions.
2. Raising the Medicaid eligibility for poor pregnant women and children up to 185% of the poverty level as is now allowed under federal regulations.
3. More stringent enforcement of the current field sanitation and housing codes for farmworkers.
4. Enforcement of the child labor laws and provision of adequate day care for children of farmworkers.
5. Funding of moral preventive educational programs as well as compassionate care for the victims of AIDS and support for their families.

Teenage Parents

   The increase in poverty among very young, single mothers with children is cause for nationwide concern.   Twenty-four percent of all Florida children (597,000) live  in families with incomes below the poverty level.¹
   Our state should do more to promote adoption as an option for teenage mothers.  A concerted effort to promote adoption could result in fewer teen abortions and a fewer at-risk teen parents and children.  Essential to teen mothers becoming self-supporting is their ability to finish their education and receive some job training.

ACTION NEEDED:

1 A specific line item in the state budget for the provision for purchase of service for sheitercare for pregnant women.
2.The establishment of a state adoption center with a tol 1-free telephone number to promote the availability of adoption services through information and referral, training of counselors and work with the media.
3.State funding of additional Title XX daycare, transportation and other necessary support services to allow teen mothers to remain in school and obtain job training.