ERIC ED357841: Governor's Commission for Children and Families First Annual Report.

47 Pages·1992·1.3 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 357 841
PS 021 298
TITLE
Governor's Commission for Children` and Families First
Annual Report.
INSTITUTION
Pennsylvania State Dept. of Public Welfare,
Harrisburg.
PUB DATE
92
NOTE
47p.; Photographs may not reproduce clearly.
PUB TYPE
Reports
Descriptive (141)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Annual Reports; *Child Health; Child Welfare;
Financial Support; *Immunization Programs; *Social
Services; *State Government; State Legislation;
*Young Children
IDENTIFIERS
*Family Support; Integrated Services;
*Pennsylvania
ABSTRACT
Covering the period from July 1, 1991, through June
30, 1992, this report describes the goals and activities of the
Governor's Commission for Children and Families, a commission formed
to improve children and family services in Pennsylvania. The report
begins with a brief description of the demographics and conditions of
children in Pennsylvania and the funding that supports services for
children, and continues with a description of the commission's
structure and operation. Guiding principles and recommendations
adopted by the commission, as well as a summary of actions taken and
adopted during the commission's first year, are outlined. Highlights
of the year, including improvement of services to young children and
activities related to the commission's recommendations, are
presented. The report concludes with a brief outline of the
commission's future goals. Appendices include the executive order
that established the commission; a list of commission members with
addresses; a list of state agency and other representatives; a list
of the commission's committee membership; an inventory of programs
and services available to children in Pennsylvania; the Immunization
Task Force report; and the Pennsylvania Childhood Immunization
insurance Act.
(MM)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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I
U.S. DEPARTMENT°, EDUCATION
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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
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First Annual Report
1992
Chair: Mrs. Ellen Casey
Co-Chair: Allan S. Noonan, M.D., M.P.H.
'PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
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TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC1"
PENNSYLVANIA
COMMONWEALTH OF
GOVERNOR
OFFICE OF YHE
HARRISBURG
Fala, 1992
yellow Pennsylvanians:
effort in Pennsylvanaa
to make a special
of our
The tame has come children and tamalaes
concern for the
to turn sincere
state into action.
Is .tten the
family in Pennsylvania
nousenolds with
The traditional
Two breadwinner
than the rule.
nc-parent nousenoldsz
exception rather
tnese ail make
single-parent households:
nousenolds:
latchkey kids:
frequency, no-house
and. in snacking
difficult.
zhild-rearing more
gaisis :icing
frequently, the biggest
yearly
poverty.
And far too
poverty -- ,r near
Lives in
:incer ace rive
Pennsylvania families Is
:near parents
Pennsyrvania children
-wency percent of
age rave ate sc
;he In tutee under
poverty.
assistance.
vaalify for medical
ana nurturini of
toe z,ivand emcrace
Our
Government can't provide
better ;cc of iiractang
so
but we can do a
tnetr ranz::cs --
I
:he parent.
//p.
on children ane
00
we created tne
I Oil \\
wny
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1
Commonwealth's resources
That's
.
decent start on life.
FamIlles .:. :991.
.7
I
they can get a
for Children Ana
Governor's Commission
snort period we
that an a s4rprasin,ly
en,
needs of
sensitivity to toe
1m pleased to report
-'174N.
create a new
he focus or
nave been able to
agencies.
in many state
we to heightened
children and families
been sharpened and
'
legislation and anatiataves.
"
existing programs nave
s
or
need for new
exits
awareness of the
.....
tne energy and
been impressed by
have Thought to the
Along the way, I've
of the commission
will mare the next
commitment the members
their enthusiasm
l'm heartened that
last.
table.
productive than the
year even more
December
1992
Sincerely,
err
Ellen Casey
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Chair
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for Children
and
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction and Executive Summary
1
II.
A Look At Pennsylvania's Children' and Families
3
III. Structure and Operation of the Commission
5
Principles and Recommendations
IV.
6
First Year Highlights
9
V.
VI. Prelude to Year Two
13
Appendices:
Executive Order Establishing Commission
16
Commissioner Directory
18
State Agency and other Representatives
21
22
Committee Membership
23
PENNSTART Matrix
35
Immunization Task Force Report
Childhood Immunization Insurance Act (Act 1992-35)
39
4
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GOV 1,11:4011 C NSO , BF,Tti
I. INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
0
service providers, business, and others
Staffed by Richard Kordesh,
n the evening of November 19,
(see Appendix II).
Ph.D., a visiting professor from Penn
1991, the Forum auditorium in
Three standing committees devel-
State University, the Council
Harrisburg echoed with lively discus-
oped principles and recommendations
recommended that the Governor
sion and laughter as Dr. T. Berry
in the following areas: child
create a Commission for Children and
Braze lton, renown pediatrician, took
development, health care, and child
Families that would advise the
the stage. The Harvard professor and
abuse and neglect prevention (see
Governor and work toward improving
television host was in town as part of a
Appendix IV). The commission
the commonwealth's capacity to
two-day event called, "Community
appointed task forces to address public
formulate holistic policies for children
for Families; Families for Children: A
awareness issues and immunization
Shared Conunitment in
and families.
issues. In addition, the commission
On January 2, 1991, Governor
Pennsylvania."
received assistance from representa-
Dr. Brazelton's first appearance for
Robert P. Casey issued an Execut ve
tives of state agencies, providers of
Order that established the Governor's
the Laminar was an interactive
children's services and other interested
Commission for Children and
discussion with parents and children.
parties (see Appendix III).
Families to provide him with
The following day, parents and
The commission held its first
recommendations to alleviate the
professionals participated with Dr.
meeting on April 3, 1991, and met a
problems confronting Pennsylvania's
Braze ltcn in a conference that focused
total of seven times during its first year
children and families (see Appendix I).
on working with families.
which ended in June 1992.
The commission, comprised of 30
The Brazelton conference would
The body of this annual report
iliembers appointed by the Governor,
become one of the most visible of
contains the following sections:
is chaired by the First Lady of
many child-focused initiatives that the
Pennsylvania, Mrs. Ellen Casey. Each
Governor's Commission for Children
a brief description of children in the
year, Mrs. Casey will be joined by a
and Families co-sponsored and
commonwealth and the funding
co-chair from a cabinet level
supported during 1991-92. The
streams that support services for
department that has children's
commission is part of Governor Robert
them;
programs (the Health Department in
P. Casey's commitment to invest in
a description of the structure and
the first year, Public Welfare in the
Pennsylvania's most precious natural
operations of the commission
second, and Education in the third
our children.
resource
the guiding principles and
This first annual report of the
year).
recommendations adopted by the
Ron David, M.D., Deputy
commission covers the period July 1,
commission;
Secretary for Public Health and acting
1991, through June 30, 1992, and
a summary of actions taken and
Secretary of Health, initially co-
highlights the commission's activities
adopted during the first year;
chaired the commission. In September
during its first year.
1991, newly appointed Health
highlights of the year including
Secretary, Allan S. Noonan, M.D.,
Executive Summary
improvement of services to young
M.P.H., a pediatrician, presided as co-
children and activities related to
In November 1990, the Governor's
chair. In July 1992, the co-chair role
the commission's recommendations
Advisory Council for Young Children,
moved to Public Welfare Secretary
a prelude to the second year.
appointed by Governor Casey to
Karen F. Snider. In July 1993, the co-
The commissioners' diverse back-
publish a comprehensive document on
chair role will move to Education
ground and specific areas of child-
the status of young children in
Secretary Donald Carroll.
Pennsylvania, issued their final report,
focused involvement greatly enhanced
The commission includes among its
"Directions for Holistic Policy
the group's responsiveness to the
membership representatives of the
challenges confronting children and
Development in Pennsylvania."
General Assembly, parents, advocates,
families.
1
6
I. INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Parent participation, a component
The commonwealth shall always
The measles outbreak in Philadel-
of the commission's principles, was
strive to provide the highest quality
phia coincided with the establishment
illustrated by the commonwealth's
services to children and families.
of the commission. The commission
representatives to the U.S. Surgeon
responded immediate]- by forming
The specific recommendations are
General's Conference on "Healthy
brce to
the Immunization Ta;
printed in Section IV of this report.
Children Ready to Learn: the Critical
address the problem of under-
During its first year, the
Role of Parents." Ralph Warner, Kisha
immunization. The task force, now
commission supported enactment of
Henley-Davis, Mary Wood and Frank
part of the commission's Child Health
family and medical leave legislation;
Meredick, who are parent representa-
Committee, developed an extensive
expansion of Medical Assistance
tives on the commission, served on the
report and set of recommendations to
benefits for pregnant women and
Pennsylvania delegation to the
eliminate barriers to immunization.
children; development of child health
conference and took part in the Parent
A major accomplishment occurred
insurance including immunization
Delegate Workgroup. Details of the
when the commission developed and
coverage; primary and preventive
parents' observations and recommen-
adopted its guiding principles and
health care; increased access to
dations are highlighted in Section VI.
recommendations. The commission's
appropriate prenatal care; and
The need for coordination of
Child Develop-
three committees
development of a continuum of care
children's services has been identified
ment, Child Health, and Child Abuse
by a primary care physician for all
by the commission as a recommenda-
each
and Neglect Prevention
children in Pennsylvania. The
tion and a key factor to providing
identified important issues and
commission's other actions can be
quality services to children and
developed specific recommendations.
found in Section V.
families. As a first step, the Governor
The principles and recommenda-
The Highlights section of this report
directed that an inventory of all
tions adopted by the commission focus
includes major initiatives and
programs for young children be
on the commonwealth's commitment
activities undertaken by the commis-
conducted. The result is a matrix of
to invest in children and are intro-
sion, the administration, or other
services that is included as Appendix V
duced by a preamble that reiterates
child advocacy groups during the past
of this report. At the commission's
the need to strengthen communities
year.
June 12, 1992 meeting, the Governor
around families and children, to
One major commission activity was
announced the formation of PENN-
enhance public awareness that will
support for House Bill 536. With the
START to improve coordination of
empower families to be active
passage of H.B. 536 and the
chileren's services.
participants in service systems, and to
Governor's signing of Act 1992-35 on
Other existing or new children's
ensure the availability of culturally
May 21, 1992, Pennsylvania now had
activities which were brought to the
sensitive children and families
Insur-
a "Childhood Immunization
commissioners' attention are included
effective
services.
ance Act." The new law,
in Section VI.
The commission adopted more than
November 1992, mandates that
The commission completed its first
20 recommendations that stem from
individual and group health insurance
year with the realization of several
these three principles. The recommen-
policies cover immunizations.
accomplishments and progress toward
dations of immunization task force
Another recommendation from the
improving children and family
also were incorporated into the
commission's Immunization Task
services in Pennsylvania. During the
principles and recommendations:
Force was to bulk purchase vaccines at
second year, the commission plans to
a 'ewer cost and distribute vaccines to
The commonwealth shall
proceed with further development of
Me,..Ical Assistance providers for
continually seek to improve all
strategies for its principles and
Medical Assistance-eligible children.
procedures within state and local
recommendations. In addition, the
This pilot program between the
agencies to be more responsive to
commissioners have begun to identify
departments of Public Welfare and
the well being of children and
specific areas that would be relevant
Health began in July 1992 with the
families.
during the Secretary of Public
expectation that the program will be
The commonwealth shall maximize
Welfare's year of co-chairing the
expanded statewide.
the use of available resources to
commission.
improve the quality of life of all
families and children.
7
2
II. A LOOK AT PENNSYLVANIA'S
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
t the commission's first meeting
all children live in one-parent
A
Homeless Assistance Program
on April 3, 1991, Mrs. Casey
households.
provided services to more than
emphasized the importance of
20,000 children.
Between 1985-89, Pennsylvania's
Pennsylvania's children and families
infant mortality rate averaged 10.2
According to recent data published
and Pennsylvania's commitment to
deaths per 1,000 births accom-
by Pennsylvania Partnerships for
"investing in our children's future,
panied by a 6.9 percent low birth
Children, over 17 percent of all
rebuilding our communities around
weight rate.
children under 15 years are without
families, and strengthening families
health insurance. Further, 28
As of December 31, 1990,
around children."
percent of 112,235 uninsured
approximately 75,000 children
The commission's response to its
children live in families with
were receiving publicly funded'
charge from the governor, to address
incomes below 100 percent of the
children and youth services. Of this
the challenges confronting Pennsyl-
federal poverty standards.
number, 78 percent of the children
vania's children and families, began
received public services in their
with a review of the demographics to
The Pennsylvania Department of
own homes or adoptive homes.
Health estimates that 82 percent of
identify the most critical issues related
Eighteen percent received public
to child development, child health,
Pennsylvania children are
services in foster family homes,
neglect and abuse prevention, and
immunized by the age of two;
group homes, community-based
systems of service delivery.
however, only 63 percent of low
placement, emergency placement,
income children are age-
To frame the issues, the commission
or supervised independent living.
relied on the following facts:
appropriate immunized.
The remaining children (4 percent)
Other challenges facing children
received services in residential
A. The Population
and families include the need for
placement, secure detention, and
special education, mental health
Pennsylvania has approximately 1.4
residential placement.
services and prevention of abuse.
million families with children and
Homelessness is a challenge that
During the 1990-91 school year, 6.3
8.2 percent of all commonwealth
faced approximately 61,000 people
percent of school enrollments were
families live at or below poverty.
in 1987. Recent studies done by the
in special eduCation. Over 57,000
According to the 1990 census data,
Coalition on Homelessness in
children received mental health
Pennsylvania's children, birth to 17
Pennsylvania indicate that one in
services during Fiscal Year 1989-90.
years, total 2,794,810 aad make up
five homeless people is a child
For 1990, the number of substan-
almost 24 percent of the common-
under the age of 16 and that one in
tiated reports of child abuse was 2.7
wealth's total population. Children
eight is a child under the age of 5.
per 1,000 children. In 1991, the
up to age 5 comprise 8 percent of
About 45 percent of the homeless
number rose to 2.9 per 1,000
the total population with 17
lived in a family situation. Single
children.
percent of children living in
parents with children make up 15
poverty. Children age 6 to 17 years
percent of homeless households.
B. The Service System
comprise 15.5 percent of the total
Two-thirds of homeless persons
population with 14.5 percent living
The commission identified many
living in households classified
as
in poverty.
other concerns:
single with children are female. A
As of April 1992, 29.7 percent of
Department of Education survey of
the need to improve public infor-
the children birth to 5 were
en-
homeless shelters counted 1,799
mation on available children
rolled in Medical Assistance and 9.1
youths during the 1988-89 school
services.
percent of the children 6 to 17 years
year. In fiscal year 1989-90, the
the need for public and private
were enrolled. Eighteen percent of
Department of Public Welfare's
agencies to work towards more
3
II. A LOOK Al' PENNSYLVANIA'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
C. The Funding Streams
and Drug Abuse and Mental Health
responsive, uncomplicated,
Services Block Grant; Title XX of the
culturally sensitive procedures.
Children and families services
Social Security Act; and, Preventive
the need to strive toward quality
receive public and private funding.
Health and Human Services Block
services for children and families.
Public funding is provided through
Grant.
federal, state, and local governments.
About 94 programs in six state
Examples of private funding
Federal funding streams include but
agencies have been identified. In
include out-of-pocket expenses to
are not limited to: Title V
Social
addition, the matrix identifies 39
families, insurance benefits.
Medicaid;
Security Act; Title XIX
different advisory committees that
foundation-supported programs, and
the Child Care Development Block
have been established for specific
charitable contributions.
Grant; the Women, Infants and
programs affecting children and
With such a wide service and
Children (WIC) program; Title VI A.
families (see PENNSTART matrix,
funding array, the challenge of
B, D, and E of the Social Security Act,
Appendix V).
moving toward a simplified service
Family Violence and Prevention
coordination scheme becomes essential
Services, Drug Free Schools and
for people trying to access services.
Communities Block Grant; Alcohol
4
J.1
'1101111*
ly
WITH GOVERNOR ROBERT P. CASEY
.t/R. ALLAN S. NOONAN. AI.D.,
4
III. STRUCTURE AND OPERAJTION OF THE COMMISSION
voting. One of the most valuable
conduct studies and issue research
he 30 commissioners are
T
outcomes of commission meetings was
reports about children and family
required to:
the opportunity to share information
policy issues.
issue an annual report that provides
about children's services across the
During 1991-92, the commission
recommendations for alleviating
commonwealth. Commissioners
met seven times at the Governor's
problems confronting children and
learned about public, private and
Residence. Commissioners actively
families.
public/private initiatives on behalf of
participated and exhibited a high level
provide technical assistance to local
children and families.
of commitment as evidenced by the
communities in their efforts to
By the end of the first year, the
consistent attendance record. Since
improve care for children.
sense of mission and focus among the
the commission operates with no
educate the public on the condi-
commissioners and key staff coalesced
permanent staff, the Department of
around several key themes: child
tions faced by children and their
Health and the Governor's Child Care
health, family preservation, early
families.
Policy Advisor shared staff functions.
childhood education and develop-
promote legislation that would
The processes used for commission
ment, prevention of child abuse and
strengthen community around
decision-making included a combina-
neglect, and service coordination.
children and families.
tion of discussion, consensus, and
assist in replicating proven inno-
vations in effective programs for
children and families.
d
GOVERNOR SIGNING 1165361 ACT 1992-35)
5
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