Legislative and Community Priorities 2008

The Upper Peninsula Children's Coalition has worked with experts from schools, police departments, courts, hospitals, state agencies, tribal authorities, and nonprofit organizations across the Upper Peninsula using questionnaires and structured interviews to determine the legislative priorities that express the unique and diverse needs of those agencies which support children and families in the U.P.

The Upper Peninsula Children's Coalition has identified three priority areas to provide focus for our efforts between now and the election on November 4th, 2008.

The statements in this document are recommendations formed by consensus with input from a diverse group of over 100 experts in youth and family needs from across the Upper Peninsula.

  1. Providing Health Care for Families and Children
    Families need effective and affordable health care.
    Barriers to healthcare for adults place a staggering burden on families and hinder effective parenting. Improving health care coverage for families has the potential to reduce many other economic and societal ills in the Upper Peninsula.

    Datapoint: According to the Medical Care Access Coalition, in 2006 there were 34,172 people in the Upper Peninsula who had no health insurance.
    Families need accessible mental health and substance abuse services.
    There is inadequate care in the Upper Peninsula for substance abuse, anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns that do not qualify as "severe mental illness." Care is often not affordable or accessible.

    Datapoint: The United Way of Marquette County's "Compass II" Survey (2004) found "Anxiety, Stress, and Depression" to be one of the most critical issues facing Marquette and Alger County.
  2. Encouraging Prevention and Early Intervention
    Families need greater understanding of the benefits of prevention services.
    People in the Upper Peninsula place a value on a feeling of "self-reliance." Families in the Upper Peninsula often don't understand or utilize services that might be available to help solve or prevent problems from worsening. Often they do not begin to explore available services until they are in a state of crisis. To combat this, services need to be promoted through marketing messages which acknowledge the importance of autonomy and collaboration to strengthen families and communities.

    Datapoint: According to the Children's Trust Fund—child abuse and neglect cost Michigan taxpayers 199 million dollars in 2005; however, Michigan's 0-3 Secondary Prevention Programs prevented 33.8 million dollars in direct costs related to child abuse and neglect while costing only 4.7 million dollars. Furthermore—the Michigan chapter of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids states that prevention efforts are underfunded and that "most abuse and neglect in high-risk families can be prevented."
  3. Empowering Parents and Families to Advocate for Themselves
    Lines of communication need to be strengthened among policy makers, service providers, and members of the general public in the Upper Peninsula to ensure that all parties are equipped to make good decisions.
    To improve understanding of issues that face people of the Upper Peninsula, efforts must be made to enhance communications between stakeholders and policymakers using technology—including teleconferencing and Internet tools. Members of the general public should have access to brief overviews and responsible analysis of issues that affect them.

    Datapoint: A study printed in American Politics Research (Nov. 2005) indicated that members of congress were more likely to pay attention to the opinions of constituents than lobbyists or members of PACs.
    Lawmakers need to hear from parents and users of services.
    People in the Upper Peninsula often feel that the remote location and small population make them politically insignificant. The Upper Peninsula Children's Coalition must continue to coordinate a Candidate Forum prior to each biannual election. Voter registration and mobilization must also be improved in the Upper Peninsula.

    Datapoint: According to Secretary of State and U.S. Census data from 2000, 85% of U.P. adults were registered to vote, but only 55% of U.P. adults actually cast ballots in the 2000 election.

What You Can Do:

If you want to help U.P. children or if you have a story to tell—please contact your congressional representatives at the state and national level.  Lawmakers DO listen, but they need to hear from constituents.

Copyright © 2008 by UPCC
For more information about UPCC contact Paul Olson at 906-228-8919 ext. 29 or Cookie Aho at 906-360-7118
PO Box 881, Marquette, MI 49855 ~ Phone: (906)226-5138 ~ Fax: (906)226-5141
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