On March 27-28, leaders from PICO affiliate Federation of Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS) in Orlando traveled to Tallahassee, the state capital, to meet with state legislators and urge them to make key improvements to Florida's child health insurance program, KidCare. FOCUS leaders met with both Democratic and Republican legislators over the two days, urging them to increase funding for the program, streamline the application process, reduce bureaucratic obstacles, and improve outreach efforts.

FOCUS leaders also met with Governor Charlie Crist's legislative liaison James McFaddin, who informed them that Gov. Crist is planning to seek over $60 million to fully fund the projected enrollment in KidCare over the next year, as well as remove a cap on the number of families who can buy into the state's more affordable program. With these reforms in place, the potential exists to have every child in Florida become insured.

These statements come after a push by PICO affiliates in Florida, together with advocacy organizations Florida CHAIN and the Florida Child Health Care Coalition, to make KidCare reform a legislative priority in 2007. Due to substantial bureaucratic obstacles, families are often dropped from KidCare during the enrollment and re-enrollment process.  And many of Florida's 500,000 uninsured children who qualify are not even aware of the program due to a lack of funding and leadership in outreach efforts.  

During a press conference on the Capitol steps last fall, FOCUS members delivered over 5,000 letters to the Governor and legislative leaders asking for these reforms. In 2008, the four PICO affiliates in Florida – FOCUS, Congregations for Community Action (CCA) in Brevard, ACTION Network in Gainesville, and Greater Pensacola Community Organization (GPCO) – are beginning to work together to move health care issues across the state.

For more information on FOCUS, visit www.focusorlando.org