Children’s Advocates Come Together Over Big Issues, Including Special Session

There are a lot of people in the state that are passionate about problems that affect kids, including the group Alabama Children First.

They hosted the first ever conference about those issues with groups from every county.

“Today the biggest topic is substance abuse. It’s consistently been the major problem for most of our counties in the state of Alabama. We’re actually about to go into session right now. All of our attendees will be in the substance abuse portion,” said Executive Director Christy Cain.

Another big issue starting next week is the special session.

Lawmakers will be discussing a lottery that would help the state budget.

Medicaid took the biggest cut this year, down 85 million dollars over last year.

“The first hit was for pediatricians and family doctors. Their rates were cut to see children and we have heard that they’re going to have to lay off staff, some are going to have to close up practices, some are going to stop seeing Medicaid patients at all,” said Cain.

The state department of early childhood education helped organize the conference as well.

Secretary Jeana Ross says a lot of good work can come from bringing everyone together.

“A lot of the public agencies or non profits find that they duplicate services. Well meaning and good intentions, and when they meet like this they can get an understand of what each one is doing and that way avoid those duplications,” said Ross.