2006 Children's Agenda
October 14, 2005
Priority action steps
in the 2006 Children's Agenda were selected today by 140 advocates at
the 8th annual NH CAN Children's Summit in Concord.
The actions were proposed, debated and voted upon in a series of workgroups
involving NH CAN partners and advisors between June and October of 2005.
NH CAN uses four criteria to select and prioritize
its action steps:
1. How many children are affected?
2. What is the severity of the impact?
3. When is NH CAN's ability to create or influence change?
4. Is there a NH CAN partner willing to take the lead?
Any person representing any NH CAN organization is
welcome to participate in the creation of the annual Children's Agenda.
To find out how, please contact the NH CAN Coordinator at 225-2264.
2006 Children's Agenda
Safety and Protection
Priority: Protect children by clarifying clergy responsibility
to report child abuse or neglect
Health
Priority: Guarantee comprehensive early intervention services
by implementing an insurance mandate for reimbursement of therapy services
for Family-Centered Early Supports and Services programs
Reduce underage alcohol problems by implementing the recommendations
of a comprehensive state strategy to impact the access to, availability
of and demand for alcohol among underage youth
Increase public awareness of the importance of children’s oral
health as a component of their overall health through the The Watch
Your Mouth campaign
Economic Security
Priority: Preserve "best interest of the child" as
the basis for court orders in divorce cases
Address the adequacy of New Hampshire's consumer protection laws
Education
Priority: Protect all children’s right to a quality public
education, support the creation of a credible definition of “adequacy
in public school education” and ensure the creation of a long-term
educational funding system
Increase understanding among policy makers and the public of the role
of nutrition for all students in academic performance
