Florida turns down $4.9 million from federal government designed to strengthen parenting

[cali]

By Curtis Krueger, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, August 21, 2012


Kimberly Dudley says she is grateful for the agency Healthy Start, which sent an educator into her home to help her get off drugs and prevent her kids from being shipped to foster care.

"If I didn't have the program, I would be homeless with a premie," said Dudley, 21, a Clearwater mother of two young children.

Now the program is in danger.

Earlier this month, the Florida Department of Health turned down a $4.9 million federal grant that already has helped 84 Pinellas County families and hundreds more statewide.

The department was forced to turn down the money after the Florida Legislature refused to accept it.

<snip>

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/florida-turns-down-49-million-from-federal-government-designed-to/1246872

[IgnatiusReilly]

1. It is obvious that the people of Florida do not want the money

The good people of Florida elected people to send to Tallahassee to be their voice; they are just reflecting the will of the majority of voters.

If the people of Florida do not like whom they sent they have many remedies at their disposal.

If one is Liberal and Progressive and prefer better Government policies they are free to leave the Sunshine State and relocate to a better place.

In the mean time they need to stop whining about the place they choose to live in, Florida has been like this for decades now and will only get worse.

Yes I feel sorry for the person but they should have known this would happen if they stayed in the Sunshine State.

[Angry Dragon]

2. Yes . it is so easy to just pull up stakes and move

[IgnatiusReilly]

3. Yes it is easy

people all over the world do it every day.

[cali]

7. uh, yeah if you're referring to refugees.

The poor don't have that option, genius.

[IgnatiusReilly]

10. yes they do have that option

and I would consider them refugees if they left a regressive state and came to a progressive state

[xmas74]

9. I can't just pull up stakes and move

and neither can others that I know.

If you have any kind of child custody you can't just "up and move". In my case I have to have permission from my ex in order to move more than 60 miles from the town where the original order was signed. I have a coworker who cannot move more than 10 miles. I know of others who can only move to adjoining counties. I've never met anyone with a custody order in my state on file that can just up and move out of state without getting the courts involved.

There may be better jobs in another state. Quality of life might be better. The fact is, the poor can't just up and move, even if they were to work three jobs and save their money. In a custody case like mine you'd not only have to save for moving expenses but also for an attorney, filing fees and court costs,etc. It'll take a few months, minimum, depending on if the it's contested. And it doesn't matter if you have a great job that can completely change you and your child's life-the judge might still deny it.

Sometimes you are just stuck. I know I am until my child is just a bit older. Problem is that by the time children get to the age where they can have their own opinion recognized by the courts the child is a teenager and doesn't want to leave the only place they've ever known, even if it's for a better life.

[cali]

12. your responses in this thread are sick.

disgusting really, my dear. they show an utter denseness and insensitivity to others. go away.

[xmas74]

15. No, I did not choose the situation.

I chose to have a child but I did not choose to have someone come along and bully me regularly with the courts backing him up. He only keeps us from moving because he can, not because he actually wants a relationship. The relationship was abusive, I left. Now he uses the courts to still control our lives.

If I leave the state with my child without his permission I'll be held in contempt of court and will be arrested.

[Riley18]

4. Florida was not like this for decades. It has been 10 years of decline.

Governor Chiles ran a decent state. Jeb started our race to the bottom, and Scott is trying to finish us off.

People can't just pick up and leave. What would you suggest? Should they hop on a freight train? Stow away on a boat? The poorest people only have their feet for transportation. The lucky ones have a bike.

[IgnatiusReilly]

5. Every day people walk or swim to this country walking from one state to

another is easy by comparison.

I lived in FLA in the 70's and it was already in decline, it was just one of the many reasons to leave the Prison Peninsula.

Outside of the tourist areas, the REAL Florida is just as racist and redneck as Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia.

[Fumesucker]

6. Welcome to DU!

Your compassion for others is truly touching..

[cali]

8. where do you live?

and btw, what do you believe in?

[IgnatiusReilly]

13. In a house, in the woods, off the grid in the Blue State of NUNYA.

[cali]

14. bullshit. and it sure the fuck is my right to ask, honeypie.

Wherever you are, I hope it's nowhere near Vermont.