March 22, 2012

Dear Friend,

In this issue:

• Action Needed for Mental Health Parity
• Michigan's Children Testimony to Appropriations Subcommittees
• Federal Budget Update
• Thanks to Pat Sorenson Upon Her Departure From Michigan's Children
• New Children First Column: Equal Capability Through Public Policy

Action Needed for Mental Health Parity

Bills requiring insurers to cover treatment for autism spectrum disorders passed overwhelmingly in the Senate last week, and an amendment to provide parity for all mental health coverage failed on an 18-20 vote. The legislation mandates coverage of autism treatment and sets up a new fund to compensate insurers for the cost of providing the coverage. 

The bills are now being taken up by the House.  Now is the time to contact your representative and tell him/her that all brain disorders need to be included for nondiscriminatory insurance coverage in the autism package through mental health parity.

Learn more about what you can do on the mental health parity action alert website.

See Michigan's Children's Speaking for Kids blog by Ann Telfer on the importance of mental health parity.

Michigan's Children Testimony to Appropriations Subcommittees

With the fiscal year 2013 budget currently being debated by the state Legislature, Michigan's Children has submitted testimony to various appropriations subcommittees on areas of priority.  These include:

• the need for more substantial investment to reduce infant mortality;
• the Legislature's role in the state's child care subsidy program;
• the need to restore and expand funding for before- and after-school programming and the Summer Expansion Grant to improve student achievement; and
• the need for a consistent funding stream for children from birth through age three.

See all of Michigan's Children's testimony in our testimony library.

Federal Budget Update

Last night, the House Budget Committee approved its fiscal year 2013 budget resolution.  The budget resolution cuts an additional $19 billion from discretionary spending beyond the caps set last summer through the Budget Control Act in areas including education, Medicaid, and SNAP and repeals the Affordable Care Act.  At the same time, it increases defense spending by $8.2 billion more than assumed under the cap.  The budget resolution now goes to the full House.

To learn more about the Budget Control Act, visit Michigan's Children's federal budget page.

Thanks to Pat Sorenson Upon Her Departure From Michigan's Children

Michigan's Children is very appreciative of the nearly 19 years that Pat Sorenson has dedicated to the organization as a relentless advocate for children.  At Michigan's Children, her talents, expertise and wisdom have been instrumental to the successes of the agency and has made Michigan a better place to be a kid.  We are thankful that she will still be involved in strengthening public policies for Michigan's youngest children at the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

New Children First Column: Equal Capability Through Public Policy

Jack's latest Children First Column, which was first published on the Council of Michigan Foundations blog, discusses the need for public policies that promote equity and close gaps that already exist.

Read Jack's column and learn about Michigan's Children's efforts to promote equitable outcomes for all children.

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