State Senator Kay Kirkpatrick: Putting Georgia’s Children and Families First

DEAR EDITOR:

Four years ago, Lt. Governor Burt Jones made an important decision to give issues
affecting children and families the focused attention they deserve. One of the first
priorities he achieved as Lt. Governor was creating the Children and Families Committee,
and I was honored to be asked to chair it.

Since inception, our committee has worked to advance more than 20 laws strengthening
protections for children, improving foster care outcomes, and helping vulnerable young
people transition successfully into adulthood.

We prioritized challenges facing working families, including access to affordable
childcare and expanding support for children with developmental disabilities. The
Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare led to legislation that
expanded the current tax credit for child and dependent care expenses and created a new
Georgia Child Tax Credit. As a result, Lt. Governor Jones and Senate members allocated
$15.5 million in state funds to provide after school care for children across the state.

Three bills worked to expand current pilot programs screening foster youth for autism
spectrum disorder, ensure school districts are in compliance with enrollment
requirements for easier transfers for foster children, and create the Joint Study
Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia’s Foster Care System.

Additionally, we were able to add $16.1 million in the budget to create parity between in-
home and in-office reimbursement rates for autism services and funding for an additional 900 New Options Waiver and Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program slots
for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As a mother, physician, and state senator representing Cobb families, I’m incredibly
grateful to Lt. Governor Jones who made these issues a priority and placed trust in me to
lead. By elevating Georgia’s vulnerable children and families within the Senate, he gave
greater voice and urgency to concerns too often pushed aside.

There is still work ahead, but the foundation is stronger today than it was four years ago.
The best indication of what someone will do in the future, is what they have done in the
past, and I believe that the future for Georgia’s children and families is brighter than ever
before. Early voting is underway and Election Day is May 19th and I hope you will join
me in voting for Burt Jones for Governor — a champion for Georgia’s children and
families.

State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick