By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-985270.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Florida will accept a $3.4 million grant sent to the state as part of the Federal Affordable Care Act. The money will go to a home visitation program for at-risk mothers in an effort to prevent child abuse and neglect. Lynn Hatter reports the decision also allows the state to apply for a federal early learning grant.
Florida is now in a position to apply for 100-million dollars in the federal "Race to the Top" early learning grant program. The state had to approve the home visitation grant in order to apply for the money. But the Florida Department of Health's Gary Mahoney says the state won't be on the hook for the program once the home visiting dollars go away.
"There is no expectation that we continue this program after the grant runs out. This focuses on working with communities to get the program started, leverage some of our existing resources with community partners like the Healthy Start Coalition so that hopefully they'll run with the program once the money runs out."
The home visiting grant is coming through the federal Affordable Care act, which Florida is challenging in court.