Insurance coverage could help teen walk again (Miami Herald) ``We get by with very little. We stopped using the air conditioner. We disconnected the phone. But we still can't pay the insurance,'' Castro says. ``We can barely pay the rent. So I have been doing what I can myself to try to make her stronger. I want to see my daughter walk again.'' (sign in may be required)

Fatal child abuse grows (Sarasota Herald Tribune) About 200 children were fatally abused in Florida in 2008, an increase of roughly 20 percent from 2007. Unemployment rates and drug use also increased in the state -- a factor in many of the deaths, according to a preliminary report.

Drug Addicted Moms Facility Scrapes for Funds (Lakeland Ledger) "In the past you remove the child and mom goes into treatment and loses her incentive to stay in treatment," said DCF Secretary George Sheldon, who visited the center this year. "If we can address substance abuse and mental health up front you'll have amazing results in reductions of child abuse and domestic violence."

Our Opinion: Child-abuse deaths (Tallahassee Democrat) The statistics, as hard to calculate and compare as they may be, are nevertheless child's play compared to implementing even modest solutions. Almost all of them are obvious, intuitive and essential — and in a poor economy, more frustratingly elusive than ever.

Many find drop-in, late-hour day care appealing (Florida Times-Union) The rush of 24-hour life and a growing awareness of safety are just a few of the reasons why drop-in and late-night child care centers are cropping up locally and across the country.

Tapping the After-School Workforce Potential (TASC) This brief documents promising approaches and contains recommendations for leaders in after-school and workforce development

Dozier School for Boys fails review, maintains area support (The News Herald) The report, among other things, revealed that seven of nine boys interviewed by investigators said guards threatened students, that over the last six months student-on-student fights, including those where gangs were involved, resulted in hospitalizations, and “an alarming number of youth … felt supervision was lacking.”

2010 set to be momentous year for Florida (Tallahassee Democrat) The upcoming year promises to be one of the most momentous, not just for the 365 days ahead but reaching into the future for a decade to come.

See for Yourself: Pre-K Town Hall Online (P3 Front Burner) Education and engagement are key components of the Children’s Campaign’s work. We are devoted to telling the truth about children’s issues. We have been and continue to be dedicated to providing citizens and stakeholders with the facts throughout the evolution of pre-k in Florida.