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~ Charming journal highlights reading & development needs of young children ~

Tallahassee – Florida First Lady Ann Scott hand delivered a brand new Love.Read.Learn! ™ Baby Journal to the mother of a newborn today — the first of over 200,000 free journals being provided to parents statewide over the next year. The journals are designed to be one of the first gifts a child receives, reinforcing the state’s commitment to literacy and health.

The First Lady, in partnership with the nonprofit Volunteer USA Foundation – with funding from Dollar General Foundation and Scholastic FACE (Family and Community Engagement) – unveiled the Love.Read.Learn!™ scrapbook style journal at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. With a ‘healthy minds, healthy bodies’ theme, the colorful booklet is being offered at no cost to hospitals in the state for distribution to parents of newborns. It is filled with tips and advice to promote a love of books, learning and health from the earliest years. It also provides places to insert baby photos, “first word” memories and favorite stories.

“I love being a mom and now a grandmother, but I remember what it was like to be a new parent filled with questions about my baby’s health and development. I wanted to create a baby journal that would help new parents in Florida raise healthy kids who have a love of learning, as well as provide a way for parents to document their baby’s special moments and milestones,” said First Lady Scott.

The journal also allows parents to keep track of their child’s immunization records and offers nutrition and wellness information – all priorities of the First Lady. The Florida Department of Agriculture provided kid-friendly recipes that are simple and easy to prepare.

This journal is based on 2008 findings of the National Early Reading Panel which analyzed the existing literature on early learning to determine what the skills and abilities are of young children (birth-five years) that predict later reading, writing, or spelling outcomes.

“Parents are a child’s first teacher and this journal is designed to help them to be the very best first teacher possible from the time a child is in the cradle,” said Liza McFadden, president of Volunteer USA and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. “We know reading benefits a child in so many ways – from language comprehension and vocabulary development to heightened creativity and family bonding, this journal is a wonderful way for parents to start their child out on the path of learning.”

Through the generosity of lead sponsors Scholastic FACE and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation as well as support from the Florida Department of Health’s Tobacco Free Florida effort and Carnival, the journals are being distributed to birthing hospitals statewide – one for each mom who gives birth over the next year. The Florida Hospital Association, Health Management Associates and Hospital Corporation of America are supporters of the journal and represent the vast majority of hospitals in the state.

“Every parent plays a critical role as their child’s first and most important teacher, and Scholastic is proud to support this important literacy initiative that gives parents the tools they need to inspire their children to learn to love to read,” said Greg Worrell, President of the Scholastic Classroom & Community Group. “Reading aloud, telling stories and sharing family traditions are all part of a healthy, literacy-rich early childhood – the kind that every child deserves to have.”

“Getting families involved in their child’s education from the beginning is crucial to a child’s development and success,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General’s director of community initiatives. “The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is excited to support this program to help new parents and families on their journey to learning and growing.”

Following the announcement, First Lady Ann Scott and Tallahassee Memorial CEO Mark O’Bryant visited a few mothers and newborn babies and personally delivered the state’s first baby journals and children’s books. Hospitals in Florida interested in ordering the free baby journals should contact the Volunteer USA Foundation at info@volunteerusafund.org or call 850.562.5300.

Love.Read.Learn!™ Baby Journal Partners

Volunteer USA Foundation and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

Scholastic FACE

Dollar General Literacy Foundation

Carnival Cruise Lines

Florida Department of Health – Tobacco Free Florida

Florida Department of Agriculture – Food, Nutrition and Wellness

Florida Office of Early Learning

Department of Children and Families

Florida Hospital Association

Health Management Associates

Hospital Corporation of America

~Project Benefits Families of Newborns & Young Children~

Ann & I wish every mom In Florida a Happy Mother’s Day!

Thanks to these 3 major victories our strong economic recovery is expected to continue throughout 2012.

Gov. Rick Scott and Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford explain how auto accident fraud reform will keep the cost of living low for Floridians.

Click Here to Watch My Video.

PIP Reform reduced the cost of living for all Floridians

Congratulations to the Emerald Coast on a successful spring break tourism season!

Governor Scott Signs Auto Accident Reform into Law

Lowers the Cost of Living for Florida Families

Jacksonville, Fla.  – Flanked by local law enforcement today, Governor Rick Scott signed legislation to reform auto accident fraud in Florida, this year’s number one consumer protection issue. This meaningful legislation will lower the cost of auto insurance premiums for Florida drivers by limiting fraud in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Accident fraud would have cost average Floridians over $1 billion this year if PIP reform was not passed.

“Growing up in a family without a lot of money, I truly understand the value of the hard-earned dollar for Florida families,” Governor Scott said. “By helping reduce fraudulent auto accident claims, this legislation will benefit the pocketbooks of every Florida family who drives an automobile. I am glad to do my part in keeping the cost of living low in Florida, and I will continue to work to find ways to do so.”

According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the number of Florida drivers has remained stable, and the frequency of crashes has declined from 2006 to 2010. In spite of these facts, the number of PIP claims opened or recorded increased 28 percent. In addition, the payment on PIP claims increased 66 percent during the same period. These claims have caused auto insurance premiums to burden Florida families. For example, a family in Miami making $40,000 a year can pay nearly 14 percent of their annual salary on personal injury protection. Legislation that stops fraud and reduces costs will protect these families.

Included in the legislation signed today:

·         The law requires that the accident victim receive initial treatment within a 14 day window. Benefits may not be used as payment for massage and acupuncture.

• ·         Both the short and long crash report must be used, depending on the circumstance, by the participating officer.
• ·         Benefits can now be denied if the insured refuses to be examined under oath about information relevant to the claim only.
• ·         Provides judges the opportunity to review attorney fees to ensure that each attorney doesn’t over inflate the hours or amount of skill involved and represents reasonable legal services.
• ·         All clinics eligible for reimbursement must pay a licensure fee and sign fraud notices regarding fraudulent, misleading or false claims.
• ·         Medical providers and entities may charge the insurer and injured party only a reasonable amount for services and care rendered.
• ·         A licensed health care practitioner found guilty of fraud relating to PIP services loses his/her license for five years and may not receive reimbursement for PIP services for ten years.

In order to further the goal of government transparency, Governor Rick Scott announced Project Sunburst. E-mails to and from the Governor will be accessible to the public through an online, read-only e-mail viewer. In addition, e-mails to and from 11 members of the Governor’s Office leadership team, who currently constitute more than 80 percent of the public records requests for e-mails, will be available. This unprecedented step gives the citizens of Florida and members of the media an open and transparent window into how their state government works.

“Since my first day in office, I have committed to making sure the citizens of our state have access to the information they need to hold their state government accountable,” Governor Scott said. “I invite Floridians to view my e-mails, as well as those of my leadership team, to learn more about how we are working to make Florida the best state for businesses to grow and expand and create jobs.”

E-mails are available with search capabilities on the Governor’s website at www.flgov.com/sunburst through Microsoft Outlook Web Access. Individuals can access the Sunburst system by using the user name and password sunburst.

Governor Scott emphasized that Project Sunburst does not replace the current process for public records requests and that all public records requests will continue to be honored.

The Governor’s Project Sunburst policy requires e-mails to be posted within seven days of receipt or creation unless permission has been granted for an extended deadline. However, the goal is for e-mails to be available within 24 hours.

Sunburst participants will categorize e-mail, and the Governor’s Office of Open Government will review withheld e-mail and make all public records available online. Any exempt items that require redaction will continue to be available through a public records request.

In the coming months, Project Sunburst will be expanded to include other agencies within the Executive Branch.

Last year, Governor Scott launched the website FloridaHasARightToKnow.com that gave the public access to state employee salary information, state pensions with annual benefits of $100,000 or more and information on the review of state rules and regulations.

Project Sunburst flow chart