May 3, 2012                      

Dear Friend and Supporter,

Children and families have been my primary focus  in  the legislature, and remain my highest priority.   In the extremely tough budget choices that have faced the legislature over the past two years, my priorities are clear:

Build on our successful Early Learning Initiatives.  Because of our strong leadership, Washington is viewed as a leader across this nation.  We were awarded a $60 million “Race to the Top” early learning grant, and in April we won a $25 million grant to expand our successful home visitation programs serving our most vulnerable young families.  With our state budget constraints, this funding will help Washington expand its efforts to support parents as their children’s first and most important teachers, improve the quality of child care across the state, and build upon the work of our strong public private partnership, Thrive by Five.

Protect our most vulnerable families.  While we avoided deeper cuts this year in child care for low income families and in grants to families in poverty, nearly half a billion dollars has been cut from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. We need a stronger safety net for vulnerable families.

Reform and strengthen our child welfare system.  This year, I sponsored three major bills aimed at transforming our child welfare system to better serve children and families.  These bills will:

-require implementation of a performance based contracting system that holds providers accountable and strengthens our ability to match services to the needs of families;

-change our Child Protective System so that, when the safety of children is not at risk, families  will be assessed and assisted, rather than investigated.

-reinvest savings in child welfare back into services for families.

Your tremendous support has enabled me to fight vigorously for children and families in the legislative process. I am eager to continue that fight, and ask for your help to get my message out to thousands of new voters in the 32nd District.

Best regards,

Ruth Kagi