| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name
 | Date | Lines | 
|---|
| 1338.1 | Whoops - it's moving, not going away | ICS::NELSONK |  | Thu Mar 26 1992 09:56 | 11 | 
|  |     I called the governor's office at the number mentioned in the
    basenote.  The Office for Children is going to be put under
    the authority of the Secretary of Consumer Affairs.  The very
    nice person I spoke to said that as far as he or anyone else
    knew, all services, certification, site visits, etc., would
    remain the same.  I gave him my opinion anyway -- that the
    services should remain the same, even increased, because our
    children deserve the best.  
    
    I don't know how much good it's going to do, but I feel better
    because I called and got the straight story.
 | 
| 1338.2 | WHERE YOU ARE LIMITS WHAT YOU DO | MR4DEC::SPERA |  | Thu Mar 26 1992 10:48 | 12 | 
|  |     It may be worth trying to find out why they are moving and how the
    local Councils For Children (Do they still exist ?) feel about it.
    The republicans haven't had much use for OFC because it has in the past
    forced other state agencies to be accountable for their mandate re:
    children and it informs the public re: kids issues, basically bringing
    attention to budget cuts.
    
    I'm a bit out of touch with what OFC does now (they used to license day
    care, group care, and adoption agencies) but I wonder why they are
    boing considered a consumer affairs group and not a human services
    agency. I hope it doesn't portend a switch from a "rights of children"
    attitude to a "let the buyer beware" attitude.
 | 
| 1338.3 |  | FSDEV::MGILBERT | GHWB-Anywhere But America Tour 92 | Thu Mar 26 1992 10:57 | 14 | 
|  |     
    Your last paragraph pretty much sums up what activists percieve will
    happen. As an "independent" state agency OFC has been able to keep its
    focus as an advocate for children through oversite of child care
    facilities. Under the Secretary of Consumer Affairs their power to
    speak out on issues related to child care is greatly diminished. Their
    budget may be as well since it will now be at the whim of the
    secretariat more than in the hands of legislators. At a time when so
    many issues related to the care of children are getting attention
    at the state level (IE. DSS, DYS, and others) and the lack of action
    on the part of the Governor to address these issues despite the public
    outcry do not bode well for OFC.
    
     
 | 
| 1338.4 | hidden where | MR4DEC::SPERA |  | Thu Mar 26 1992 16:24 | 2 | 
|  |     so what was that number we should call ?
    
 | 
| 1338.5 | (617) 727-9173 | ICS::NELSONK |  | Thu Mar 26 1992 16:27 | 2 | 
|  |     The Governor's Office - (617) 727-9173.  FYI only, not a
    solicitation.
 |