After a grueling back and forth between a handful of state legislators, the state of Florida will finally accept the home visiting grants allocated through the Affordable Care Act.
During a Joint Legislative Budget Commission meeting today, a small group of state representatives and state senators debated the necessity and overall importance of the grants. While many were initially opposed to the bill, the fact that the grants are tied to a potential $100 million in education money seemed to change minds.
The Florida Department of Health will now be able to use the $3.4 million in a Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting grant that was awarded to the state to help with child abuse and neglect prevention, as well as part of an early learning initiative.
Florida will also now be eligible to apply for up to $100 million in federal early learning education grants.
