• Prenatal health care that includes screenings for maternal and fetal wellbeing; maternal screenings and treatment for s ocial- emotional health and for addictions.

• Comprehensive healthcare for children that includes preventive screenings and timely treatment of physical, emotional and behavioral problems.

• Age appropriate educational programs for children that include access to factual programs in sex education, parenting, child development and addictive substances.

• Create a resource center to collect, coordinate and disseminate information about services to children available in Volusia County, that will be made available to parents and professionals working with children.

• Require training of all childcare personnel in child development and behavioral interventions.

• Require licensure of all family childcare homes.

• Encourage employers to provide or subsidize childcare for employees.

• Supports protections of the County Charter and its principles, to include monitoring County Council to ensure that the principles are implemented.
• Supports an appointed (rather than elected) sheriff, property appraiser, and supervisor of elections, all with professional qualifications.

• LWVVC believes Volusia County and the municipalities within its borders should work together to protect the environment while providing reasonable use of the land and restricting the use of wetland mitigation.
• LWVVC supports the buffering of environmentally sensitive land and water bodies and encourages the preservation of open, recreational, and green spaces to enhance and maintain quality of life within the county and its municipalities.
• LWVVC supports giving public interest priority over private interest regarding the conservation of our natural habitats in Volusia County.
• LWVVC supports increased attention to potable water issues, including the assurance of clean water in the Comprehensive Plans of Volusia County and its municipalities.
• LWVVC supports development of effective drainage systems to improve recharge and retention areas and reduce flooding in Volusia county and its municipalities.
• LWVVC support measures to ensure that any comprehensive plan amendment or rezoning that permits increased residential density may be approved only if public school capacity will be adequate to serve the projected increase in student population.

        a) The County Council’s continued implementation of Volusia County’s stormwater management ordinance.
        b) LWVVC’s continued participation in the LWV Coalition to monitor the St. Johns River Water Management District.
        c) Sound management of Volusia County’s designated sole source aquifer.
        d) Protection of Volusia County’s recharge area.
        e) Establishment of a county-wide entity to govern water usage.

        a) reduction of pollutants entering the waterways,
        b) reduction of desalination of salt water tributaries in the county,
        c) reclamation of stormwater to reduce the demands on the aquifer and
        d) reduction of runoff pollution entering the aquifer.

   
• Amend statutes to require improved ratios of adults to children.    
• Provide funding to assist child care programs in becoming Gold Seal certified.    
• Increase the payment rate per subsidized child to child care providers.    
• Develop and implement a state-wide quality rating system of child care programs. The rating system should include program curriculum and environment and be available to the public.    
• Require licensing of all Family Child Care Homes.    
• Provide funding for adequate licensing personnel.

2. Recommendations for Community Involvement:

   
• Develop facilities for night and weekend child care.    
• Develop alternative programs for children who have temporary illnesses.    
• Encourage companies to collaborate on establishing quality child care for employees.