Wendy and I would like to thank her for being the first public official to be interviewed for JumpStart Michigan . No one can do it all. Those of us in the legislature, and state government, study the needs of children to develop new directions in public policy or in statute. Foundations provide financial support for new and innovative programs for children. Advocacy groups are an important voice in the system.
Volunteers give their time and talent to children.
Together we can help children become healthy and stay safe. You have started the Chance at Childhood Foundation . The idea for the foundation came from two directions. First, I had just chaired the Commission on Adoption and was very concerned about the number of children who were lingering in the foster care system and those who were screened out of the system, but still suffered from abuse and neglect and were not living in nurturing homes. Secondly, when I chaired the International Year of the Family , we tried to reach as many people in Michigan as we could.